Discussion threads group comments on a single topic and can appear in various orders. Netiquette requires staying on topic and responding appropriately to individual comments. Open threads allow for broader discussion.
Discussion threads, sometimes also called topic threads or threaded discussions, can exist within Internet message boards, blogs, e-mail lists, and even on news sites where you can post comments. A discussion thread refers to two separate but related things. First they are the act, which can be handled by software or a moderator, of grouping all comments or threads on the same topic. Secondly, a discussion thread can be defined as a topic under discussion by a group. The thread is a single focused topic, in most cases, and all comments regarding the topic are listed with it.
By the first definition, there can be several ways to group a single discussion thread. Each post can simply appear in the order it was received. On moderated sites, posts in the same thread may not appear for a while until someone reads and approves the reply. Other times, the most recent post appears first and the initial comments are grouped in reverse order.
Within discussion threads, people may have the option to reply to an individual discussion post, which could then be listed right below the post, often indicated to show that it is a reply by lightly selecting replies or by title of the topic. If you disagree with someone’s point of view or want to praise something another poster has said, you may be able to respond directly to their comments. This raises an interesting issue related to each unique discussion thread.
Netiquette dictates that you really understand how to post and how a post will appear within a discussion thread. If posts appear in order received or reverse order without a reply function, you may want to reference the post of the person you’re discussing so people understand what you’re talking about. It can be easy to lose the meaning of your post when you can’t reply within a thread. You should also be sure if you’re just adding new thoughts to discussion threads that you’re not using a reply function to reply to someone else’s particular comment, unless that’s your intent.
Another netiquette problem occurs because a single discussion thread often requires you to stay on topic. If you have a new issue that isn’t related to a particular thread, you could post it elsewhere on a site, possibly in the form of a blog or a new message. Essentially, you should look elsewhere to generate your “new” idea instead of adding it to a thread it’s not related to.
There is one exception. Sometimes an article, blog, or topic is large and encourages an open thread, meaning you can discuss anything related to a much larger issue or make as little appreciative or negative comments as you see fit. An open discussion thread is not bound by the same rules of etiquette, although you may still want to follow the advice for responding to specific comments, as suggested above.
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