Topic = subject/material being discussed withing the individual posts, making up the core of the discussion, thus what is the topic?

Let's tackle this from another point of view. When you compose a new email to someone, do you give it a subject/title to describe the contents, to which you may very well get a reply and even carry on a conversation (thus a THREAD of emails)? Or do you give it a thread to describe the contents?

Doing some research on the words will show you that topic is the more appropriate word to use. "Back in the day", when you started a new discussion, it asked for the subject. Even though the posts were still 'threaded' together, it wasn't called a thread.

Another thing to consider is that the word 'thread' also refers to the LAYOUT of the posts, but someone can view the topic in a different ways. IMDb has "thread, flat, inline and nest" for the different views and to start a new discussion, you click a link to "Start New Topic". IPB has "Standard, Linear+ and Outline" for the views and you click a button to "Start New Topic" or "Start A New Topic".

:)

I get confused by your posts, haha. In half of your post, you're actually agreeing with me - eventhough you don't seem to understand it because then in the other half of your post you're contradicting with everything you said in the first part.

Regarding the new email. I do give it a subject/title/TOPIC(!!) to describe its content. Same as when creating new discussions on the forum, I give the discussion a topic. And regarding the replies, it IS a thread of email, same as on the forums, there will be a thread of posts forming a.. you guessed it.. a THREAD about a TOPIC. The posts are a thread, the topic is just a description of what the thread subject is. Just like you said, the subject of the email is describing the content. The replies that I get will be a thread of replies.

Regarding all else, now you switch and saying that topic is more appropriate eventhough you just agreed with everything I am saying xD

having a guilt maker and a clothing maker as a mother a thread to me has more to do with her job then a forum.

Thread makes more sense imo. Topic is just that, a topic, aka a 'subject'. You start threads about a particular topic, not a topic about a topic :lol:

thread noun
(3) Computing, a group of linked messages posted on the Internet that share a common subject or theme.

I'm not bothered what IPB uses, so long as we can change it to 'thread' in the language options for our own boards :)

I get confused by your posts, haha. In half of your post, you're actually agreeing with me - eventhough you don't seem to understand it because then in the other half of your post you're contradicting with everything you said in the first part.

Regarding the new email. I do give it a subject/title/TOPIC(!!) to describe its content. Same as when creating new discussions on the forum, I give the discussion a topic. And regarding the replies, it IS a thread of email, same as on the forums, there will be a thread of posts forming a.. you guessed it.. a THREAD about a TOPIC. The posts are a thread, the topic is just a description of what the thread subject is. Just like you said, the subject of the email is describing the content. The replies that I get will be a thread of replies.

Regarding all else, now you switch and saying that topic is more appropriate eventhough you just agreed with everything I am saying xD

Actually, you are the one who says things that have me confused as to why you insist on the word thread, since your arguments actually support the word topic instead. You just don't see it because it's so plainly obvious.

What it comes down to is saying the same thing, just that you can't see that topic is the more appropriate choice even though your points and logic scream it out loudly.

What would you like to discuss? That would be a topic. The topic is the idea, the main purpose, the goal, the intent. If you want to start a new thread, then grab a needle and start sewing. Heck, there's even a song which comments on it.. "Sew, a needle pulling thread".

I'm not bothered what IPB uses, so long as we can change it to 'thread' in the language options for our own boards :)

Interesting idea. Would that be a skin change on an IP.Board? i.e. when upgrading those types of changes would not be over written? (assuming skin compatibility).

Interesting idea. Would that be a skin change on an IP.Board? i.e. when upgrading those types of changes would not be over written? (assuming skin compatibility).

Language, not skin. Most of the buttons now are background images, with language bits being used to overlay the buttons. Rather nice because then skins can be more universal instead of language based.

FWIW, thread is much better and I would wager more "technically correct", but I really doubt I will get many emails asking how to start a new thread when my conversion is complete. Not sure why there needs to be drama.

Personally I would change it to "discussion" and be done with it.

What I think NO ONE is pointing out:
A thread is a topic of discussion.
A topic of discussion is discussed on forums in threads.

