My 2 cents.

The first problem with the red hand is that it insults the writer, which there is no reason to do. Just like personalities, different conversations appeal to different persons.

Also, we then get into a battle of red hands versus green hands, with some folks voting with a green and others with a red, trying to cancel each other out... a bit silly.

If I have a lot of time, I enjoy reading over every post. If I don't or just want the meat of the matter, I select some base level of green hands like '4'.

I read a message, select the back brower button, select the next message I want, by poster or by number, and so on.

As far as level II posts, for someone who doens't have level II in real time, this is a big help and a nice courtesy I believe. I appreciated this when folks did that for me before I had real time.

I think it works fine like it is. Nothing is perfect.

I would agree that an ignore might be helpful for those that find themselves irritated by a particular poster. They can then relieve themselves without giving offense.

BK