I understand you and have noticed the same thing which is why I have decided not to respond to those that say they are leaving.

Some are serious and some are there for the attention.

sometimes I don't know which is which but have noticed a pattern that happens alot that people post they are leaving and then either don't or come back after watching their leaving thread as not logged in or invisable status or they have said they are leaving and while they are "gone" a post or two to a thread appears by them which shows they are not actually gone.

Because I don't know the person in real life and I don't know what is behind their post on leaving I don't respond to them simply because their coming to Psych central to begin with didn't involve me begging them to come here so their choice to leave or stay shouldn't involve me begging them to stay and so on.

I like the ones letting everyone know they are taking a break because people do worry about members be it on line or real world support groups.

But the leaving and back on line I don't understand that because if someone is so unhappy with a real world therapy or support group they just don't go back. they sometimes privately let people they care about know they are not going back to the group anymore and thats that. Sometimes without even notifying the facilitator. In the real world people come and go in therapy and support groups so thats the way I see on line therapy and support groups.