Where are the people who read and don't reply?

[sea storm]

Lately I've been noticing that when someone posts there can be thousands of views and just a very few replies. I imaging that there are people who follow this along like soap opera, people who are too isolated and shy to respond, people who don't care, people who care too much, people who can't write in English, the watchers, the observers and the listeners.

I wish more people would say something. For some reason Mudpuppy comes to mind. He would have good pithy response to things and seemed to think this became a silly teaparty.  Well you make the party.

Just sayin.
Sea

[Twoapenny]

I sometimes read things more than once before replying, or deciding that I haven't really got anything to say that would be helpful, so it might be that the views are more than the people, if that makes sense?  But I think sometimes people can find comfort or help from just reading other people's situations.  I've joined forums in the past where I've read a lot but said very little.  Sometimes I need to take in, sometimes I need to give out.  I think a lot of the issues associated with abuse are so painful that it can be very difficult to open up, in any situation.  Some suffer in silence, I think.  It can be very hard to take the lid off and a bit scary if you can't get it back on again.

[sea storm]

Well said and very sensitive. Sometimes I can't bring myself to reply for those reasons too. It is just that there are so few people commenting that it would be good if a few more people spoke up.

[sea storm]

HA HA HA   It seems I am replying to my own posts now. How decontructural.

[JustKathy]

I'm afraid I'm one of those people who often reads and doesn't reply, but it's not intended to hurt or ignore anyone. It's mostly because I just don't know what to say, or because someone else already said it so much better than I could have.

I don't have time to come to the board very often, and when I do make it here, the threads are often too long to get through, so I feel too overwhelmed to chime in.

And me with my self-esteem issues, I always feel like I'm saying the wrong thing, or saying something stupid.

I'm really sorry if I've let anyone down. I know how much it hurts to post something and not get a response, so I'll try to participate more when I visit.

[Twoapenny]

I'm afraid I'm one of those people who often reads and doesn't reply, but it's not intended to hurt or ignore anyone. It's mostly because I just don't know what to say, or because someone else already said it so much better than I could have.

I don't have time to come to the board very often, and when I do make it here, the threads are often too long to get through, so I feel too overwhelmed to chime in.

And me with my self-esteem issues, I always feel like I'm saying the wrong thing, or saying something stupid.

I'm really sorry if I've let anyone down. I know how much it hurts to post something and not get a response, so I'll try to participate more when I visit.

Kathy, I always enjoy reading your posts, they're never wrong or stupid!  You've been through a lot of things similar to me and I always find it reassuring when someone else feels the same way about something

And yes, sometimes the threads are so long that to read through from the beginning just takes too much time.  There are a couple of really long ones going at the minute and I know I read through one and by the time I got to the end I'd forgotten what had happened at the beginning!  Lol   xx

[Hopalong]

Kathy, how good of you to pop in and respond to the question. Thank you!

My suggestion is just start a thread. Doesn't have to be a big drama, or complex. Just...Falling into Fall, XX I'm working on, or whatever...

You can count on yakky ones (who, me?) to chime in and be glad of your company.

And when anyone DOES post, there's no obligation to participate in huge long dialogues. That's just preference and it's anyone's right to be brief. (I personally never use 10 words when 1000 would do...consider it my brain defect.)

No apologies needed! And...how are you? (Start a separate thread if you feel like checking in, is my advice.)

Hugs
Hops

[JustKathy]

You've been through a lot of things similar to me and I always find it reassuring when someone else feels the same way about something.

Whew! It's such a relief to hear that, Tup. Sometimes I don't know what to say, so I end up comparing someone's situation to my own. Then I feel like I've hijacked the thread and made it all about me.

No apologies needed! And...how are you?

Thank you, Hops. I'm doing okay, kind of. Weird revelations always popping up in my life, some that I should probably start a thread for. NPD really is the gift that keeps on giving. I'm constantly making new discoveries, remembering childhood events that I had long buried, which is both good and bad. It sucks to remember painful things, but at the same time, those events are missing pieces of a puzzle. It seems to be more about my co-Father now, and the realization that he was as rotten as NM was. And crazy stuff happening with my sister, as she continues to morph into our deceased N-Mum. I'll start a thread on that. NEVER saw that one coming.