It isn’t an asterisk, it is a W, for the typophile wiki
http://typophile.com/wiki/start

Dan, Dennis is right, it is an asterisk.

It tells you that the thread has new posts since the last time you read it.

(You’ll only see those if you’re logged in)

Sorry, I thought he was referring to the Wiki w’s. :(

Doesn’t the red asterisk mean that the thread in question is not read by you yet?

I have never used the IM feature when anyone answered back
while I was still looking. Will answers show up when you log back on?

Yes.

What is the logic behind it? Sometimes there is a red asterisk and sometimes not. At the moment I can see it with one subject, that I’ve read before and not with another one.

> What is the logic behind it? Sometimes there is a red asterisk and sometimes not.

I guess that is what is throwing me off.

(this is a test edit to see if it causes a red asterisk)
blah-blah-blah...

there’s a red asterisk if the thread has new comments that you haven’t read.

AFAIK, the red asterisk will appear if:
— you’ve read the thread at least once, and;
— there are new entries since the last time you read it (or your last login — that I’m not sure of).

> Doesn’t the red asterisk mean that the thread in question is not read by you yet?

I don’t think so, as there are threads I’ve never read that don’t have the asterisk (for me).

What browser? I don’t get any asterisks, whether I’ve read the thread or not.

I’m on Firefox 1.0.3/mac OS 10.3.9

Hmm. I’m on Safari. No asterisks there.

Do you recommend Firefox over Safari? If so, why?

Safari 2.0 renders/opens faster than Firefox, so that’s what I use. I see the asterisks FWIW.

Red asterisk: new thread you’ve never visited; or post or thread title have been edited in a thread.

If someone edits a post in a thread, then that might make sense, since
I wouldn’t really know it, not having a photographic memory. Otherwise there is no consistancy to the other suggestions. The red asterisks just appear here and there occasionally, and seemingly sort of random.

Test edit to see if it causes a red asterisk.

i use Firefox 1.5.0.x and i’ve never seen the red asterix (except for the one by the “Comment:” right above this box i’m writing in right now).

Pattyfab:
Do you recommend Firefox over Safari? If so, why?

There was some security scare about Safari, so I decided to change. Also, not all websites worked with Safari.
I’ve been told that Safari is faster with things like browsing for pictures in picture banks, but I don’t think there’s much in it. On the negative point with the Firefox, occasionally I can’t see letters ä and ö on some websites. And since they are in Finnish, it’s rather annoying.
Firefox remembers, when allowed, passwords etc, which I find quite useful in an one-person office.

Safari does that too - the password thing. Or if you have to fill in a form it will auto-fill in your name, address, etc.

I think I’m going to make this a question in the General Discussions forum. I’ve been using Safari since it came with the computer, like it fine, and wonder if there’s any reason I should switch to Firefox.