When Do We Get 'Unread Messages' Back?

Here's how I deal with this. I do a quick scan of the New Answers page, look for the lowermost of the threads I've been following, and read that one. After reading, I hit "Back Button" so I get the same (browser cached) New Answers page I had before to avoid confusion and then read the next lowest and so on. Avoid sticking too strictly to algorithm to avoid mental RSI.

I've been marking the threads I haven't read with a yellow highlighter.

I still don't understand the point of this supposedly super-essential feature. Most of the time, I just scan the New Answers page and say, oh yeah, that thread, let's see how it's doing.

That's what I used to do for a long time, but once you get used to it, it's like crack.

Kind of like the yellow first down line in football games -- when they started with it, it was like "wtf, who needs this"? Now, everybody's hooked on it.

xpost:
The main things it's useful for

1) Making sure you don't forget to open a thread you've been following (but maybe forgot you were following) when it's got a new port.

2) Avoiding the embarrassment of opening a thread only to see there are no new posts, especially if you were the last poster.

3) Allowing you to see which threads you never bothered to open (in case your feeling lucky and want to take a chance on something you didn't think weren't interested in.

Nutshell, it enhances the neurotic experience of Keeping Up with ILM.

#2 happened to me about five times yesterday.

you just have to learn to love it

Of course, I am the voice of reason now, but no doubt I will be bitching about it in a few minutes.

xpost
*3) like those damned Tea Party threads during the 17 Days Later... Brownout.

it's like crack
Maybe we can form a support group to control our addiction to ILM.
Within the framework of ILM of course.

Request for Retitle: "When Do We Get Our 'Unread Messages' Crack?"

#2 happened to me about five times yesterday.
Like the luck-stealing Draculas of Intacto, I have now absorbed your bad fortune.