diff --git a/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb b/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
index 3683b6017..f0e7956eb 100644
--- a/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/forum_topics_controller.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ class ForumTopicsController < ApplicationController
 
   def index
     @query = ForumTopic.active.search(params[:search])
-    @forum_topics = @query.order("is_sticky DESC, updated_at DESC").paginate(params[:page], :limit => params[:limit], :search_count => params[:search])
-    @read_forum_topic_ids = read_forum_topic_ids
+    @forum_topics = @query.includes([:creator, :updater]).order("is_sticky DESC, updated_at DESC").paginate(params[:page], :limit => params[:limit], :search_count => params[:search])
     respond_with(@forum_topics) do |format|
       format.xml do
         render :xml => @forum_topics.to_xml(:root => "forum-topics")
@@ -29,12 +28,10 @@ class ForumTopicsController < ApplicationController
 
   def show
     @forum_topic = ForumTopic.find(params[:id])
+    @forum_topic.mark_as_read!(CurrentUser.user)
     @forum_posts = ForumPost.search(:topic_id => @forum_topic.id).order("forum_posts.id").paginate(params[:page])
     @forum_posts.each # hack to force rails to eager load
     respond_with(@forum_topic)
-    unless CurrentUser.user.is_anonymous?
-      session[:read_forum_topics] = @forum_topic.mark_as_read(read_forum_topic_ids)
-    end
   end
 
   def create
@@ -67,7 +64,7 @@ class ForumTopicsController < ApplicationController
 
   def mark_all_as_read
     CurrentUser.user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, Time.now)
-    session[:read_forum_topics] = ""
+    ForumTopicVisit.prune!(CurrentUser.user)
     redirect_to forum_topics_path, :notice => "All topics marked as read"
   end
 
@@ -95,14 +92,6 @@ private
     end
   end
 
-  def read_forum_topics
-    session[:read_forum_topics].to_s
-  end
-
-  def read_forum_topic_ids
-    read_forum_topics.scan(/(\S+) (\S+)/)
-  end
-
   def check_privilege(forum_topic)
     if !forum_topic.editable_by?(CurrentUser.user)
       raise User::PrivilegeError
diff --git a/app/logical/session_loader.rb b/app/logical/session_loader.rb
index ed736de57..9de3cab00 100644
--- a/app/logical/session_loader.rb
+++ b/app/logical/session_loader.rb
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ class SessionLoader
       load_session_user
     elsif cookie_password_hash_valid?
       load_cookie_user
-
-      # this means a new session is being created, so assume
-      # all the old forum topics can be marked as read
-      update_forum_last_read_at
     else
       load_session_for_api
     end
@@ -104,16 +100,5 @@ private
   def set_time_zone
     Time.zone = CurrentUser.user.time_zone
   end
-
-  def update_forum_last_read_at
-    unless CurrentUser.user.is_anonymous?
-      if CurrentUser.user.last_forum_read_at && CurrentUser.user.last_forum_read_at < CurrentUser.user.last_logged_in_at
-        CurrentUser.user.update_column(:last_forum_read_at, CurrentUser.user.last_logged_in_at)
-      elsif CurrentUser.user.last_forum_read_at.nil?
-        CurrentUser.user.update_column(:last_forum_read_at, CurrentUser.user.last_logged_in_at)
-      end
-      CurrentUser.user.update_column(:last_logged_in_at, Time.now)
-    end
-  end
 end
 
diff --git a/app/models/forum_topic.rb b/app/models/forum_topic.rb
index 902a971e8..f7d4c01ff 100644
--- a/app/models/forum_topic.rb
+++ b/app/models/forum_topic.rb
@@ -74,8 +74,34 @@ class ForumTopic < ActiveRecord::Base
     end
   end
 