On a forum a Thread and a Topic are essentially the same thing. So why are we still discussing this?

Actually, you are the one who says things that have me confused as to why you insist on the word thread, since your arguments actually support the word topic instead. You just don't see it because it's so plainly obvious.

What it comes down to is saying the same thing, just that you can't see that topic is the more appropriate choice even though your points and logic scream it out loudly.

What would you like to discuss? That would be a topic. The topic is the idea, the main purpose, the goal, the intent. If you want to start a new thread, then grab a needle and start sewing. Heck, there's even a song which comments on it.. "Sew, a needle pulling thread".

Please read this:

Thread makes more sense imo. Topic is just that, a topic, aka a 'subject'. You start threads about a particular topic, not a topic about a topic :lol:

thread noun

(3) Computing, a group of linked messages posted on the Internet that share a common subject or theme.

I'm not bothered what IPB uses, so long as we can change it to 'thread' in the language options for our own boards :)

This is basically what I've been saying all the time. The topic is the subject of the thread and the thread is where the posts about the topic are stored/grouped.

Me: You can't create a topic about a topic.
You: No of course not, you create a topic.
Me: Uh-huh, you create a topic.. about what?
You: Ehh? I create a topic that we discuss.
Me: And where will you discuss it?
You: Within the topic?
Me: You're discussing a topic within a topic then?
You: Yes..
Me: So you've created a topic about a topic basically?

Okay, I have really bad imagination, but really.. this should explain. You're discussing a topic, within a thread.
Creating a topic about a topic is just.. stupid. But that's what you're enforcing by saying that this.. that we're discussing in now, is a topic. Because my topic is "Topic vs Thread?". That is, after all, what we're discussing here. So basically, we're discussing a topic, within a topic. <- Stupid. :P

Okay, I have really bad imagination, but really.. this should explain. You're discussing a topic, within a thread.

Creating a topic about a topic is just.. stupid. But that's what you're enforcing by saying that this.. that we're discussing in now, is a topic. Because my topic is "Topic vs Thread?". That is, after all, what we're discussing here. So basically, we're discussing a topic, within a topic. <- Stupid. :P

Would you rather it say, "Start a new post"? Because that's what you're doing basically. So why not argue that point?

How about this.. The posts within a topic are bagged together. So let's change it from 'thread' to 'bag. Would you like to start a new 'bag' about this?

How about this.. The posts within a topic are bagged together. So let's change it from 'thread' to 'bag. Would you like to start a new 'bag' about this?

But Wolfie, cloth bags are made from threads and have seams. Now I am confused.

But Wolfie, cloth bags are made from threads and have seams. Now I am confused. [img]

[/img]

Plastic trash bags.

Duh. Forgot. Since vB uses the term "thread" it needs to turn into an epic battle to justify why its called something else.

I personally prefer and almost always use the word "thread", probably the result of only being active as a member/moderator/admin on vB powered forums for close to 2 years.

I don't think it needs to be changed though. If you want to change it on your forum you can always edit the languages.

1) Go to Admin CP --> Look & Feel --> Manage Languages
2) Click on your language
3) In the little search box, type "topic" and hit enter.
4) Modify each result to "thread", "discussion", or whatever other word you so desire
5) Click "Go"
6) Grab a cup of tea

Problem solved.

Two pages on topic v. thread? lol

To me a topic is a topic of conversation. Thread seems so... old school (as with so many things in some other software). Like back in the old days with threaded message boards. Pretty sure the web has evolved beyond that.

For what it's worth. I chose "topic" many eons ago as it was generally accepted that "threads" referred to older style 'threaded' message boards and 'topics' referred to the newer type 'linear' boards. That's the sole reason.

Either way, I don't think it's a problem. I've yet to meet a single person who is confused by the synonym.

Maybe you can make a setting to choose between the 3

Why stop at 3?

I think we should have a setting:

- Use 'topics'.
- Use 'threads'
- Randomize
- Allow a per user setting
- Switched off at group level
- With option of custom setting for paid subscribers.

I could write custom per-app class that could define the terminology and actually abstract it as its own framework so we can extend it into other areas such as BBCODE, etc.

