Is there a way to default a viewed posts to "Normal" instead of "Tracking"?

Right now, when I go into a post on this forum, the status changes to “Tracking” but instead I’d prefer that it just be “Normal”. Just because I view a post doesn’t mean that I want to track it! I don’t see anything in Preferences to change this. Any ideas?

Do you have anything filled in these boxes (bottom of the preferences page)?

I have all the topics I’m “interested in” listed under Tracked. I think what you are getting at is that I should have them under Watched instead? With Watched, I’ll still receive the initial emails for a new post, but then I’ll have to change the status to Tracked on that post if appropriate. Right?