Ace

A: The default setting is that you will automatically be subscribed to all threads that you post in, without receiving email notifications. The way this works is that if you go to the top-level page in your User CP, you will see a list of threads you're subscribed to that have had new posts added recently that you haven't read yet. To see all of your subscribed posts, click on the "List Subscriptions" link on the nav bar on the left side. From that page, you can also manage your subscriptions -- remove ones you don't want, or change the type of subscription (if you want to receive an instant email when someone posts there, for example).

To change the default setting -- if you'd rather not have those silent subscriptions, or you'd prefer instant or periodic emails, for example -- go to the "Edit Options" page in the User CP, then in the Messaging & Notification area, under Default Thread Subscription Mode, you can select the default you prefer. Once selected, the default will apply to future posts only, not older ones.

You can also set the thread subscription type when you submit a post -- either when making a new thread, or when using the advanced editor for a reply (quick replies always use the default setting). Under the area where you type your post, there's a section called "Thread Subscription".

Yes, exactly.