A quick question for obsidian users: do you have a system for when you use tags and when you use back links (and if yes, what is it)?

@ChrisJWilson I only use links 🤔

@ChrisJWilson I’ve been using tags for large umbrella subjects, mostly on reference materials. Things like design, ux, creativity, etc. Everything else is linked through the titles of notes.

@philbowell @hjertnes interesting. I’ve mostly used links and indexes (MOCs) for big topics. The use I’ve found for tags is showing the status of a note. (I.e. ToRead, ToCreate, Draft, Published.) But I’m open to other ideas.

@ChrisJWilson interesting. 🤔

I use links because I think it’s a good idea to document what something is. Mostly because I know myself well enough to not trust that I remember 😅

@ChrisJWilson I’m just starting to use Obsidian and am trying to figure this out myself.

@jmreekes @hjertnes honestly, tags seemed a bit strange to me at first (as the idea of zettelkasten is just to use links, right?) and most typical uses for tags should get covered by links? I’m sure there’s a good thread in the obsidian forum.

@hjertnes @ChrisJWilson I don’t follow Zettelkasten either, just folders. I’m thinking of using tags for broad areas (like Gear). As far as religious people using it, I think it’s because so easy to link and make connections to other notes

@hjertnes @jmreekes because we’re cool? JK.
I suspect it’s a couple of things.

1. Religious groups often have an element of lifelong learning/study. So, they are probably overrepresented as a percentage of those who want to take and save notes
2. Having one, main religious text/scripture encourages this kind of linking. You want to go back over old notes when you reread (to properly understand context etc).
   That would be my guess.

@ChrisJWilson that makes sense. Thanks!

@ChrisJWilson interesting, I do use a seed tag for new notes that I need to flesh out. I guess I use tags for things I know won’t be notes. Eg, I don’t need a UX note, but I want to be able to tie notes together under that “area”. So I can see reference notes and notes I’ve written with a potential connection but one I’ve yet to make. If that makes sense.

@philbowell that does make sense. “Things that won’t be notes” is a great thought process. Do you do index notes? A note with links to other notes? I.e. I have a book summary note with three sentence book summaries and link to the longer book summary.

@ChrisJWilson not at the moment but it’s something I’ve been thinking about. I’d like to get to the point where book notes are referenced in notes I write so that I don’t need those kinds of notes, but I can see their value to help find those notes in the first place.

@gpittman thanks for such a detailed response. One of the things I love about obsidian is the flexibility for people to use very different systems (I.e. from no tags to tag all the things).