Failing to be able to fill out this survey, I realize it's because my commenting depends entirely on the journal, my relationship with that journaler, and the type of topic it is. With many journals I feel like I have a relationship with the writer and I want to respond to them and support them, regardless of others being there, also supporting them. So particularly with "yay" type posts, I comment without reading. Some advice posts I don't comment because mine echoes that of others, but some I do for the exact same reason, when I think echoing voices strengthen the position.

I have at least a few journals I read where I know the writer has cultivated a really good group of commenting readers, I know I will find much value in the comments section, and I may even go back and re-read in a day or two, just to see what has been contributed there since it was first posted. In some journals I've gotten to know others through the comments quite a bit...while in some other journals, I find the journaler unique among their peers, and their commenters less valuable, where I can skip them regularly.

So, it all depends. And away from lj it shifts yet again, but is similarly relative to more than just the forum itself.