1. A method of threading video messages, the method comprising: automatically maintaining a data store storing a set of video messages and thread information interrelating the video messages, the video messages having been recorded and submitted as messages from users; generating a thread view user interface from the video messages and the thread information, the thread view comprising graphic representations of the video messages, respectively and graphic indicia of connections corresponding to commonalities between the video messages; displaying the thread view user interface at a computer operated by one of the users; and receiving, via the thread view user interface, user input comprising a user interaction with a user-designated one of the graphic representations corresponding to a user-designated one of the video messages, and in response to receiving the user input automatically generating a new video message responding to the user-designated video message by: automatically capturing video at the computer as part of the new video message, automatically storing the new video message in the data store, and automatically updating the thread information to link the new video message to the user-designated video message, whereby the new video message becomes available to the users when the users access the video messages.
1. A method of threading video messages, the method comprising: automatically maintaining a data store storing a set of video messages and thread information interrelating the video messages, the video messages having been recorded and submitted as messages from users; generating a thread view user interface from the video messages and the thread information, the thread view comprising graphic representations of the video messages, respectively and graphic indicia of connections corresponding to commonalities between the video messages; displaying the thread view user interface at a computer operated by one of the users; and receiving, via the thread view user interface, user input comprising a user interaction with a user-designated one of the graphic representations corresponding to a user-designated one of the video messages, and in response to receiving the user input automatically generating a new video message responding to the user-designated video message by: automatically capturing video at the computer as part of the new video message, automatically storing the new video message in the data store, and automatically updating the thread information to link the new video message to the user-designated video message, whereby the new video message becomes available to the users when the users access the video messages. 5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving additional user input directed to a user-designated path through the hierarchy of message icons, and in response automatically playing the corresponding video messages consecutively in an order corresponding to an order of the message icons in the user-designated path.