"I did come on here yesterday and dutifully wrote a reply to the previous posts, but when it came to post it I couldn't see what purpose it served - it didn't seem right to put others to the bother of reading it - and so deleted it."
well....i can tell you a couple of purposes it serves: it lets people know you've actually read what they've written. lets them know that THEIR posts served a purpose.
and it keeps you engaged with those others, builds a kind of relationship. which is there when you need it.
it's kinda one way of going about being and staying a part of the world.
okay, i've taken that maybe a bit wider than is wise. never mind.