I may have to change the title of this discussion, which partly goes to my FR:

Offer an option for a discussion to include 'x' characters of the first post to that discussion - as is done for extensions.

Ideally, I would prefer that users could turn this on for a given discussion (with a description label) or admins for all discussions. I also like the idea of giving more prominence visually to the author of the discussion, as happens with extensions.

Titles are hard to write and sometimes impossible to write so they reflect the content of a discussion decently. If this is under user control, no harm, no foul?

[Apologies if this can already be done - please refer. I think I have mentioned this desire before in a 'blogging' context but can't find it.]