I'm a posting fool. I do it for selfish reasons to help me with my projects. There's just too much that I don't know and haven't considered, so getting input, both good and bad, is benificial to me and my projects.
I've also found that offering my opinion to a post helps me to better understand and learn about something that I may know a little about. Sometimes I'm totally wrong and enjoy it when somebody points out my error and offers the proper solution. It's how I learn things.
As to why others join, post for awhile and then quite, might have something to do with a lack of projects. I rarely have anything to say about a tractor, nor even read the various threads about the different tractors. To me, those threads are all the same and don't offer anything that interests me. How many times can you discuss the best color for a tractor and then support that argument? It's a short term conversation at best, and I think those who join just for there brand of tractor run out of things to say.
But a thread on a barn, a shop or just about any type of building will keep my interest. Working the land, taking out trees and building roads is always fun and interesting. I've learned things from people who have never done any of these things before, but ask a question that I have never considered. For me, that's what brings me back every day. Usualy twice a day!!!
There's only one person here that I've blocked and I find it to be allot nicer to not see his posts. It's a nice feature that has eliminated all my frustration with this person.
I wouldn't worry about those who used to post and left. There are so many new people joining here all the time with so many new and exiting projects that are making this site better and better. I've seen sites that are full of "old timers" and it's not that great a thing. They feel they are the only ones with a valid opinion just because they were on the site first. Never mind they don't know what they are talking about, it's just important for them to feel self important putting everyone else down.
I don't miss a single person that is no longer here, and look forward to all the new ones that keep joining. Let the old timers go there way and enjoy what they choose to do. It's not like we're short on posts or quality members.
Eddie