Unread threads marked as read

[FatBaldGuy]

I'm sure this is a "feature" of the vBulletin software, but it still annoys me. Whenever I come into the SDMB, any thread that hasn't changed since the last time I was here is marked with the "sealed envelope" icon, whether or not I have ever actually opened that thread or not.

Likewise, if I click on the "Go to first unread post" icon, it goes to the first post since I last visited the SDMB, not the first post since I last visited that thread.

Surely, I am not the only one who fails to read each and every post on the board every time I visit. Is there a way with vBulletin to track the last time I actually visited each thread? Or is this beyon the capability of the database?

[TubaDiva]

Maybe it only works for people with hair. :)

Now seriously, I dunno why this is not working for you.

Another thing to ask Jerry the Tech Guy about.

Sorry for your inconvenience.

your humble TubaDiva
Adminstrator

[John Carter of Mars]

Maybe it only works for people with hair. :)

your humble TubaDiva
Adminstrator

Could be. I've had the same issues, and ,,,er,,, my hair has departed to an alternate universe. Or somethin'.

[fishbicycle]

It does the same for me. One minute there are 30 unread threads. Reload the page, then there are two or three unread threads. Sometimes none.
And I've got all of my hair!

If I may add another curiosity, I have CS, IMHO and MPSIMS bookmarked as group of tabs, in Netscape 7.1. Most of the time, if I start from the bookmark button, the first two tabs will have all the new posts. The third forum will show as All Read - so I have no way to tell what's new there. It happens every single time at work. There, I have to go to the main page and manually open a new tab for each of the forums. Is this an oddity on your end, or in Netscape?

[Excalibre]

Maybe it only works for people with hair. :)

Now seriously, I dunno why this is not working for you.

Another thing to ask Jerry the Tech Guy about.

Sorry for your inconvenience.

your humble TubaDiva
Adminstrator
Wait, what? It's never worked for me in the way the OP describes, and I have all my hair, thank you. It only marks threads as new if they've been updated since my last visit - whereas I, too, would like it to actually track which threads I've read and which I haven't (though I understand why this would be a rather difficult task.)

[Telemark]

I'm pretty sure VBulletin just keeps a time stamp of your most recent visit. From that single piece of data it decides which threads should be displayed as unread. To track every single thread would be a HUGE increase in data stored and computations every time every single person logs in.

Even if it is a feature in VBulletin (which I don't believe it is) it would be a serious performance hit if we turned it on.

[TubaDiva]

Thanks, that's the explanation; it doesn't work like everybody wants it to. :(

your humble TubaDiva
Administrator

[Chronos]

Also, most browsers will change the color of a link if you've visited it. If you want to know if you've read a thread, just look at the color of the link text.

[Hamadryad]

Also, most browsers will change the color of a link if you've visited it. If you want to know if you've read a thread, just look at the color of the link text.
Mine changes then color of the thread titles I've read....until the next time anyone posts to that thread. Then it goes back to the "unread" color.

[picunurse]

Oh wow.
Mine are blue for unread, bold type for current, small type for not current.
They turn grey after I've opened them. They are grey and bold when someone has posted after I've visited.
However, just since the last up date (you know, when the board was down for an hour that turned into a day) they all turn back to blue, inconsistantly.
I drive a Mac with OS 9.2.2 and Netscape, so it very well could be my problem, not the board.
(I know, I know, but, I'm old and don't tolerate change well.)