Like any organization
Like any organization, it is usually the minority that support the majority. I have been active in forums of all types - like Runner's World, Photography, model railroading, backpacking, and others - for around 10 years now. Some forums provide a "Members" area where the members are listed from top to bottom as those most active and those not. The majority of forums have members who will post an average of 4 times or less, then disappear. I personally am glad people don't thank others as it means I don't have to read those 1000's of posts thanking others; it would become meaningless and take up unnecessary forum space. I am very active in on the web backgammon, and at the beginning of every match you wish the person good luck, and end every game with a "good game." This happens so much, I don't see it any more. For me, when I do give a thank you, it is something that has been perplexing me for a while and the advise was really helpful. Other threads started by me may be more "frivolous" but helpful; for example, what kind of refrigerator do you use in your Catalina 27?" (I've never posted this) If some one posts a really good frig, that looks like I could use it, I might come in with a follow up question, which is my form of saying thank you. However, like you, I sometimes wonder what happened to the chap who came in with a question. For example, in one forum a chap was asking info on a particular boat that was in Spain, it went from - is this a scam, to I need to put a bid in with deposit to keep it available to me, to I'm going to check it out - and so we are all waiting to see what happened.
