What's the difference betrween a board and a forum
Thanks all
March 14, 2006, 19:05
Kalleh
You use a board to build things with, and a forum is a gathering of people to discuss a topic.
Seriously, I don't see any difference between an electronic forum and discussion board. Is there?
March 15, 2006, 03:00
arnie
The way it's used here is that this site is the Wordcraft board. Within the board are a number of forums, (Questions & Answers about Words, Wordplay, The Written Word, etc.) Each forum contains individual threads about a particular topic.
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 15, 2006, 07:24
dalehileman
message board – SCRIPT on WEBSITE with submission form that allows visitors to post messages...usu sorted within discussion categories, or topics [THREADS] chosen by host, or possibly visitor...also called a WEB BOARD or FORUM--free-webhosts Definition: ~
Doesn't The above def conflict with arnie's def, depending on your interpretation of "submission form," and doesn't his contain the implication that a topic is the same as a forum
Yet many use "thread" to mean "topic"
While we're on the subject, am I not correct in asserting that a thread contains a reply and usu one or more followups; that a reply to a followup is also called a "followup"
Incidentally I had never heard a website referred to as a "script," ad I wonder whether anyone can verify the usage
Am I not also correct in observing that the reply is often (incorrectly?) referred to as a followup
Thanks allThis message has been edited. Last edited by: dalehileman,
March 15, 2006, 07:41
arnie
The first in a thread is usually called the original post or variants; sometimes abbreviated to OP. Further posts are usually called replies.
Other boards may use slightly different nomenclature because of custom or what the software developer decides to call the various aspects.
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 15, 2006, 07:57
dalehileman
arnie, what a diligent fellow
Your reply appeared even before I was done editing, but thank you for the clarification
It is becoming increasingly clear however that meanings for all these terms are yet being established. Does anyone know of an "authoritative" dictionary-jargon-lexicon-glossary dealing specifically with such variations or should I go to Wiki
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 15, 2006, 10:42
arnie
I must make it clear that there is no right or wrong name for these. What we call things may well go by another name on a different board. Even among ourselves I feel sure that we are liable to give them different names, particularly if we have already used one word and don't want to repeat ourselves.
The individual messages in a forum are probably most frequently called posts; this has the advantage of also referring to the original message that started the thread, which "replies" or "followups" cannot.
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 15, 2006, 17:24
tinman
quote:
Originally posted by arnie: The way it's used here is that this site is the Wordcraft board. Within the board are a number of forums, (Questions & Answers about Words, Wordplay, The Written Word, etc.) Each forum contains individual threads about a particular topic.
So, a board is a bunch of forums sewn together with threads?
Tinman
March 16, 2006, 02:35
arnie
Exactly!
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 16, 2006, 09:06
dalehileman
What's lacking here is a term for the post that's a followup to a followup
Incidentallly arnie, without a thorough Googling I can't find much support for "variant" as you used it. If you would care to elucidate I would be much indebtedThis message has been edited. Last edited by: dalehileman,
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 16, 2006, 16:49
dalehileman
arnie: By coincidence OneLook was the first source I tried. There was one link to "variant" under "Computers" but it had apparently been deleted
I had supposed that "variants" was a neologism relating somehow to a reply to a thread But then it occurred to me upon re-reading the post...
"The first in a thread is usually called the original post or variants"
...that you weren't using the word in some obscure new sense but in its more conventional usage; that what you undoubtedly meant was "variants thereof," or other terms synonynymous with "first post"
I have this bad habit at first take of seeing things as more complex than needbe
PS: Yes a followup to a followup would certainly qualify as a further post or a reply. I was exercising a bit of persiflage in hoping that there might be a more specific termThis message has been edited. Last edited by: dalehileman,