On alot of site & forums I have visited there is a most recent posts so you can catch the new threads with out having to click on each different forum.
There usually set up where you can only read them & not post in them unless you go to that forum if that makes sence.

like if some one posts a new thread in the classifieds to can be viewed in the moct recent thread list but to actually reply I'd have to go to the classifieds forum

This way posts get noticed from any area & people tend not to post everything in the general Cobalt forum