I'm pretty easygoing with what type of responses I want from people. I will take what they would like to give or are able to offer. I do like dialogue. But I also appreciate encouragement, hugs, thanks, the heart smileys, etc. I like when people share their own experiences from therapy and compare them to mine. I learn something. There are some people who can be critical and come off as harsh. There are others who can be critical but phrase it in a positive and polite way that makes it easier for me to accept. I prefer the latter method. I learn from my own internal responses to people's posts what may or may not be helpful in posts and this helps my own posts. There are some people I respond to and they don't acknowledge or respond to what I say, over the course of a number of threads. If this happens repeatedly with the same poster, I learn they aren't really getting anything from my responses and so I desist. That's OK!

I get confused when people make posts and specifically ask for people's opinions and ideas and then later they post that they really just wanted people to agree with them and to feel validated. Sometimes I tread carefully and don't say much until I know the person and if they truly want people to respond to the questions they ask. Otherwise a hug seems safer. Or a "hang in there" comment. Or encouragement to see their therapist.

ETA: I also don't care if my threads get hijacked. It means my post stimulated some good discussion, even if I am not part of it. I am OK with that!