Good point to make Mj. For me I sometimes don't notice when people are quiet. I never have had social phobias and basically no fear of people or situations in general. It's hard for me to sometimes imagine what it feels like to be afraid of people or to not know what to say. I can't imagine always having feelings that would hold me back from expressing what I thought and felt. To me that seems like it must be a prison of some sort.

I do experience some of that now in Norway but at the same time I know it is completely the situation and not me normally.

I think it's easier to remember and to interact with the people who are more active on the boards. They are the ones who's name pops up every day and they are the ones you interact with more.

Consider also that some people don't know the quiet ones very well. Because we may not now as much about you we may not know what to say. It's much easier for me to scan the posts and respond to the people who have actually posted or have made a comment on another post.

I also know that I have developed a closer relationship to those I interact more with. That's pretty normal because I think the more you get to know someone, the more you find you have in common, the more you have to talk about.

I really don't think it's a case of someones or anyones input not being welcome. I know when I posted about my friend and the problems we were having there was a select few who replied and I'll be honest, many who I consider friends here did not. Many who I thought would have some insight or advice or a word of comfort said nothing. I am not hurt by that. I figure that if someone has something to say then they would say it. I realize it is more difficult for some but if you want to be heard and you want to participate then you have to join in and interact. I am not directing this at you, just the thought in general.

I can tell you are hurting and I am sorry for that Mj. Maybe since youa re feeling this way and maybe others are too you could let us noisy ones (I guess that's what we are called nowadays) know what it is we can do to make things better and make it easier for others to post.

Big hugs sweetie,
Heidu

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.- Alexander Graham Bell