A method of operating a message system can include maintaining a list of users of the message system and maintaining a connection list and a message stream for each user of the message system. After receiving a message from a first user of the message system, the received message can be published on the message stream of the first user and on the message streams of the users identified in the first user's connection list. If the received message is detected to be a reply to an earlier message from a second user, then the earlier message can be published on the message streams of the users identified in the first user's connection list, who are not in the second user's connection list.