[net.followup] curiosity: what is a discussion/followup anyway?

kgdykes (07/08/82)

at what point should these followup/discussion subgroups be used?
is the FIRST message of "profound interpretations" the start of a discussion?
or is the "reply" to that message the start?
or the reply to the reply?
the reply to the reply to the........????
to me, it would seem the first one or two replies should appear in the same
place as what they are replying to
*but*
what determines WHERE what they are replying to belongs?
some dictionary definition of the word "discussion" would probably imply
some multi-way continuing conversation
but is a reply a making of a "conversation" or is the reply-to-the reply
obviously the start of a conversation?
and "continuing" could probably only be judged with hindsight?
basically, i seek "authoritative" definition of when these/this group
should be used
         confusidly yours,
              Ken