That is true, dynamicduo. The @ feature was not developed for the purpose of side conversations in a main thread. Side conversations are intended to take place in “Comments for you”.
Fluther is a place where you ask a question that you simply don’t know the answer to, ie:
“I can’t remember which brown stuff goes in apple pie: curry or nutmeg. Help?”
Not:
“Do you believe in Shamanism?” “Why is the sky blue?” Do you think Obama will be effective?”
The reason that the first question is a good and well formed Fluther question is because it asks a specific question that all those who are expert cooks, homemakers and so on will answer.
The problem with the second set of questions is that they are broad, ask for opinons, inane, or are just simply polling for answers trying to get attention and lurve.
If you answer too many of the second type, yeah – your notices will be out the wazoo.
If you answer the first set – you would actually be interested in what other responses are in the thread.
Trust me.