# Post vs Topic

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/post-vs-topic/251468>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [January 11, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/post-vs-topic/251468 "2023-01-11T20:12:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![piffy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/piffy/32/254198_2.png) [@piffy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/piffy)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/post-vs-topic/251468/2 "2023-01-11T20:24:26Z")

</div>

Replying to a post is intended for typing up a message that responds specifically to one post. The reply context will be included in your new post and the person you are replying to will get a notification

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/4/6/8/4685b35396a6d3c3d0fd0977a21e2c73fff4abb3.png)

Versus if you are replying to the topic generally, there is no reply context included

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/b/e/8/be898e053e40fbb7298bf5916a6f3967d77f0d79.png)

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On a side note, the default behaviour on Discourse is that “replying” to a post directly above yours causes the reply context to be removed when the post is published. I think the default behaviour is confusing because of the inconsistency but fortunately it can be changed in the Settings:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/f/1/6/f16e40f8c4e10d01dba0d9938bc4dfa0c2f2ef39.png)

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/post-vs-topic/251468)._