In general, it is hard to keep up with a good discussion while also trying to read a good node, if you're using just one browser window -- let alone trying to reply to a node...

It's not often that I get into the ongoing discussion, but when I do, I prefer to have that in another process that is completely separate from my browser. Since I'm a unix/xterm/command-line addict, I just start up an xterm and run pmchat.pl -- find it in the listing of Other CB Clients. If pmchat.pl is not for you, maybe you'll find a better alternative in the list. (I really like my approach because I can set up the xterm to maintain any number of lines of history, and scroll back over everything I've seen at anytime -- not having html linkage is sometimes a pain, but then I can go back to the CB in the browser to follow a link in the discussion.)

If nothing else, just have two browser windows -- one that stays on the Monastery Gates so you can "reload" it at will to watch the discussion, and another for viewing and posting nodes.