"Reading the room" generally leads to the following for me:

1) Am I the only one who noticed that the author has terrible grammar? Better not say anything at all to be on the safe side.

and

2) These people said what I'd like to say much better than I ever could. And there are so many comments, I'd rather not write a comment of my own.

The interaction between writer and longtime reader also scares me a bit because I feel like this isn't a place for me, the stranger.