Conversation threading

In relation specifically to the Internet, the term thread [ θɹɛd ] denotes (English thread, thread ',' strand ') a hierarchical series of online discussion contributions ( postings ), especially in forums (including the so-called Usenet) and blogs. In German, roughly correspond to expressions such as discussion threads, post strand or thread of conversation anglicism the thread in the meaning carried in the local product.

Usenet

Under a thread refers to the Usenet, but also in other virtual discussion forums such as mailing lists and Web forums some a series of discussion papers that are organized hierarchically.

Each post with the exception of the initial contribution makes reference to a previous message, thus resulting in a tree structure. On Usenet, this is done technically by the References header row in a posting.

Typically, a topic discussed in a thread exactly, that by the initial contribution ( whose author is sometimes referred to as OP for original posters or TE for thread creator ) has been the thread initiated. It usually is an expression, a question or notice. Many newsreaders enable ignoring a thread (or a sub-threads, all posts under a certain post). In this way, the user can not hide topics interest him. Conversely, for a thread often also a preferred treatment be defined as the unconditional loading of all associated articles.

Should the discussion evolve within a thread in a different direction, it is common to change the subject line and thus to document the change in direction. In particular, this can also participants who had ignored the thread due to the original topic, pay attention to it for them possibly interesting new topic. In the subject line of the new subject is then followed by the specified old subject, the one " (was: " prepended and enclosed with a bracket A possible presence of Re. Removing.

Example:

┬ blue parrots ├ ─ ┬ Re: Blue Parrot │ └ ─ ┬ yellow elephant (was: Blue Parrot ) │ └ ─ ─ Re: yellow elephant └ ─ ─ Re: Blue Parrot Forums

In most web forums, the thread is not in a tree structure, but as a series of chronologically arranged discussion contributions ( so-called posts or articles ), which refer to the first post, which opened the thread, or sequentially displayed. In this representation, as a contribution thread the subject is divided in a change of direction within a thread different from the Usenet. That is, all the posts from a certain point will be moved to a new theme with a new title or subject.

It is also certain posts to be moved from the middle of the old thread to the new thread. The rights to parts have by default the moderators and administrators of the forum. In addition to the parts, a moderator can also lock the thread ( " close " ), which causes no user without special privileges can write a post more in this thread. This happens most often when small violations of the rules of the web forum (which can even set the rules, but the rules are very similar ) are present. Moderators can delete a post or even a whole thread when large violations of the forum rules or violations exist, because the operator of the web forum can be pulled in rights violations to justice.

Construction

In a thread, there is an initial post, where mostly a question is included. In this post to be answered. Depending on the setting of the forum you must be registered and logged in to. The most recent post appears at the end. So not so much needs to be scrolled, most forums create an anchor and the picture jumps to the latest post.

Example:

On 21 June 2007 at 16:11 admin wrote: Hi community! How do you like the new design? LG Your Admin ---- On 21 June 2007 at 16:57 Mr.X wrote: Very good. ---- On 22 June 2007 at 05:21 Guest wrote: Mhh, the red does not like me so much. Netiquette

In many forums, the change in direction of a thread is true whether willfully or "accidentally " as a violation of netiquette. One then speaks of the " caper " a thread ( engl. "to hijack a thread", " hijack a thread "). Forum participants should instead open up with their new same topic a new thread and do not trust that the moderators 'clean up'.

Also frowned upon it to open a new thread without first searching the archives of the forum for threads with the same topic. Even if the thread is locked as found, is sometimes expected that you ask a moderator via private message to unlocking this old thread rather than open a new thread on the same topic.

Sticky thread

A sticky thread (or simply " Sticky ") is a special post that at the beginning of a forum (or blog) " pinned " is thus always remains at this position in order to increase its visibility and not to go by new threads. This usually contains important or general information with persistent benefits, such as announcements, rules, or guidelines, FAQs, or simply interesting topics. They are usually characterized by a notepad icon. An administrator or moderator of a forum can turn any thread into a sticky thread in a forum or a category for a specified or indefinite period.

Bump

A bump or push (English, about "push", " pushing ") is a means to increase awareness of an existing thread. Here, a user creates a message that the purpose is primarily used to bring the thread in a temporal order to the front. The " bumping " is frowned upon in most forums, when such messages have no new content or be repeated.

Slang

Occasionally the word " thread" is onomatopoeic Germanized to " Fred". This is often understood as a jocular comment on anglicisms, the transitions to the established language usage are fluent.