Well Papa... I can assure you that I have always responded to every email I have recvd (with one exception - and that is because it was downright nasty!). I cannot explain why folks do or don't - I can only speak for myself.

And your comment about *popular* folks you can see why they may not.. well that has me wondering... what exactly do you mean by *popular*?? What is the criteria? And.. WHY would you consider it okay for them to extend less than common curtesy?

Wishing you bushels of email responses,
and every blessing

PBB -- My own policy is simple and straightforward. If someone takes the time to write to me -- assuming it's not a scammer, spammer, troll, or stalker -- they deserve a reply. It's not just the idea of "courtesy" or "civility" either -- it's the whole concept of a dating site (or a friend site, or whatever) as a venue built upon the furtherance of communication.

How can there be communication when people refuse to reply to legitimate e-mails?

And my replies are not "throwaways" -- ask anyone who has ever recieved a reply from me -- depending on the topic, and the urgency, I may go on for several pages.

I'm good at that.

And I (personally, although this is just my opinion) really don't think popularity should even enter into it. Is anyome here getting 400 e-mails a day? Maybe, but not that I know of. I get a pretty good amount, but nothing that prevents me from doing anything I need to do in real life.

I won't write to anyone first anymore, because I tried that and it was a complete waste of time. But I will always answer the ones who write to me. I've decided that it makes more sense to just talk to the ones who let me know they want to talk to me.

I will reply when I get to it

this conversation is to deep for me.. but I generally reply

I at least respond to any emails I getl. Maybe that person is not for you but it could be the start of a great friendship. You never know unless you respond.