Why are some thread titles in bold?

[lerner]

So many are in bold text, but not the one I started. (I'm talking about the title on an index page, not message text.) I want bold titles too...waaah(crybaby!)

But seriously, are they only for paying members?
Also, when do I get a "firstnew.gif"

chevron/downarrow icon before the title?

In short I'm afraid of my post being pushed down to the second page and going unnoticed.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

The bolding idicates there are new posts in that thread that you haven't read yet. Clicking on the down arrow will take you to the latest posts rather than starting you off at the first post.

The way to keep your thread up towards the top is to post new information in it. Sometimes people post BTTT -- Back To The Top -- to keep their threads from sinking down the page. But in an Exchange thread, you are limited to BTTT once every 72 hours.