Maybe you realize it's a "damned if you do-damned if you don't" scenario when it comes to responding to posts.

I think this is the core of what you're seeing. A lot of forum threads work like this:

1) Player posts idea. Let's say, Let's allow rampant permagrouping!
2) Idea doesn't sit well with staff. Several bat it around and figure out there is consensus that they don't like it.
3) No one responds to the post.
4) Eventually, I show up to say "Not something that is going to happen. Here's why." This makes me the bad guy.

I've asked a lot of the staff why they don't chime in on these sorts of questions more often, thus spreading the Inevitable Blame. (Some do post regularly, but a majority of the staff doesn't.) I usually get three flavors of responses:

1) "Lack of time."
2) "I'm not sure I have the experience/authority on that topic to speak for the staff."
3) "Are you kidding? And put up with 3 pages of personal attacks, conspiracy theories, and general bitching?"

(#3 is a similar topic to "Why are Immortals so secretive about the mortals they play?" See Nepenthe's post for a longer perspective on that.)

valguarnera@carrionfields.com