Not planned Thread vs Discussion vs Topic

[Grover]

(devoting a dedicated thread discussion on this)

Triggered by this remark from Floris:

THat resparks the conversation then about calling a thread a discussion and the button still being called a thread, etc.

I thought:

Thread vs Discussion or Topic

Indeed, this is a good point. Overall... I always hated the word 'thread'... on vBulletin and every other board that uses this phrase. When there was not a Dutch translation available for vBulletin at the time... my dutch members kept asking me 'what is a thread'? No clue. I mean when you translate it you get : 'draadje' (which means so much as wire/line (and thread), but people in The Netherlands never ever talk about a 'draadje' when it comes to discussions. Apparently, it is common language/knowledge for English speaking people using a web board(?). As a Dutch person I find it still a bit of a weird word to use on forums... I much prefer [New Discussion] or [New Topic].

Brogan explained:

Thread relates to threaded view, as opposed to flat or linear view.

Ah yes... thanks for pointing this out, because now I realize that this makes the word 'thread' even more non-fitting on XF, perhaps. XF does not use threaded view... you can not select this alternative view... only flat/linear view is possible (which is a good thing IMHO). So if XF doesn't even provide threaded view... why call a discussion a thread then?

Instead of http://xenforo.com/community/threads/fixed-term-for-personal-discussions-vs-conversations.2796 I would prefer:
http://xenforo.com/community/discussions/fixed-term-for-personal-discussions-vs-conversations.2796

 

[Kim]

We should brainstorm it a bit see if anything pops out...

Talk, Chat, tete-a-tete (or really a tete-a-tete-a-tete ~), dialogue (or log for short), confabulation (confab anyone?)


subject, issue, matter, affair

 

[James]

We should brainstorm it a bit see if anything pops out...

Talk, Chat, tete-a-tete (or really a tete-a-tete-a-tete ~), dialogue (or log for short), confabulation (confab anyone?)


subject, issue, matter, affair

I find a few of them words are specific to the content of the thread/topic/discussion/talk/chat/tete-a-tete.

 

[Dean]

What terms does facebook use? I know what they are called in vb & ipb

 

[Kim]

What terms does facebook use? I know what they are called in vb & ipb

urgh.. FB must die <.<

Do they even have anything equivalent to forums, where many take part in conversations?

 

[Allan]

I prefer "Thread"

 

[Forsaken]

Topic seems the most logical, as its the main point of a discussion.

 

[Luke F]

Topic is certainly a relevant word, but it just doesn't sound right being used in the same context where you would say 'thread'.

 

[Forsaken]

Topic is certainly a relevant word, but it just doesn't sound right being used in the same context where you would say 'thread'.

You're saying thread out of context; these are flat discussions, not threaded.

 

[Paul B]

A lot of the terminology is actually historic and related to the real world counterpart.

BB which means bulletin board for example was the electronic equivalent of e.g. a physical bulletin board in an office which was stuck on a wall, somewhere where you would literally post (or pin) messages to it.

Hence where the original terms were coined.

As Forsaken and I have mentioned earlier, thread relates to a particular view which is the threaded view.
Incidentally hardly any forums implement that view so in most cases it's an inaccurate term.

 

[Luke F]

You're saying thread out of context; these are flat discussions, not threaded.

Going by vBulletin's definition.

Wikipedia seems to agree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversation_threading

 

[Paul B]

I would disagree with that image of a threaded view.

This is a threaded view: http://elixsir.com/images/blog_conversation.jpg

 

[Grover]

Whenever you type the word thread, replace it with discussion .

And when do you type it then? When I refer to threads most of the time it's like this:

'Look here: http://xenforo.com/community/threads/suggestion-thread-vs-discussion.2838/page-2#post-42439' or something like that. I never really type the word 'thread' ... I already use the word 'discussion' when I type it myself.

 

[Grover]

What terms does facebook use?

This:

 

[Been Told]

I don't think it matters what Facebook uses since Facebook is FAR from being a forum software. I hate discussing anything on Facebook.

 

[Dean]

I am simply curious.

This:

View attachment 1327

Discussions, topics, then replies? Posts? Entries?

I went to facebook but without joining or having a link to a profile I cannot see anything.

 

[Luke F]

I would disagree with that image of a threaded view.

This is a threaded view: http://elixsir.com/images/blog_conversation.jpg

I would call that a hierarchical/recursive view (though I know vBulletin doesn't).

 

[Forsaken]

I would call that a hierarchical/recursive view (though I know vBulletin doesn't).

Rest of the world would call that threaded.

 

[Luke F]

Cool story bro

 

[Forsaken]

Saying that doesn't make you any less wrong by the way.

 

[rollthebones]

In forums, I like the term "topic" over "thread" because it's a lot more modern-looking ("threads" were more of a usenet thing), and is a little easier on people who have never used a forum. That said, I'm surprised XenForo went for using the term "thread" over "topic" when its visions are all about Web 2.0.

Opinions?