I've posted for advice during vunerable times, seeing this place as being full of experienced human people who have to be fairly grounded or cool because they like folk music!
I was surprised at some of the ill-intentioned bitter posts. There were more insightful empathic ones, but the hurtful ones...I just remember them more. Also surprised that some experienced folks don't always follow a safe convention to avoid confilct: Just speak honestly of personal experience -- use "I" instead of "you". But there was a time when I didn't know the advantages of this, and still remind myself.
I don't want the answer to be "just read and post music threads". That may be the answer...probably doesn't have to be...guess it depends on where I am that day.
Something ordinary but interesting happened to me the other day. I went to see a public event at the city auditorium and my friend noted that "people are basically good". The whole event was full of basically good, friendly people -- it had to be, because it acutally happened smoothly and enjoyably. Anyway, it was a good reminder for me that the real world is just as valid as the printed electronic forum world. It's just the limitedness but the permanence of the written word has a great impact for me.
Yeah, I may shrug it all off soon. Like being a little vulnerable though.