What is the "Following thread" button supposed to do?

Can I get "email notifications" by "following" a thread?

[w3dk]

You can hit the "Following thread" button at the top of a thread, without having post'd in that thread. I assumed this "subscribes" you to that thread so you get notified of updates/posts made in that thread (ie. so you can "follow" it)?

However, it doesn't seem to do that for me? It just adds the thread to "My Followed Threads" list, like a "bookmark"? Is that what it's supposed to be, just a "bookmark"? No notifications?

The only way I can get updates to a thread is to actually write a "post"? Is that the intention?

[phranque]

i believe there are no notifications when following a thread.

however you should note that "Following" a thread also adds a red flag icon next to the followed thread in various places like the Recent Post List [webmasterworld.com], and (in this case) the (WebmasterWorld Community Center) [webmasterworld.com] forum post list.

[lammert]

I assume it is deliberate that no email notification is sent after an update in a followed thread. This is not a read-only encyclopedia but a forum where member interaction is the core value. Not being notified forces you to visit the forum from time to time. And having a notification only for threads in which you actively participate increase member participation overall.