is there a way in a thread, to go the the first unread post in the thread?
 

For example:

A message topic, has 12 answers, and while I sleep, 3 more people answer. When I
look for new stuff, I see the topic has new answers, but without re-reading the old
ones, I can't be sure that only the last one is new.

If you click on this little image in front of the thread title - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2010/04/10.gif - then you'll get taken to the unread posts.

thanks, but doesn't that go to the very last post at the end of the page everytime?

that button seems to take me to the last unread post rather than the first. is there someway to see the first unread post?

hope that makes sense ;)

It takes you to the first of the posts you haven't read or that aren't marked as read - it depends on your forum markup method.

When you say forum markup method, are you referring to this:

Inactivity/Cookie Based
Database (no automatic forum marking)
∙ Database (automatic forum marking)

right now it's set on auto, so would I set it to no auto to do what I'm talking about?

I have my forum set on the last method - Database (automatic forum marking). Using your example:
On my forum, I would click on the little image I posted in post 2 and it would take me to the first of the three posts that were made overnight. Isn't that what you want?

yup, thats what i want. i'll keep it at that setting. it was just hard to test because I've already read all the posts. thanks for your help Lynne!