Frances Bell

I suppose we would need some research to see what people are actually thinking and doing and whether it makes a difference.  Imagining someone using the approach you use, they might have several new posts to read (possibly in different subthreads but all presented together).  They might make a general response to what is new in the topic but have to choose one to reply to.  This could be quite confusing for someone using threaded or nested view, particularly in long and broad threads.
Anecdotally, I have experience on Moodle (and other CMC) of I and others misquoting and misattributing, and of misunderstandings.
Dillenoburg & Traum seems to say a little misunderstanding might be productive
"This classification enables us to view grounding and agreement as different points in a continuum going from complete mutual ignorance to completely shared understanding. By extending the notion of grounding

to the notion conflict resolution, we also relate this research with the socio-cognitive theory (Doise &

Mugny, 1984). Conflict resolution has been intensively studied in research on collaborative learning. It

extends the piagetian concept of conflict to the inter-psychological plane. We have two reasons to bypass

the distinction between misunderstanding and disagreement. First, to be able to disagree requires a certain

level of mutual understanding. Second, empirical studies have shown that real conflict (p versus ~p) was not  a condition for learning, that some slight difference of understanding may be sufficient to generate argumentation. Learning probably results less from the intensity of the conflict than from the fact that it

generates verbalizations (Blaye, 1988).

"
http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/publicat/dil-papers-2/Dil.7.5.17.pdf
I am sure that the generally supportive atmosphere on Moodle helps here too.

In the 'Art teacher' topic, I posted a (slightly flippant) suggestion that a Moodle discussion thread tends to be limited by the relationship between
A) the breadth of threads and a reader's screen width, and
B) the depth of threads and their patience in waiting for it to load. 

It has been pointed out to me in a private message that this can be managed by use of the forum view options.

My belief is that misunderstanding is part of the human condition (and even more common online)  and part of our life tasks are to reduce misunderstandings, increase real dialogue where we really listen and maybe change our minds.  I think that is something really worth doing  can be observed  daily on Moodle.org (especially the aforementioned thread).

Regarding Moodle functionality, I think that the ‘personalisation’ of the forum representation (choose from 4) may actually increase opportunities for misunderstanding where participants are using different views.  I had this experience recently where someone replied directly to my post and I interpreted the response as to my post, where he meant a much more general response to the thread.  In my threaded view of the forum, this was a misplaced reply but not in a flat view.

Are there problems in communication between those of us using nested or threaded views and others?  I find that I have to move to newest first ina long thread, and feel frustrated by the loss of threading.
So there may be a tension between multiple views and common understanding (to the extent to which that is possible anyway).  Does this matter? and could Moodle support clearer communication?
Lastly, Martin Langhoff's (slightly bossy) request to move the discussion elsewhere has been ignored and he has been sensible enough not to follow through with his threat to call everyone Nazis

James,
I am going to start another thread about structure and style rather than content of the thread not to close this down (it's very interesting even if becoming increasingly hard to view) but so that the topic of this thread can continue aand the associated topic of managing these long threads in Moodle can be discussed as a topic on its own.

Hmmm, Martin invokes Godwin's law but it does not apply to all posters. 
I would like to hypothesise another law (that we could call Art (Lader) Teacher law) that a Moodle discussion thread tends to be limited by the relationship between
A) the breadth of threads and a reader's screen width, and
B) the depth of threads and their patience in waiting for it to load. 
In this sub-thread I am OK on A but struggling on B whereas in another 'interesting ' subthread I am struggling on both.
BTW I am fairly patient and using a 17" monitor.
Maybe someone could propose an equation or two.
I am 'whistling down the wind' on this kitten thing.

elgg does deserve some discussion, and not just in the blogs forum.  It is genuinely 'different' from any course management system, even one as excellent as Moodle.
 Whislt Moodle does have excellent support for the individual (including personalisation) I believe that it is provider/space-centric e.g comprising courses within an installation.  That is entirely reasonable given its remit. 
Something like elgg very much focuses on the individual and their networks. What I love about it is that it puts the choice on privacy very firmly with the user - I will make this post private, and this one for my friends, and that one public. An elgg blog is different from a Moodle blog.