+  module VisitMethods
+    def read_by?(user = nil)
+      user ||= CurrentUser.user
+
+      if user.last_forum_read_at && updated_at <= user.last_forum_read_at
+        return true
+      end
+
+      ForumTopicVisit.where("user_id = ? and forum_topic_id = ? and last_read_at >= ?", user.id, id, updated_at).exists?
+    end
+
+    def mark_as_read!(user = nil)
+      user ||= CurrentUser.user
+      
+      match = ForumTopicVisit.where(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => id).first
+      if match
+        match.update_attribute(:last_read_at, updated_at)
+      else
+        ForumTopicVisit.create(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => id, :last_read_at => updated_at)
+      end
+
+      # user.update_attribute(:last';¬≥÷_forum_read_at, ForumTopicVisit.where(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => id).minimum(:last_read_at) || updated_at)
+    end
+  end
+
   extend SearchMethods
   include CategoryMethods
+  include VisitMethods
 
   def editable_by?(user)
     creator_id == user.id || user.is_janitor?
@@ -94,7 +120,7 @@ class ForumTopic < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def last_page
-    (posts.count / Danbooru.config.posts_per_page.to_f).ceil
+    (response_count / Danbooru.config.posts_per_page.to_f).ceil
   end
 
   def presenter(forum_posts)
@@ -105,42 +131,6 @@ class ForumTopic < ActiveRecord::Base
     super + [:text_index]
   end
 
-  def check!(user)
-    ForumTopicVisit.check!(user, self)
-  end
-
-  def mark_as_read(read_forum_topic_ids)
-    hash = read_forum_topic_ids.inject({}) do |hash, x|
-      hash[x[0].to_s] = x[1].to_s
-      hash
-    end
-    hash[id.to_s] = updated_at.to_i.to_s
-    result = hash.to_a.flatten.join(" ")
-    while result.size > 500
-      ids = result.scan(/\S+/)
-      result = ids[(ids.size / 2)..-1].join(" ")
-    end
-    update_last_forum_read_at(hash.keys)
-    result
-  end
-
-  def update_last_forum_read_at(read_forum_topic_ids)
-    query = ForumTopic.where("true")
-    if CurrentUser.user.last_forum_read_at.present?
-      query = query.where("updated_at >= ?", CurrentUser.last_forum_read_at)
-    end
-    if read_forum_topic_ids.any?
-      query = query.where("id not in (?)", read_forum_topic_ids)
-    end
-    query = query.order("updated_at asc")
-    topic = query.first
-    if topic
-      CurrentUser.user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, topic.updated_at)
-    else
-      CurrentUser.user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, Time.now)
-    end
-  end
-
   def merge(topic)
     ForumPost.where(:id => topic.posts.map(&:id)).update_all(:topic_id => id)
     update_attribute(:is_deleted, true)
diff --git a/app/models/forum_topic_visit.rb b/app/models/forum_topic_visit.rb
index 7409735d4..4df979466 100644
--- a/app/models/forum_topic_visit.rb
+++ b/app/models/forum_topic_visit.rb
@@ -1,30 +1,9 @@
 class ForumTopicVisit < ActiveRecord::Base
-  def self.check!(user, topic)
-    match = where(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => topic.id).first
-    result = false
-    if match
-      if match.last_read_at < topic.updated_at
-        result = true
-      end
-      match.update_attribute(:last_read_at, topic.updated_at)
-    else
-      create(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => topic.id, :last_read_at => topic.updated_at)
-    end
-    result
-  end
+  belongs_to :user
+  belongs_to :forum_topic
+  attr_accessible :user_id, :user, :forum_topic_id, :forum_topic, :last_read_at
 
-  def self.check_list!(user, topics)
-    matches = where(:user_id => user.id, :forum_topic_id => topics.map(&:id)).to_a.inject({}) do |hash, x|
-      hash[x.forum_topic_id] = x
-      hash
-    end
-    topics.each do |topic|
-      if matches[topic.id]
-        matches[topic.id].update_attribute(:last_read_at, topic.updated_at)
-      else
-        create(:user_id => user.id,, :forum_topic_id => topic.id, :last_read_at => topic.updated_at)
-      end
-    end
-    matches
+  def self.prune!(user)
+    where("last_read_at < ?", user.last_forum_read_at).delete_all
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 17d0dcfe1..de64dd744 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -428,10 +428,10 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
   module ForumMethods
     def has_forum_been_updated?
       return false unless is_gold?
-      newest_topic = ForumTopic.order("updated_at desc").first
-      return false if newest_topic.nil?
+      max_updated_at = ForumTopic.maximum(:updated_at)
+      return false if max_updated_at.nil?
       return true if last_forum_read_at.nil?
-      return newest_topic.updated_at > last_forum_read_at
+      return max_updated_at > last_forum_read_at
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/app/views/forum_topics/index.html.erb b/app/views/forum_topics/index.html.erb
index cacf5555d..2674ea267 100644
--- a/app/views/forum_topics/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/forum_topics/index.html.erb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
                 <span class="sticky">Sticky:</span>
               <% end %>
 
