You should be spending more of your time involved in online message board communities posting information and adding value to the discussions and using that leverage to gain links and readers for your own website. Lots of professional bloggers build their authority and popularity by having a fanbase on popular forums related to their niche.

Sure, certain posts on message boards have hoards of useful information and tips, but most rumors and shinfo (shitty information, something that isnt needed and doesnt relate to the topic at hand) find their roots in some frenzied discussion in a thread on a message board.

You should avoid getting sucked into the pointless conversations and e-drama that has a frequent connection with the anonymous users of any online community, unless you have to wade through that muck in an actual need of researching information for a problem you actually have.

Save yourself a headache and tons of wasted time by being brief and to the point. Ask what you want, and contribute back.