Online help forums: can someone explain what is a "thread" ?

Question

I've run into that term more than once but don't completely understand. Does it just mean you want to ask a question about a new subject? But wouldn't every question be a new one? I'm so confused! And what do they mean by "hijacking a thread?" How could anyone do that?

Answer 1

A thread is a first post made by a user and all the replies to that particular post on a forum. Hijacking a thread is when you change the topic from the original topic of the thread. It become hijacking when other people join in on the topic which is off topic.

Answer 2

If you ask a question and I answer that is starting a thread. Then someone else answers and on and on.  It becomes like a little rope or piece of thread.

Here

(1) In online discussions, a series of messages that have been posted as replies to each other. A single forum or conference typically contains many threads covering different subjects. By reading each message in a thread, one after the other, you can see how the discussion has evolved. You can start a new thread by posting a message that is not a reply to an earlier message.

(2) In programming, a part of a program that can execute independently of other parts. Operating systems that support multithreading enable programmers to design programs whose threaded parts can execute concurrently.  

Answer 3

A thread is just a name for a subject/topic/post thathas more than 1 answer/reply

Answer 4

Yes a thread is a new posting.  either asking a question or just starting your own discussion.

Hijacking a thread is when somebody changes the subject or tryings to change the direction of the thread.  Usually if you have a different question then you should start your own thread instead of asking it in somebody else thread.  

Answer 5

When you ask a question, you start a thread.  All the posts and/or answers that follow that question compose the "thread"

"hijacking a thread" is when somebody posts something that has absolutly no connection to the thread subject.  For example, if someone posts the question "How do I turn on a computer" and sombody responds.  "My cat is yellow, does anyone want to see a picture"