Proper Terminology when referring to Topic Categories?

[PeteF]

What is the proper terminology to use when referring to
the different categories of topics where we post at.

For example..

Kicken Hardware BBS (Referred to as the Forum)

Computer Help Desk (referred to as the Group?)

* Windows Vista...\
............................> (Referred to as the categories?)
* Windows XP..... /

I think of Kicken Hardware BBS the entire system or "Forum"
and the different places we can post as "categories", but what
is the proper terminology?

---pete---

[mylanta]

Pete,
I think BBS is antiquated terminology we are all used to using and I never refer to KH as such. What we are is a Forum.
Actually the different categores such as Vista, Windows XP really are separate forums as well...look all the way up top and you will see the entrance to
"Forums"...So I would say we are the KH Forum and we have many sub forums simply called forums inside the "wrapper".

[Terry Hanushek]

Pete

I am not exactly sure of the proper terminology but I have a slightly different take on the naming convention.

vBulletin identifies a collection of threads as a forum. Examples here at KH include Windows Vista, Windows XP and this one, Announcements, Feedback, etc. I have tried to use that term in my discussions.

In their Forum Manager which is available to moderators, vBulletin also refers to the next level as forums, sometimes using sub-forum and others times using parent (child). It appears that their terminology is based on their maintenance procedures rather than actual usage by clients. I have tried to use Category for this intermediate level to represent several related forums.

I tend to refer to the site as either KH or simply the BBS.

BTW I agree that we should probably have a separate forum in the About this Site category to discuss topics related specifically to the use of software.

My $.02

Terry

[Sam Ceccola]

From a user of this BBS and one that "ask questions" and tries to "answer other user's questions", the terminology that I use for is:
BBS = referring to all Kicken Hardware entries
Forum = Examples: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000,....Software Problems . These can also be referred to as Categories (Forum is a better word)
Thread = any single entry under a Forum

I hope my thought shed some light on terminology that I am use to using. Correct me if I am wrong.

Sam

[PeteF]

Ok thanks, all.. "Forums" it is.
---pete---