where does thread show up?

I saw the list of forums (17,27,28,29,33,34,39,41,42,44,43,45,49,46,50,53,52) and I could probably even figure out which is which. What that doesn't tell me is why. It seems dysfunctional. I like HA, I look at it almost every day. but it has more peculiar restrictions than any other forums I've ever used.

Anyway, I posted this thread to learn something. Probably everything relevant has been said by now except maybe some people's opinions and preferences.