You may have seen some topic icons around the forum and you might be wondering what they are. Topic icons are used to distinguish between different types of threads. Below is an explanation of what all the icons mean.

Special Icons:
Global Announcement:

Global Announcements can only be posted by Founders. They appear separately above all other threads in a forum including Stickies and Announcements. You must read Global Announcements. They are very important.
Announcement:

Announcements can only be be posted by Administrators. These are usually very important threads and we ask you to read them when you see them. These threads will always be top of any other thread in a forum, including stickies.
Sticky:

Stickies can be posted by Moderators and Administrators. It is also possible that a Moderator or Administrator will promote your thread to a sticky if it is a very important thread. These threads appear above all the other threads in a forum except Announcements and Global Announcements. We ask that you please read any stickies that you see as well because they are usually important threads as well.

Topic Icons:
Question:

The question icon should be used when you created your thread to ask a question. We ask if you use the question icon once someone answers the question to change the icon to solved. See below.
Solved:

The solved icon should be used when the thread you posted was a question and someone has answered your question. Also if you mark a thread solved a moderator will close the thread as soon as they see the solved sign. So if you want your thread closed a good way to let the mods know is to mark it solved.
Guide:

If you have created a great guide or set of tips and tricks for other members and would like to let them easily know it is a Guide mark it with this symbol.
Spotlight:

You will only see this icon in the Polls Sections of the Forum. This icon is used to mark a poll that has been promoted so that it appears in the widget on the front page (Spotlighted). Only administrators can spotlight polls and only one poll can be spotlighted at one time. Do not ask for your poll to be spotlighted.

Regular Icons
Topic - No New Posts

This means that this topic is a regular topic and has no new posts.
Topic - New Posts

This means that this topic is a regular topic but has one or more new posts. New posts are posts you haven't read yet.
Hot Topic - No New Posts

This means that this topic is very popular but does not have any new posts.
Hot Topic -New Posts

This means that this topic is very popular and has new posts.
Closed Topic - No New Posts

This means this topic is closed (also known as locked). This means that you are unable to post in this topic. Only moderators and Administrators can close topics. This icon also means that there are no new posts in this topic.
Closed Topic - New Posts

This means this topic is closed and new posts.

This guide has been updated to reflect the recent changes in this system.

Thank you so much for the update. This system makes a lot more sense to me, but thats probably just me.

Nice wording Clara!!!!!!!! LOVE it!