If i click on "watch this thread", aren't new entries supposed to show up on list of new entries? (Without having made a comment on that thread?)

Yes. If the thread has new entries, it should show up in the Thread Watcher section on your home page. Is that not happening for you?

No, for instance, I am on the watch list for " strangest looking plants", but I'm not alerted when someone posts a new comment. I have to search for it every day. Now, I realize, I could post some mindless comment, and be alerted, but it seem to me I already post enough mindless comments. And, i thought that's what watch list was for.

Don't think you actually need to post any comments, mindless or otherwise to watch a thread.

When you click on "Watch this thread" does it then go to a screen that tells you "you are now watching the thread _ _ __ " ? If not, go back and see if the command has changed to "Unwatch thread" which should mean you're successful.

Be sure you only click on the command once. If you double clicked, it might go from "Watch _ _ " back to "Unwatch _ _ "

Edited to add, Nope that didn't happen when I tried it.

I have been waiting for someone could post on these threads so i could answer. No one has. I am on an active watch list for thread #721902. It does not go to another screen when i click watch, but i get an unwatch option. Anyone who wants to post a comment, i will see if i get an alert. Its an interesting thread.

jmorth posted a comment and a photo on that thread yesterday. So that thread didn't show up on your home page "thread watcher?"
Have you tried looking at the box at the bottom of the thread, just under the last post? On the right hand side of the screen, there should be an option to either "Mark as unread" or either "Watch" or "Unwatch this thread." I'm watching that thread, so this is what it looks like on my screen:



And here's how it appears on my homepage when there's a new post:



What browser are you using?

Oops, just noticed that the first photo is of this thread, not the "strangest plants" thread. But still, you should see whether you have the option of watching or unwatching in that area.

Yes, and i have watch clicked. Have received no alerts

Another way to be alerted is to go into your profile and change your preferences. In there is an option to "watch any thread that you reply to".

You might try that and see if it works. If not, try the Site Talk thread and most likely Trish or Dave will help you.

Yes. Dave would most definitely want to hear if there's a problem with a site feature not working properly!

@dave

I just posted something there:

The thread "Strangest looking plants thread" in All Things Gardening forum

P.S. Suppose you went into that forum to read some other thread, right after I posted to the "funny lookin' plant" thread. You might NOT see the "New", because the system saw you in that forum after I posted. (I think.)

I THINK the "New" feature assumes that you had your chance to see those threads the last time you were in the forum, but I can't swear to that.

Also maybe, if you use your browser's "back arrow" to go from a forum to the home page, funny things might happen with the "New" feature, but that is very "maybe".

That thread did not appear as having a new post in my list, rick. Maybe dave will be able to fix, or explain what im doing wrong

Wow. Maybe there is a bug! I bet he asks what browser you're using.

This?

Yup. Hmm, "Chrome" is mainstream.

Ummm ... when I referred to "New" above, that was probably irrelevant. You're talking about "Watch This THREAD", not "Watch This Forum".

I never noticed before that I was "watching" a thread and missed any new posts.

Do you have that problem with only one thread and no other thread? I recall that you said that "watch any thread that I post to" works, and you were only talking about the "watch this thread" button.

It doesnt work for any thread i want to "watch", but haven't made a comment

The thread watcher works flawlessly but I suspect you might be thinking it should be doing something other than it is actually doing?

When you watch a thread, that only means one thing: if anyone replies to it, you will be notified on your homepage IF you haven't looked at it since the new post was made.

So if you go to the thread, then you've seen it and it will then no longer show up on the homepage.

It does not show when someone makes a post, even if i have not already looked there. Oh well, ill just check every day.

I just checked and see that you are watching this thread.

So if I reply right now this will show up as a new thread on your ATP homepage (unless you come to this thread first, bypassing the homepage.)

Okay @texaskitty111 I just logged in as you and went to the ATP homepage and there are 20 updated threads in your thread watcher. This thread itself appeared on the homepage.

"Welcome to All Things Plants, texaskitty111!
There are 20 updated threads in your Thread Watcher:"

Do you see it?