Step By Step: Reading Topics and Learning Options

A Topic is merely a "conversation" within a particular Forum or "subject".  So to "read a thread" is just to read a transcript of conversation on a topic.

1.   Click on a Forum name (e.g. "Fishing") to reach the list of Topics (conversations) for that forum.

2.  (Optional Step)  To receive an Email Notification whenever a new Topic (conversation) is started in this Forum, check the box at the base of the page.

3.   Click on the Title of the Topic to see the list of Posts (or "comments").

4.  (Optional Step)  To receive an Email Notification whenever a new Reply (comment) is posted in this Topic, check the box at the bottom of the Module.

5.   (Optional Step)  You can use the dropdown lists at the bottom of the Module to change your view of the Posts in the Topic.

By default, all Posts are added to the Topic sequentially according.  Select Tree View rather than Flat View to show the individual posts indented, which indicates both the order in which they were made and which Post was replied to.

By default, new Posts are added to the bottom of the Topic.  Select Newest to Oldest to re-sort the thread so that the most recent entries appear at the top.

6.  (Optional Step) From the dropdown at the top of the Module, select a value which indicates your Rating of the Topic.  This helps others browsing the Forum to find "interesting" or popular topics.

The Rating of the Topic is an average of each "vote", and displayed on the list of topics for the Forum.