What's a 'discussion item'? (2000)

[wcutler]

I was cleaning up my inbox and found a "discussion item" that I had written just the day before. It shows as having been posted to my inbox, and I so cleverly entitled it "what is this?". I have no memory of having created it or even of seeing the words 'discussion item' anywhere. Where did I create it from? Discussion item is not one of the options under File |New or Forms in Inbox, Calendar or Tasks and it's not an Action anywhere I can find. It's hard for me to believe that I just created it last week, but that's what the "posted" date shows. It seems to be something that one posts. I wasn't in Outlook Express last week to access any newsgroup.

[AndrewO]

Is your virus checker up to date? <img src=/S/duck.gif border=0 alt=duck width=23 height=23>

[wcutler]

Yes, it's Norton Anti-Virus 2002 with definitions updated as of Oct 16. Why do you ask?

[AndrewO]

Just being cautious - generally when I get mail items that I don't remember creating I suspect one of two possibilities
1) I'm having a 'senior' moment
2) Virus activity
Neither seem to apply in your case <img src=/S/cheers.gif border=0 alt=cheers width=30 height=16>

[wcutler]

No, the senior moment is apt. But the question is, what is a discussion item and how (where) does one create them?

[AndrewO]

Sorry - all my searches turned up a blank too.
I assume that you've trolled through its properties and stuff like that? Can it be treated like mail - e.g. encapsulated and forwarded - I'd be intrigued to have a look at the offending item.

[AndrewO]

Wendy
Your used "File > New > Post in this folder" <img src=/S/bingo.gif border=0 alt=bingo width=15 height=22>
This feature is designed for use with 'Public Folders' which are Microsoft Exchange equivalents of bulletin boards.

[wcutler]

I hadn't thought of properties. When it's open, properties says "Type: Post", location: inbox.

And now I just found it: on the New dropdown list , the second item is Post in this folder . So now I'm back to the original question I typed into the post: what's it for? Maybe if it goes into a shared personal folder, so other people can read it? Why not just send them a note and file it in that folder? So you don't have to bother them? Then why bother with the post, and who would find it? I suppose someone actually asked for such a thing.

[wcutler]

Thanks, Andrew. You sent your answer as I was typing my last post. I see what you mean about the bulletin boards. Mystery entirely solved! Thanks for the help.