Perhaps as McGrath notes, us Yookers have a tendency to be culturally more reserved than Americans and the high degree of pastoral care exhibited in Mudcat, is certainly something that feels thoroughly alien to me for one. I observe it without really knowing what it's all about, and I must confess at times, what I suspect is a kind of culturally ingrained 'emotional prudery'. As someone who would never post anything requesting 'good vibes' for my health or personal life or whatever, I can still however see the value in them for others.

In response to the OP's apparent comment on excessive neediness in some posters? I'd also add that it's often an entirely a reciprocal relationship between the "needy" and the "needed". Some people emotionally need to be needed by the "emotionally needy". But there's a secondary gain embedded in their need to be needed, it gives them self-esteem or a sense of superiority or even power over others. Some even get a weird self-pitying kick out of being a martyr!