[Usenet; orig. fr. the Island MUD via Oxford University] Abbreviation
for “predictable”, used to signify or preempt responses that
are extremely predictable but have to be filled in for the sake of form
(the phrase is bracketed by <pred>...</pred>). X-Pred headers
in mail or news serve the same end. Figuring out the connection between
the X-Pred tagline and the thread is part of the entertainment. For
example, it is said that any thread about taxation must contain a reference
to Raquel Welch, if only to stop other people from mentioning her. This is
allegedly due to a Monty Python sketch where a character declares that he
would tax Raquel Welch, and he has a feeling she would tax him.