Can you provide a legend for forum symbols?

[bekateen]

Hi,
I'm a relatively new member to this site, and I'm always puzzled by the circular icons that appear beside forum threads (with lines of text, scrolling lines of text, red or black colors, stars, question marks, etc). I'd like to know what those mean; perhaps you have that posted elsewhere on the site, but I haven't found it yet. If it is available, where can I find it, and if it's not, could it be added, perhaps within the help menu or FAQ?
Thanks,
Eric (Bekateen)

[bekateen]

Okay, maybe I've figured out the red symbols - does that mean unread posts? What about the other symbols? Definitely, a legend of FAQ would be helpful for us newbies on the forum. Thanks so much.

Eric (Bekateen)

[Jools]

Hi Eric,

If you hover over them, then you get a description of what they are. Does that answer the question?

Cheers,

Jools

[bekateen]

Hi Jools,
I've done that on several occasions, expecting that to work; that's how I figured out what the red icons (unread messages) and black icons (no unread messages) mean. What about the scrolling ones, or those with stars, flames, question marks, thought bubbles, etc.? When I hover over those, I still see only unread messages or unread messages, based on their color, with no other info given.
Thanks,
Eric

[Jools]

Hi Eric,

So, users can select those other icons (stars, flames etc) as they wish, they don't actually mean anything. I think the scrolling text means there are lots of unread posts on that thread but I am not sure. In nearly twelve years of forum operation, it's the first time someone has asked.

Jools

[bekateen]

Hi Jools,
If the icons are user selectable, I don't see a way to do that when I'm typing a post. The only symbol options I see are the smiley emoticons. Hmmm, mystery not solved.

This is the first time anyone has asked this?!? Wow, I'm not sure what to make of that- either I'm really naive and everyone else knows what these mean already, or everyone else everyone just isn't paying attention or doesn't care, or they, like me, exist in a state of confusion but they just don't want to let anyone else know (an "Emperor's new clothes" situation). Hahahahaha (I'm not wishing to hurt anyone's feelings with that, I just think it's really funny that no one has ever asked before.)

Well Jools, I'm going to conclude that if you don't know, then it's not worth knowing. Nonetheless, as they say,"Curiosity killed the catfish," (okay, I'm not sure who says it, but I bet someone does), so I would still like to know what they mean, if possible.

Thanks,
Eric
P.S., One other icon that displays its meaning is the padlock for locked threads. Also, although it doesn't display its meaning, the scrolling icons seem to be associated with posts that have 9 or more replies.

[Jools]

Hi Eric,

If the icons are user selectable, I don't see a way to do that when I'm typing a post.

Once you click on "New Topic", the new topic page will show a set of icons that you can choose by clicking a radio button - they are just above where you title the thread.

Well Jools, I'm going to conclude that if you don't know, then it's not worth knowing.

There are many things about the forum I don't know or understand. I guess your observation has puzzled some people in the past but just they've never taken the time to ask. Anyway, we know now! Is that a sufficient explanation, can we move this thread to the "resolved" forum?

Cheers,

Jools

[bekateen]

Hi Jools,

Once you click on "New Topic", the new topic page will show a set of icons that you can choose by clicking a radio button - they are just above where you title the thread.

When I first read this, I was confused, because I was sure that I hadn't noticed any such radio buttons by the thread title window when I created this thread. And in fact it wasn't there - without following through to make a needless thread, after I read your reply, I clicked the "New Topic" button in this "Suggestions, Feature Requests and Enhancements" subforum, and there are no such radio icon options within this forum for me to use. However, I then clicked the "New Topic" button in another forum (specifically, the "What is my catfish?" forum); lo and behold, there they were: fire, white star, thinking, question, alert, information, and radioactive. So I get it now, these icons are available for the members who start a thread to characterize the nature of their initial post.

The two icons (that I'm aware of) that are not on the above list are (1) the red star and the (2) circle within a circle that appear on some symbols. But again, I think I understand these now too - from what I can tell, the red star is added to the symbol of a thread the moment I post into that thread, even if I'm not the initial author. The circle within a circle refers to forums that are divided into subforums.

Mystery solved! (Honestly, I shouldn't feel so proud of myself, after all, this wasn't THAT big a deal. HaHa)

There are many things about the forum I don't know or understand. I guess your observation has puzzled some people in the past but just they've never taken the time to ask. Anyway, we know now! Is that a sufficient explanation, can we move this thread to the "resolved" forum?

Yes please, by all means, let's move this to the "resolved" forum. I mean, as a new member who was not familiar with the symbols and their meanings, I still think it would have been helpful for me (and presumably for other new members) to be able to readily locate this info in someplace like the Forum FAQ without having to ask in a thread like this. However, the fact that you've never been asked this before tells me that my initial inquiry has ABSOLUTELY no grounds on which to stand as a "Frequently asked question!" HaHa

Thank you, Jools. While it may have been a time consuming distraction for you, it has been informative to me, and a dialog ripe with levity. I feel a little more familiar with the website/forums now, and I think I'm ready to get on with life.

Cheers,
Eric

[Jools]

Eric,

I'm from the school of "the only dumb question is one asked several times before", so glad to have helped!

Jools