Related to something I read elsewhere about a lack of responses being somehow connected to the existence of the couch, do you guys think that's true?

From my perspective, I know that there are people who ask for help on other threads, and I try really hard to be supportive and if I have anything relevant to say, I usually do. But, because of my own issues, I have a HUGE problem with people who are pushy about bumping their own threads, or saying that they want more responses. So there are some people whose threads I rarely respond in, and then only when I feel that I have something to contribute that I believe will be really helpful and no one else has or is willing to mention. I think many of the forum participants are unwilling to speak the hard truths that some people really NEED to hear in order to grow and heal. It doesn't seem like the people who are really attention mongers stay long on the couch because they just cannot deal with a thread where it is not all about any one person, and we participate however and whenever we please.

[And Lola, try to keep that mind when those folks are irritating you. Mostly the people complaining are just those people who are so attention hungry and self centered that they cannot handle the more communal nature of this thread. Just consider the source and go on. ]

I am uncertain about participating in threads where I have little knowledge or experience with the subjects. And I am generally REALLY reluctant to ask for help from others. The couch feels like a less risky place to ask for help.

I am not sure any of this is making sense, but I am getting anxious about the possibility of the couch being moved just because a few attention seekers are having a problem with feeling ignored just because a few things they post get overlooked or not responded to.