Message threading has got corrupted by using tags
Until a few days ago the messages were threaded according to traditional rules of Message ID and Reference headers. I've just checked the configuration editor and it is still set to those default settings. However behaviour is not the default anymore. Some messages are now being inserted into threads with which they have no relevance (even if the config had been altered). I have examined the headers but not found any corruption in them. The only thing I had done just before it happened was to start using tags. I have now deleted all tags but the corrupted threading has not been put right. I have exited and restarted - no change. I've also tried safe mode - still no change. How do I get the threads back in order? Only some messages are misplaced but it is difficult to locate new messages hiding in the middle of irelevant threads.
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I actually doubt threading and tags have anything to do with one another. I think that may just be a coincidence.
Right click the folder, select properties and then repair and see if that helps with the threading.
I couldn't see the connection either but the usual response to a question is "what did you do just before it happened" so I tried to find an answer,
I've now tried this repair and found that all threading information went missing, i.e. the up/down arrow heads and lines. I tried a second time but still no good. I exited and restarted, still no good. When I tried a third time it told me I had to wait for previous attempt to complete. Eventually I noticed the countdown in the status bar but the arrow heads and lines never appeared.
At last I've found what I had inadvertantly touched. It was the Thread column header at the far left of the list pane,
Since I reported problem solved it has occurred again. A new message has got attached to an unrelated thread. I hadn't touched that thread column header. I tried cancelling the thread features and setting it up again but the new message was still attached to the unrelated thread. Looking back over past mesages I don't see those threads re-corrupted.
Sometimes people start a new thread by replying to a message and then changing the subject, causing threading on message-ID to go wrong, just as you described. Can you check the wrong message, view the source or all headers and see if it has a References or In-Reply-To header?
I am aware of such problems that you describe but this was not the case here. In both cases (it has only happened twice since I thought the problem had been solved) the interloper was a small mailing list, which attached to a private conversation. In the first case the sender was unlikely to know anyone but me, for the second others would have been known but there was no evidence of this in the email. I've rechecked the headers refered to to be sure. The other interesting point is that the first interloping message has now detached itself for unknown reason, The second is still attached in the Inbox - it is not attached in the All Mail list.
I wrote too soon. Another circular has got attached to a conversation. There is definitely no connection of any sort between them, and no References in the headers.
Occasionally still happening. I find I can put it right by moving the incorrectly attached message to another folder, then moving it back. Haven't found how to stop it happening.
I qualify previous statement. It doesn't always go right by moving it back and forth. I've rechecked the headers Message ID: , References: and In reply to: - nothing wrong with them, Thunderbird just messes it up. Is anyone from Thunderbird support reading this?