table thread: (id, parent_id, content FT, title FT) a main thread: (1, 0, "some content", "the title") a reply in the main thread: (2, 1, "more content", null) Because thread(id=2) is a part of the main thread(id=1), I want it to be a part of the search condition using fulltext. I only want "main threads" back in the result-set. The content in the "main thread" may not MATCH in search conditions, but the replies may... Therefore, the "main thread" should be a part of the resultset.