I was curious to see a discussion about why topics are called topics and not threads (the more common term in online forums, according to my experience) but so far I have not been able to find any. Has this really not been discussed previously?
Personally, I have gotten used to the discourse terminology but I find it somewhat of a pain when trying to explain things to new users, as “topic” is not intuitively understood while thread is well known from email and other online forums. Yet, I am reluctant to customize the terminology assuming that the default terminology was a very conscious choice by the discourse team…
From a non-english point of view, I think that “thread” is a terminology related to the forum technology (as “the string of all posts”), while “topic” is related to discussions (as the “subject under discussion”). So if this is a platform for discussions I think “topic” is the right term.
Topic is perfectly appropriate in ways that thread never can be:
A topic describes content. As others have already pointed out, a thread describes the mode of operation where messages are connected in threads.
Thread is also a literary term but a topic describes focus at a higher level than a thread which, in literary terms, always runs through a larger body of text.
A thread is interior to a topic. One topic can have many threads. New topics become new threads.
A topic is more focussed than a thread. Topics are major parts whereas threads are minor parts in the main discussion.
Technically, you do not have a thread until there is at least a message in response/reply.
Likewise, in computer systems threads don’t normally exist independently. They normally execute from a process. However, there are exceptions which is another reason for avoiding the technical computing term where threads are concerned.
Oy! I just asked this same question to a Discourse Team member I am working about a data migration. I was trying to describe an issue and Discourse wouldn’t let me use the “bad word”. Really? I’d understand if it was the F-word or something like that, but…
As a result, I had to stop what I was doing to post screenshot like Steve did above. The whole thing slowed me down in trying to communicate.
Yes, I saw Jeff’s posting. I understand you may not want it on Meta, but this was my own Discourse instance, following a data migration where a “string” (allowed?) of continuous posts was broken up into 5 separate ones ("bad words:). I’m in communication with your Team member and he’ll resolve my separate question. Thanks.
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