[Matt]

Karma is a system for users to rate other users. Members with 500 posts or more can raise or lower another member's karma once every three hours.

If your karma is raised, it means someone likes you or one of your posts, or if it is lowered, the opposite. However, some (*cough*idiots*cough) go around the forum giving people karma or taking it away from them for no apparent reason.

If you don't like the karma system, you can turn it off. Here's how:
- Click 'Control Panel/Options' in the top right hand corner
- Click 'Edit Profile'
- Find the 'Turn on Karma system to rate members?' question and select 'No' from the drop down box beside it
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the 'Edit Profile' button

As for the thread thing, you basically have to go by your judgement. There are many sections on the board for many things. If the thread you want to post doesnt fit in any other forum, it should go in 'General Chat', or if it's really off topic (such as a forum game, quizzes, questionnaires or off-topic chat threads) then it should go in 'Chat and Games'.