Leaving tags open effects the entire page

Most people will click the buttons for italics or bold text, but I used to write alot of HTML code and sometimes I just type out the brackets and code for whatever I need. I've noticed a glitch that if you don't include the close tag [/ ], for example italics, then all the posts following will be affected and be italicized.

Is there a way to get the forum to automatically close all tags in a post so this doesn't ruin the design of the forum?

Even the text at the bottom of the page where it reads

favorite
unsubscribe
new thread
reply
alert

and the number next to the flag icon are all in italics now.

reply to post by freelance_zenarchist


/
wow
3rd

reply to post by freelance_zenarchist

Yes, this is a very old problem which has persisted through at least two major format changes.
It must be quite deep-rooted.

PS Hey, my post seems to have stopped it.
How did I manage that?

haxz0rz

Everyone must do their part in cleaning up any clutter that they make.

They removed the codes to have animated text and all the fun stuff, but left the problems in.

Who would be so bold as to leave an open tag anyway...

edit on 4-1-2014 by winofiend because: (no reason given)