If it's click counts, then allow each user to individualize what categories appear on their sidebar. That way each person will see the items they like to see which should increase their interest and clicks. If I don't want political crap but like just fishing and hunting, if my bar's full of hunting and fishing topics there's a lot better chance I'll stay awhile and read them if my thread is full of them. However, if it's full of political crap the chances decrease that I'll then go looking for what I want and will instead just move on to another site I like to read. Those here to beat the Faux News or MSLIberalNBC's talking points into everyone's brains can do it without making those of us who prefer fun things like hunting, fishing, and joking around having to weed thru the bs. The more each person immediately sees what interests them, the higher the chance they'll stay a bit. But if the thread is full of crap you have no interest in, how long area you going to stay and look around? You could even add a replies amount to those categories. So, if a topic you normally wouldn't want reaches 50 replies it would then show up on your sidebar. That way if there was something that was getting a lot of interest, but not something you'd normally follow it would show up. win-win. I as a user could say I want all hunting and fishing topics, but politics only if it's had 50 replies. It'd really improve the visitors experience.