For me, the pandemic has caused me to spend more time here. It also makes me enjoy the interactions of the posters. I usually post in the morning, but lately have been coming back for more. If people want to post all day long I don't care. Hopefully they don't post just for the sake of it, but hey, it's not my call.
In 20 years or so of posting I have seen a lot of different things. I often wonder where have various posters gone. People just disappear, even after being regular contributors.
I do use private messaging. When people write to me as occasionally happens, I prefer that they tell me who they are beyond just a screen name. The PM can help develop personal relationships. Meeting other posters used to be something I enjoyed and encouraged. I no longer care much as the community and interactions we have here cannot be replicated outside the venue, or at least not usually.
The ignore function has served me well. I have two people on ignore, and that means it's as if they don't exist and never bother me. The downside is that if they start a thread, I cannot see the responses that I want to see. I imagine someone or another has me on ignore at times. It doesn't bother me a bit.
As for other message boards, I often go to boytoy.com, but it is being merged into another site that I gave up on.
Did any of my answers surprise you?