# Reply to Topic vs. Reply to Last Post
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [4 בדצמבר, 2018, 10:55am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453 "2018-12-04T10:55:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CapedCrusader](https://meta.discourse.org/u/CapedCrusader)
#### Post date: [4 בדצמבר, 2018, 10:55am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/1 "2018-12-04T10:55:25Z")
Hi there.
We have a Topic called “Introduce Yourself” where new users share a bit about themselves and what they hope to gain from our forum.
Users are meant to introduce themselves using the blue “Reply” button, as in reply-to-the-topic. However, they sometimes just click the first reply button that they see, which is the grey reply-to-the-last-post on the page button.
- Introducing yourself should be a reply to the Topic.
- Responses to an individual’s introduction should be a Reply to Post.
What are some ways I can adjust our settings to make this clearer?
I don’t want new users to introduce themselves in reply to someone else’s introduction because each user’s introduction can have a discussion going on–to be suddenly interrupted with “Hi, I’m John Doe, I’m new here and I’ve got 3 questions to ask.”
Thanks
–
EDIT: Related to this issue is the fact that replies to replies are not indented to indicate when a post is a reply to the topic or a reply to a reply. If there’s a setting that will help make this clearer too I’d love to know about it. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@tanius](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tanius)
#### Post date: [29 במרץ, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/2 "2019-03-29T21:41:18Z")
> [@CapedCrusader](#):
>
> What are some ways I can adjust our settings to make this clearer?
You could rename the grey “Reply” button as “Reply to user” and the blue one as “Reply to thread”. Unfortunately, this is not directly possible in the admin backend, so you’d need a CSS hack with `text:after` (hope that works, didn’t test).
The admin backend includes an extensive set of settings to adapt the site’s text under “Admin → Customize → Text content”, but unfortunately both reply buttons are governed by the same text key `js.topic.reply.title`.
But I can well imagine the Discourse developers would introduce two separate text keys for the grey and blue reply buttons, if you ask. It’s a reasonable feature and I have wished for it in the past myself.
In the meantime, whenever somebody uses the wrong reply button you can correct their action as an admin user as discussed in this thread:
> [@Reparent a post](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reparent-a-post/112512):
>
> Is it possible to reparent a post in a topic? Especially, when someone posts a comment as an answer (when using the [Question Answer Plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/question-answer-plugin/56032)), and someone posts a comment to an answer as an answer…
> [@CapedCrusader](#):
>
> Related to this issue is the fact that replies to replies are not indented to indicate when a post is a reply to the topic or a reply to a reply.
This – the semi-flat thread model – is one of the core features and innovations in Discourse. There are no settings to configure this and I propose you better get “used to it”. Once forum users get all used to this thread model, it’s really the better one: instead of a confusing 7-10 levels of indentation, the thread is one linear flow, just as a verbal discussion. Once people start making heavy use of the “quote” feature to reply to multiple posts at once, they “got it”.
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [29 במרץ, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/3 "2019-03-29T21:49:31Z")
In addition to this, it is a bit hacky, but you CAN target a specific topic in your CSS if need be.
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### Author:  [@Loki](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Loki)
#### Post date: [18 ביולי, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/4 "2019-07-18T13:51:39Z")
Just wondering if perhaps Discourse has split the js.topic.reply.title so we can easily rename the two Reply buttons to Reply to User and Reply to Topic?
If so, can we get detailed instructions on how to make this change (for a non css knowledgable admin)?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@rizka](https://meta.discourse.org/u/rizka)
#### Post date: [18 ביולי, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/5 "2019-07-18T16:57:23Z")
I agree. I’ve argued for it in another topic:
> [@Request for splitting js.topic.reply.title](https://meta.discourse.org/t/request-for-splitting-js-topic-reply-title/54153/4):
>
> @Silvanus who proposed this is a native Finnish speaker like me. In Finnish language we have a perfect word to translate “Reply” (“Vastaa”). For me the words are perfect synonyms so if an English speaker understands, a Finnish speaker should understand, too. It doesn’t mean that you are wrong, though: there could be other languages where it could be a real issue. I still think I know why @Silvanus wanted to see this happen and I agree with him. I think it’s more about forum cultures. Here in M…
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [18 ביולי, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/6 "2019-07-18T21:33:07Z")
Unlikely to happen, for the record. That’s why the topic is closed.
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### Author:  [@Loki](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Loki)
#### Post date: [19 ביולי, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/7 "2019-07-19T00:20:20Z")
Is it difficult to do, or is there another reason?
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [11 בינואר, 2023, 6:23am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/reply-to-topic-vs-reply-to-last-post/103453/10 "2023-01-11T06:23:08Z")