Yeah but once you done that. Yo can lose track of what you have read an Not read. Who uses the side posts on the right.
i scan over teh new posts on right. But personnaly i let teh lights tell me when there is something i have not read. The thing on the right is for people that don't come on very often and want to see latest posts or threads. Ideally you need to reset forum lights and then any new post will be lit up until you read it.