Why the "old" icon listed on a new thread posted ?

I don't understand how it is that an "old" article icon is instantly placed beside a new thread, the very second it is posted to the board. It's like a slap in the face to the person, before they even get a response to the article as is posted, so whats up with this USMB?

 

I don't know how consistent the software is ... I think I've seen some variation based on cookies or glitches ... but I think that once you've read a thread it is called old.

And if you posted the thread, then you've read it, right?

So it's "old" to you.




At least that's the theory I'm going with.