[Implemented] - A Second Suggestion

[Cinjin]

Currently for a thread to be deemed "Hot" it must either have 20+ posts or 150+ views. These were the default settings when we set up the site a few years ago; they could probably do with a tweak.

Any ideas for better values?

Me personally ... I wouldn't even consider the amount of views a thread gets. Simply because they don't change the nature of the thread. A painting can be viewed by a 1000 people but if none of those viewers ever says a thing about it - no one's going to care enough to stop in and see it. Plus, a large majority of thread users and guests may have only stopped in to view it because it had a provocative title, only to find that it was a boring thread. Which would than mean that the "Hot Thread" label was even more misleading.

I would say it has to meet one of two criteria.
The first and primary criteria, you already have. Posts ... and I would just bump it to no less than 30+ posts. Reminding you that I personally think that Hot should describe a minority not the vast majority.
2. The variety of the users posting. Sometimes only 3 or 4 people are posting in a thread - which of course is fine, but if you get 12 or more people posting before you hit the 30+ posts, that thread is obviously by definition Hot. Hell, I'd be much more inclined to stop in and read a thread that everyone wants to put their two cents in on. I think a lot of people would.

Your forums are great. I'm REALLY not complaining. I just think it would be cool to see 6 or 7 threads listed as HOT because the actually ARE -- instead of the literally dozens that have a useless label on them. How cool would it be to have a more reliable gauge for good threads as you you scroll down through the daily posts? I think, very.
And plus these new criteria's for the Hot Thread label would not change any thing regarding the layout or listing of My Posts and Today's Posts.

Finally, I would say that no matter how long the thread lasted, the Hot Thread label had an expiration date. Something can't be hot for more than possibly 3 weeks maximum.

I think the Hot Thread label could be extremely useful as not only a way to find the best threads quicly but also to inspire those posting to think up good topics. Human nature is a funny thing. Everybody wants to be "Hot".

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I've never actually thought of these icons as something helpful and they're too small for me to notice (most of the time) unless if I consciously make the effort to look at them.

point made. Let's make them useful.