A while back I joined a different group associated with an online fabric store. It was pretty new, so there weren't many members. The ones who posted regularly (and the ones who didn't, for that matter) were wonderful people and I loved getting to know them. It wasn't anything like this forum, though, because there simply weren't enough members. I got sidetracked with life issues and stopped posting, although I didn't stop reading. I still felt part of the group and felt like they were my friends, even though I wasn't participating. I'd think of things to share with them in response to what they were sharing, but didn't actually post due the depression and other crap that was happening in my life. I looked forward to the day when I'd actually rejoin them.
The group of active posters dwindled down to four. I set a date to start posting again, when suddenly they all disappeared. They were gone! No one was posting. Finally I posted and asked where everyone went. One of the four replied and said since they had become such a small group and no one else was active, she emailed the moderator, who was also the online shop owner, and asked if she planned to continue the forum. She said the four of them thought they would simply email each other since no one else was posting and they had become so close. The moderator said she'd keep it going for a while, but wasn't going to post herself, but start a blog. She encouraged them to do what they wanted. Since one of the four was having marital problems and didn't feel comfortable sharing personal info on such a public forum, they opted to email each other. The forum was like this one, anyone can read it, but only members can post.
The one who responded to me said they thought I'd quit, which I totally understood, since I hadn't been posting. She told me to post and they'd respond, but she didn't ask me to join them in their email group. I felt hurt, even though it was my own fault. It was funny, I felt so close to them from reading their posts, yet they, of course, didn't feel close to me since I was simply lurking. Shortly after, the other three posted and welcomed me to join them, but by then I'd decided to find another forum, hopefully a larger one.
I found one that was large and active, but I didn't like the way it was set up. Then I stumbled across the QB and immediately felt comfortable here.
I don't know what the moral of this story is. Don't post and you lose? If you don't share, how do they know you want to be their friend? :| Anyway, whatever it is, I'm glad to be here! :-D
(Although I do wonder what's going on in their lives...)