Interesting thread....
I'm a great believer in manners maketh the man (or woman).
It cost nowt to be polite.
I'm new to the site, but can see where people are coming from. It's not hard to nod back. Replying requires time and a little effort. People disappear for all sorts of reasons. I disappeared for over a week simply because my charger broke!
As for people 'that shouldn't be here'....
This here tinternet seems to have allowed people to pretend to be who they want to be rather than who they actually are! I say people even though my personal experience is of women doing it. Why is beyond me. tell lies and it comes back and bites your bum! This dishonesty is rudeness it self.
I am a shy person when people first meet me unless drunk lol (Farmyard goers be warned!). So i can be slow to answer at first and I'm sure there are plenty of others like me. However I do reply. Probably nonsense.. but hey!
As for the net being cold....
It's communication, just like writting a letter etc. So I don't see that as an excuse.
Ok just to prove I'm not rude I'll nod at everyone on this thread