-              <% unless topic.read_by?(CurrentUser.user, @read_forum_topic_ids) %>
+              <% unless topic.read_by?(CurrentUser.user) %>
                 <span class="new">NEW</span>
               <% end %>
 
diff --git a/db/migrate/20140701224800_create_forum_topic_visits.rb b/db/migrate/20140701224800_create_forum_topic_visits.rb
index 6c4f1051a..f01ff4db9 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20140701224800_create_forum_topic_visits.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20140701224800_create_forum_topic_visits.rb
@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ class CreateForumTopicVisits < ActiveRecord::Migration
 
     add_index :forum_topic_visits, :user_id
     add_index :forum_topic_visits, :forum_topic_id
+    add_index :forum_topic_visits, :last_read_at
   end
 end
diff --git a/db/structure.sql b/db/structure.sql
index f291c8d4c..660244f05 100644
--- a/db/structure.sql
+++ b/db/structure.sql
@@ -6131,6 +6131,13 @@ CREATE INDEX index_forum_posts_on_topic_id ON forum_posts USING btree (topic_id)
 CREATE INDEX index_forum_topic_visits_on_forum_topic_id ON forum_topic_visits USING btree (forum_topic_id);
 
 
+--
+-- Name: index_forum_topic_visits_on_last_read_at; Type: INDEX; Schema: public; Owner: -; Tablespace: 
+--
+
+CREATE INDEX index_forum_topic_visits_on_last_read_at ON forum_topic_visits USING btree (last_read_at);
+
+
 --
 -- Name: index_forum_topic_visits_on_user_id; Type: INDEX; Schema: public; Owner: -; Tablespace: 
 --
diff --git a/test/factories/forum_topic_visit.rb b/test/factories/forum_topic_visit.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8195bab48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/factories/forum_topic_visit.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+FactoryGirl.define do
+  factory(:forum_topic_visit) do
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/functional/forum_topics_controller_test.rb b/test/functional/forum_topics_controller_test.rb
index 2f0c65204..ad21ed045 100644
--- a/test/functional/forum_topics_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/functional/forum_topics_controller_test.rb
@@ -21,18 +21,6 @@ class ForumTopicsControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
         get :show, {:id => @forum_topic.id}
         assert_response :success
       end
-
-      context "when the read_forum_topics session exceeds the maximum cookie size" do
-        setup do
-          @cookie_data = 1.upto(10_000).to_a.join(" ")
-        end
-
-        should "truncate" do
-          get :show, {:id => @forum_topic.id}, {:user_id => @user.id, :read_forum_topics => @cookie_data}
-          assert_response :success
-          assert_equal(395, session[:read_forum_topics].size)
-        end
-      end
     end
 
     context "index action" do
diff --git a/test/unit/forum_topic_test.rb b/test/unit/forum_topic_test.rb
index 3ec43074c..3e6a9b65d 100644
--- a/test/unit/forum_topic_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/forum_topic_test.rb
@@ -14,55 +14,102 @@ class ForumTopicTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       CurrentUser.ip_addr = nil
     end
 
-    context "#update_last_forum_read_at" do
-      setup do
-        @topics = [@topic]
-        1.upto(6) do |i|
-          Timecop.travel(i.days.from_now) do
-            @topics << FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic, :title => "xxx")
-          end
-        end
-        @read_forum_topic_ids = []
-        @read_forum_topic_ids << @topics[0]
-        @read_forum_topic_ids << @topics[2]
-        @read_forum_topic_ids << @topics[4]
-      end
-
-      context "when the user's last_forum_read_at is null" do
+    context "#read_by?" do
+      context "with a populated @user.last_forum_read_at" do
         setup do
-          @user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, nil)
+          @user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, Time.now)
         end
 
-        should "return the oldest unread topic" do
-          @topic.update_last_forum_read_at(@read_forum_topic_ids)
-          @user.reload
-          assert_equal(@topics[1].updated_at.to_i, @user.last_forum_read_at.to_i)
-        end
-
-        context "when all topics have been read" do
+        context "and no visits for a topic" do
           setup do
-            @read_forum_topic_ids = ForumTopic.all.map(&:id)
-            @timestamp = Time.now
-            Time.stubs(:now).returns(@timestamp)
+            @topic.update_column(:updated_at, 1.day.from_now)
           end
 
