Hehe, absolute no problem with replying. If replying felt like a mere obligation, or a burden, then I probably wouldn't reply. Also, I often read new comments when they are fresh, but only reply when I feel I have time and concentration to reply.

One of the things which helped me to get started with the whole idea of blog writing was my earlier experience with facebook. I was somewhat sceptical when I joined facebook, but slowly I found ways to use it in a way I like. And surprisingly often it so happened that I posted something quick and short but it sparked a lively discussion in comments, so the comment thread became a lot more interesting than my original update. And that is the way I like it; here in the blog we have the comment section so that people can use it, and I like the idea of different people contributing with their own perspective. I hope that will make the whole thing more rich and flavoured for all the readers.

Lastly, I don't know if it is just me, or the Finnish culture in more general, but a blunt and dry manner of expressing oneself doesn't feel nasty to me. I think all communication begins with people saying what they mean (and meaning what they say). It might sound ridiculously self-evident, but thinking about it, it seems that a lot of communication often involves people assuming a whole load of meanings wrapped into what gets actually said - and about as often people might expect others to get those hidden meanings which they don't say aloud. Personally, I'm not good in that =) So, for me, blunt and dry is not a problem, if it comes with a sense of being direct and honest.