A method and a system for managing and tracking information items within a
message-based system on a user system are disclosed. The message-based
system has a viewer. A thrask is generated. The thrask includes at least
one information item having a set of metadata. A new information is
sorted into the thrask in accordance with at least one criterion. The
thrask and at least one of the metadata of one of the information items
in the thrask are displayed in the viewer.