I vote for just the randomize setting. You should have to Mod it to stay one way or the other.

Why stop at 3?

I think we should have a setting:

- Use 'topics'.

- Use 'threads'

- Randomize

- Allow a per user setting

- Switched off at group level

- With option of custom setting for paid subscribers.

I could write custom per-app class that could define the terminology and actually abstract it as its own framework so we can extend it into other areas such as BBCODE, etc.

Don't forget per-forum and per-topic settings.

In fact, we could make it so when you click on any word anywhere in IP.Board, it is replaced with a textbox that you could type your own word into, and then saved by AJAX.
Would need to be able to disable that per-user and group. And add a per-user setting to define on click / on hover / on doubleclick.

Seems like the best solution.

Possible icon idea:

Why stop at 3?

I think we should have a setting:

- Use 'topics'.

- Use 'threads'

- Randomize

- Allow a per user setting

- Switched off at group level

- With option of custom setting for paid subscribers.

I could write custom per-app class that could define the terminology and actually abstract it as its own framework so we can extend it into other areas such as BBCODE, etc.

Add to the list:
- Use the way my previous board was

2) Click on your language

3) In the little search box, type "topic" and hit enter.

4) Modify each result to "thread", "discussion", or whatever other word you so desire

5) Click "Go"

6) Grab a cup of tea

Problem solved.

That's not what I was wondering though. I know that you can change the language to modify this, and I'm very greatful for that. I just wondered why you picked Topic in the first place.

Two pages on topic v. thread? lol

To me a topic is a topic of conversation. Thread seems so... old school (as with so many things in some other software). Like back in the old days with threaded message boards. Pretty sure the web has evolved beyond that.

For what it's worth. I chose "topic" many eons ago as it was generally accepted that "threads" referred to older style 'threaded' message boards and 'topics' referred to the newer type 'linear' boards. That's the sole reason.

Either way, I don't think it's a problem. I've yet to meet a single person who is confused by the synonym.

Finally some explanations :) All I got before was "To me topic makes more sense".
I understand to some level why you picked topic, but I would still dare to say that it is the wrong word. Perhaps thread is the wrong word too.

But I mean.. To take the Wolfie example about school.

School = entire board

schedule, after school activities, staff, etc = different categories

Within the categories you would have different forums. In the schedule category you would have the different classes (math, science, etc)

Within the math class, you would have different topics related to math (division, fractions, etc)

Within those topics, you would have posts

The topic can be division. Much like my topic is "Topic vs Thread?". The discussion in the math class would revolve around the topic division. But! The discussion takes place within the classroom. If I were to say it with IPS naming rules, I would have a math class about division in division. The topic is what the discussion is about, but it's not the name for where the discussion takes place.

But like I said, perhaps thread is the wrong word to use too. I just know that topic however, is completely wrong in my eyes(and apparently a few others aswell).

Maybe you can make a setting to choose between the 3 [img]

[/img]

That would be so awesome. Normally it would be a waste of resources/time to implement a feature like that but seeing as how many actually are debating if it should be thread or topic, it could be a wise choice to implement something like that to be able to quickly change the word used to describe a topic/thread/conversation/discussion. Another thing is also that manually changing this in a language pack takes years >.< (I tried the demo yesterday - took me 1 hour to change a lot, and I still hadn't done all..).

Why stop at 3?

I think we should have a setting:

- Use 'topics'.

- Use 'threads'

- Randomize

- Allow a per user setting

- Switched off at group level

- With option of custom setting for paid subscribers.

I could write custom per-app class that could define the terminology and actually abstract it as its own framework so we can extend it into other areas such as BBCODE, etc.

Don't forget per-forum and per-topic settings.

In fact, we could make it so when you click on any word anywhere in IP.Board, it is replaced with a textbox that you could type your own word into, and then saved by AJAX.

Would need to be able to disable that per-user and group. And add a per-user setting to define on click / on hover / on doubleclick.

Seems like the best solution.

Possible icon idea:

[img]

[/img]

Why do I get the feeling that you're just joking? :P