It usually means that I just wanted to take a look at the forum, to see how things are going. I haven't really felt like getting involved in strong discussions lately, so I have just let my activity rate fall over the last few months.
I was in Switzerland visiting my Dad for a while, and he doesn't have an internet connection. Hence I have been unable to post anything. Also, since I have come home, I have been swamped with work like I've never known. Sometimes when I get back from a stressfull day, from being at a computer screen for 8+ hours, I just can't concentrate enough to give good posts and give other people's posts the respect they deserve.
But now I'm back! And posting away!
I know exactly what you mean, I am pretty swamped right now with work and all the new professional development courses that we have to take as a staff, that most nights all I want to do is sleep and it wouldn't be fair to post anything up when you aren't thinking straight! We moved houses and just got the internet on and am slowly going through everything. So my advice is tackle everything a little bit at a time and then be back in full force!
I would have to say it depends on the HOT topics usually, That at least is where I start out. I like to look through those first. But if I don't have much time I will read and then ponder them while doing other things, hopefully to return and post at a later time. There have been weeks where I didn't even get on.
My computer stays on all the time (mostly anyhow) and this forum is my home page--so it may say I am logged in and I may actually not be here. If I am here for any amount of time, I usually respond to something. There are way too many threads here not to be able to find SOMETHING I can learn or discuss.
The reasons I may log on an just peep as opposed to commenting are multi-faceted. Often it is just because I have still been feeling my way around and getting my bearings. Sometimes I see an interesting topic but do not feel I have the depth of knowledge to add to the conversation. Other times I like the topic but want to think about it a bit, maybe do some more of my own research before forming an opinion and commenting, afterall I would like to at least sound half-intelligent sometimes. There are also some threads I find interesting but nobody has commented on them yet -- and I find myself a bit reticent to be the first. But I am sure that this newbie shyness won't last long. And yes there are times when I browse about and just don't see anything I want to add to.