Whenever I reply to a thread I seem to be automatically subscribed to it. Is that in my settings, is it planned, or is it a glitch in the system?

That is the default setting.

You can change your own setting by:

1.) click on the "my account" option in the menu bar
2.) in the Control Panel in the left hand column, click on the "Edit Options" under settings&options
3.) Messaging&Notification section, change Default Thread Subscription Mode to "do not subscribe" or "no email notification".

That's it.

-g

Thank you Gregg. FWIW, I think that should not be a default setting--suddenly I'm getting even more email I didn't ask for. And also FWIW, I've left forums before when new software was too cludgy, but this is not one of them. Keep caring.