I always hit "new posts" when I enter the site, so I see what is new all over at once. I browse the head lines first--make a good headline and you will get interest. Then, I check the "tool tip"--if I pass my cursor over the headline, it gives me the first few lines of the first post. If I am STILL interested, I see how many have posted and most times, if there are more than 10 posts, I probably won't reply (the subscriber's comp excepted.) Unless I am REALLY interested and even then, if it looks like my comment has already been said, I won't add a remark. I really hate "me too!" and "like she said" comments unless you add more to that.
So I guess it comes down to, "I (too) don't think I have anything to add."
So my suggestion, BW? Ask open questions about your subject. Make it so people WANT to give their opinion. Thank them for their input (if you don't already) and comment back. And as I have done with "Name five things you are grateful for," keep the thread alive yourself by contributing to it. Sorry, if you are already doing all this, but that is my $0.02.
barb