Something to potentially add to the F.A.Q.

[aerodynamic]

Hello reader. So I've only been with numa for 11 months now and joined the forums around new years, but I haven't gotten very involved or looked around here that much until now...-ish (still not really involved). Anyway, I only recently read "The Rules" and "The F.A.Q." (should have probably done that it January) but did not find an answer to a question with a potentially embarrassing obvious answer. That being: What is the meaning of all the different folders next to topics? Some I've managed to work out, like the lock meaning, ya know, locked, but I'm not so sure the flame means hot topic and I have no idea about the tacks and stars. Also, since it's important not to revive old topics or ones in the process of dying, are those represented by the gray/grey folders and shouldn't be touched etc., etc.? Perhaps I'm the only person who's a little confused, and this is more of a Q. than a F.A.Q., but it still seems like something that couldn't hurt to be added to blue_tetris' (or kablizzy's, whoever it said wrote it) F.A.Q., especially as it could possibly help prevent accidental misuse of the forums? That being said, I apologize if I have missed something that already answers this question and I also apologize if this is something that should've been said in the form a PM vs. starting a whole new topic but it seemed general enough to be a new topic.
Hopefully Representing unspoken clueless newbies everywhere,
-aerodynamic

[Spawn of Yanni]

To just answer your questions:

Folder with a flame on it means hot topic, i.e. has more than one page of posts.
Folder with a tack (it's a pin) on it means pinned topic. These will stay at the top of the forum no matter how old they get.
Folder with a star on it is a topic that you've posted in.
Blue folders are topics you haven't read since you last visited. The rest are topics that haven't been posted in since you last visited. Posting in grey topics is absolutely fine, just check the dates of the topic to see if it isn't fantastically old.
The folder that's currently at the top of every single forum (can't tell what it is, really) means a global announcement. i.e. it'll show up at the top of every single forum.

I think that's everything? I'll try and see if I can fit these in somewhere in the FAQ (although Jesus it is really out of date anyway).

[aerodynamic]

Ah, see now it all makes so much sense. Right, thanks a lot.

[Chase]

I did create a new set of icons to be implemented, but they haven't been yet. I think I made them a couple of months ago.

They're much easier to understand. So they should get implemented faster.

[rocket_thumped]

The folder that's currently at the top of every single forum (can't tell what it is, really) means a global announcement. i.e. it'll show up at the top of every single forum.

It's a megaphone.

[Spawn of Yanni]

I was talking about the DIY Gamer one at the time, actually.

[blackson]

Also, most forum themes have an abridged key at the bottom (icons can change from theme to theme). While every icon is probably not listed there, it's a good place to start if you're confused.