-          should "return the current time" do
-            @topic.update_last_forum_read_at(@read_forum_topic_ids)
-            @user.reload
-            assert_equal(@timestamp.to_i, @user.last_forum_read_at.to_i)
+          should "return false" do
+            assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "and a visit for a topic" do
+          setup do
+            @topic.update_column(:updated_at, 1.day.from_now)
+          end
+
+          context "that predates the topic" do
+            setup do
+              FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic_visit, user: @user, forum_topic: @topic, last_read_at: 16.hours.from_now)
+            end
+
+            should "return false" do
+              assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+            end
+          end
+
+          context "that postdates the topic" do
+            setup do
+              FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic_visit, user: @user, forum_topic: @topic, last_read_at: 2.days.from_now)
+            end            
+
+            should "return true" do
+              assert_equal(true, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+            end
           end
         end
       end
 
-      context "when the user's last_forum_read_at is 2 days from now" do
-        setup do
-          @user.update_attribute(:last_forum_read_at, 2.days.from_now)
+      context "with a blank @user.last_forum_read_at" do
+        context "and no visits" do
+          should "return false" do
+            assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+          end
         end
 
-        should "return the oldest unread topic" do
-          @topic.update_last_forum_read_at(@read_forum_topic_ids)
+        context "and a visit" do
+          context "that predates the topic" do
+            setup do
+              FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic_visit, user: @user, forum_topic: @topic, last_read_at: 1.day.ago)
+            end
+
+            should "return false" do
+              assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+            end
+          end
+
+          context "that postdates the topic" do
+            setup do
+              FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic_visit, user: @user, forum_topic: @topic, last_read_at: 1.days.from_now)
+            end
+
+            should "return true" do
+              assert_equal(true, @topic.read_by?(@user))
+            end
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "#mark_as_read!" do
+      context "without a previous visit" do
+        should "create a new visit" do
+          assert_difference("ForumTopicVisit.count", 1) do
+            @topic.mark_as_read!(@user)
+          end
           @user.reload
-          assert_equal(@topics[3].updated_at.to_i, @user.last_forum_read_at.to_i)
+          assert_equal(@topic.updated_at, ForumTopicVisit.last.last_read_at)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "with a previous visit" do
+        setup do
+          FactoryGirl.create(:forum_topic_visit, user: @user, forum_topic: @topic, last_read_at: 1.day.ago)
+        end
+
+        should "update the visit" do
+          assert_difference("ForumTopicVisit.count", 0) do
+            @topic.mark_as_read!(@user)
+          end
+          @user.reload
+          assert_equal(@topic.updated_at, ForumTopicVisit.last.last_read_at)
         end
       end
     end
@@ -80,40 +127,6 @@ class ForumTopicTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       end
     end
 
-    context "#read_by?" do
-      context "for a topic that was never read by the user" do
-        should "return false" do
-          assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user, [[(@topic.id + 1).to_s, "1"]]))
-        end
-      end
-
-      context "for a topic that was read by the user but has been updated since then" do
-        should "return false" do
-          assert_equal(false, @topic.read_by?(@user, [["#{@topic.id}", "#{1.day.ago.to_i}"]]))
-        end
-      end
-
-      context "for a topic that was read by the user and has not been updated since" do
-        should "return true" do
-          assert_equal(true, @topic.read_by?(@user, [["#{@topic.id}", "#{1.day.from_now.to_i}"]]))
-        end
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "#mark_as_read" do
-      should "include the topic id and updated_at timestamp" do
-        plus_one = @topic.id + 1
-        result = @topic.mark_as_read([["#{plus_one}", "2"]])
-        assert_equal("#{plus_one} 2 #{@topic.id} #{@topic.updated_at.to_i}", result)
-      end
-
-      should "prune the string if it gets too long" do
-        array = (1..1_000).to_a.map(&:to_s).in_groups_of(2)
-        result = @topic.mark_as_read(array)
-        assert_operator result.size, :<=, 500
-      end
-    end
-
     context "constructed with nested attributes for its original post" do
       should "create a matching forum post" do
         assert_difference(["ForumTopic.count", "ForumPost.count"], 1) do