Hmm, a bit of both. You get interested in people's horsey stories after a while, and want to know how they're getting on. And a lot of the titles draw you in, too.
I post in CR as well, and I notice posting trends there more. The comp reports of riders competing at higher levels understandably tend to get a lot of responses, as well as those of people who clearly know each other quite well outside the forum. However, there's also a good number who are supportive of our rather humbler efforts...
Both. Some people tell you absolutely nothing in the subject title and that soooo annoys me! I often click on threads started by people whose experiences/opinions I value, regardless of the subject title.
It's the subject title that makes me look at a thread, and also the subject title that makes me not look at one, eg. a "how much do you think..." or "how is he/she looking..." these I avoid like the plague.
There are a couple of people who are friends in RL - I will normally have a peep at their posts if they appear on the front page to keep up with their news, but otherwise it is all about the subject title for me.
Mostly title, though there are some people I seek out because I like them, and some I avoid like the plague, though the latter not usually in NL2, more in the Hunting forum, say.
I look at the posts title first, however there are people whos views I tend to enjoy reading - so I will read their posts and of course there are my forum friends whose posts I read as I enjoy hearing whats going on with them at the time.
I'm really new but very hooked and I go off the subject title as I do not yet recognise many people .
I have however put on a good few posts and had a good response I have been made to feel very welcome here, everyone is very helpful and friendly . (Much to my OH distaste I have now found a way of being horsey even when in my PJ's)
Normally the subject title, I will read posts made by friends too, and I am nosey so might read a thread that ahs had loads of replies (like this one!)