# Plugin: Ask me anything or Q&A format (threaded replies)

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/plugin-ask-me-anything-or-q-a-format-threaded-replies/44950>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Tags:** rfc\
**Created:** [28 במאי,‏ 2016,‏ 5:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/plugin-ask-me-anything-or-q-a-format-threaded-replies/44950 "2016-05-28T17:39:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![erlend\_sh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/erlend_sh/32/119475_2.png) [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)\
**Post date:** [28 במאי,‏ 2016,‏ 5:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/plugin-ask-me-anything-or-q-a-format-threaded-replies/44950/1 "2016-05-28T17:39:59Z")

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> [@Doing an AMA using Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/t/doing-an-ama-using-discourse/12103/22):
>
> I could see having an optional topic setting that forces all replies to one level (no multi-level, just one) and docks them under the thing they are replying to. This would completely destroy conversation chronology, but it would make AMAs, or any other “in this topic, we shall discuss absolutely any random topic at all with no limitations” topics, easier to deal with.

This is what I’ll try to establish a spec for here. There’s an example of an AMA being carried out with Discourse here:

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>
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Here’s why it gets problematic:

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/c/1/c1d677fe505044e90959bd08292f35aa4659f4e3.png)

Imagine a “Q&A mode” which would do the following:

- The “X Reply” button is toggled on by default, showing all replies inline
- All replies should be hidden from the stream. As in, only the inline version of the reply should be visible.
- Inline replies need the toolbar with Likes etc. now, since they won’t be showing up elsewhere.
- Even when the reply is directly underneath the preceding question, only the indented version of the reply should be shown, for consistency.
- Consequently, replies to the topic (i.e. Questions) would be shown chronologically, whereas replies to posts (i.e. Answers or further discussion) will be shown directly underneath their parent posts.

It’d look something like this:

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/8/b/8b53703c75afc4566f5ca42ffb5e10ac6ac9d6cc.png)

Note: The mockup is missing a Reply button because the topic is closed, and I also didn’t add toolbars to the Answer-replies.

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