If someone takes the time to leave you a gram or a scroll saying how much she enjoyed reading an article/post/journal entry that you wrote or event that you prepared, how difficult is it to take the time to leave that person a brief response? It need not be elaborate. "Thank you." would suffice.

If someone came up to you in the street and said, "You know I really enjoyed reading that article that you wrote..." Would you walk away and ignore them?

Probably not. So why are many "I really enjoyed your [insert name of article/post/journal entry/event here]..." messages around this site ignored?

Perhaps it is a cultural thing? In the part of the country where I was brought up, simple courtesies like that are a given. If someone gives you a gift or a compliment, you always say thank you. Maybe it is not like that in other places.

I feel foolish and stupid afterwards when I leave someone a message like that and he or she doesn't respond. Why didn't he or she? Too busy to bother? Did that person think I wasn't being sincere? I'm not worthy of noticing?

It makes me far less likely to want to do something like that in the future. And I think that's sad. Aren't we supposed to be a community? If you find yourself indifferent or too busy to offer a reply to someone, you might have missed out on making contact with a person who shares similar interests to you. Maybe that person would have helped you revive a dead group or discussion of yours.

Or maybe not. Perhaps some people just don't want contact with others.