original (starting/first) post first
original (first/starting) post first.
I am also a webmaster, running a full fledged Bulletin Board on websites. Conventionally, in a Bulletin board, the recent post is placed at the top. But here in the legal world, the original post is most important. Without the original post, it is just impossible to follow why the recent post is there.
For a person who is follwing a forum everyday, it may be better to have the recent post at the top. I doubt, there are many who are following the forum everyday. Most of us come here, not regularly but irregularly, and check other posts if we need some info.
For this situation, i believe it is better to have the original (first) post at the top.
just my 2 cents worth.