Social Politeness Or Spamming Stupidity

TomG brought up an interesting subject and I'd like to really dive into it
because I think it's important. I'll try to make this as coherent as possible
after a day at the dentist, the electronics store and the local Subway
trying to somehow get down a 6 inch turkey without wondering how much
bicarb I'm going to have to chug after.

Let's try to simplify this.

John Doe makes a great post at the forum. Really shares some incredible
info.

Sally Simple is very shy, doesn't really know what to say but doesn't want
the post to go unnoticed so she makes a simple comment.

Nice post...thanks for sharing.

She truly doesn't know what to say. She doesn't really have a vast
knowledge of the subject so she can't really add anything to the
conversation other than to thank the poster.

Now, Bobby Blowhard also reads the post and makes a similar 5 word
comment along with a sig file that screams "Click me or I'll nuke your dog".

And he does this for every freakin post on the forum. It doesn't even
matter what the topic is. He's got his pat answer.

Nice post...thanks for sharing.

Over time, Sally does learn stuff and begins to contribute a little.

Bobby never does.

Here's the point.

You can't judge the reply to a post by the reply itself. You have to look
at it within the body of work of the poster. Heck, even I occasionally
post a few word comment to thank a poster. Granted, my posts of brevity
are as rare as a two bit hooker at a convent, but still, not all my posts
are works of art.

The bigger point is, give somebody the benefit of the doubt until they
prove that they're only here to spam the crap out of the place.

Some people are just shy.