i click on this tiny icon with three stripes and arrow

Yes, it's OP's fault for assuming normal imageboard behavior on KC.rip

I am aware of that but >>238648

Every imageboard opens threads by clicking the image in catalog, it's irritating and not really convenient that it doesn't

there's other irritating stuff

e.g. you can't select text together with >>quotes to copypaste, the >>quotes are selected out and won't copy

see screenshot if you don't get what I mean