<---- How come my envelope has a hole????
 

I thought it was because my email address was unavailable on the forums, but I changed that option and the hole still exists!!!! Anyone know why? I feel awkwardly ostracized by that small black hole. lol.

that just means it's a thread you've posted in.

Perhaps to denote you have taken a shot at that thread :D

Yes. You are both right - the black spot denotes that you have posted to that thread (and not, as in Treasure Island, something darker :))

And this should have been placed in Website Questions and Suggestions because it is a Question about the Website. But no matter.

Actually MDBlueIce, if you scroll all the way down in any forum, you will find the explanation about the different states of the envelope.