Question about the forum icons

[Jordan]

There are icons to the left of the listed topics - a circle with what looks like text within.
Some of these are animated, with a scrolling action. I can't figure out what it means.
Is there a legend that explains it somewhere?

Jordan

[JimF]

I believe the scrolling text is intended to indicate a "hot topic", that is a topic that has exceeded some numeric threshold of replies.

Jim

[Jordan]

Thanks.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

By: Jordan...
" There are icons to the left of the listed topics - a circle with what looks like text within.
Some of these are animated, with a scrolling action. "

____ I first noticed that back in early 2010, and then thought that perhaps the ones which showed the scrolling-action was meant to indicate which threads were being viewed (by others) at the time. _ But since then I came to assume that it was just a random action.
It's nice to know that there's really SOMETHING behind it, after all.


Fun-Cheers,
-Bob