I love reading comments this day even though I don't have much time to create a post. I think my last post was 3 days and I have been busy throughout. The worst part of it is that am trying to recover my social Media account which was hacked recently. I know many steemian who felt discouraged to comment because........as one shared with him.... he said he doesn't know what to comment. I didn't blame him because somehow I felt the same too. But what makes me start to engage and comment? I learned from the best, secondly I comment on post I like not all the post. For me, I don't know what to say or to comment about diary game but when it comes to contest or anything I might engaged. I noticed that even comment now it rewarding unlike before though many steemian prefer posting than commenting. One time....... even a steemcurator told me to post instead of engaging in comments.
You know if you don't talk to people you will not make friends and will not receive upvotes. It's as simple as that. Just leaving a comment is not enough, there has to be a reply, if not there is no engagement.
If that person says s/he doesn't know what to comment you can say you find it hard too and ask about interest or whatever you like to talk about. I don't see it as a problem if I write about A and the comment is not related to the topic becaus there's a question or you just like to share something else.
With you I agree there's no need to comment on everything but at times I also feel that everyone deserves a message some longer. others short, at times it's only about one line or a tip if it comes to hashtags but that's fine too.
Commenting should always have been rewarded. It was in the past and many old Steemians still work that way and keep in mind many small upvotes make a big one as well. Another plus of an upvote on a comment is that you do not share it with those who upvote your post!
There are people who mainly comment. Have a look at @gems.and.cookies. He even is mainly active in one comment contest and it works for him. There is no "you must" what this platform needs are commenters not posters there are enough posts and the quality of the average post is low. If you post daily - some even 3 times per day - how big is the change they are all upvoted? A 6 day old post can be upvoted, even a 7 day old post where it's still 10 or 12+ hours till the payout. Most important is that you do what you like and and you find likeminded people, support since it's not said that how it works today will continue. There was a time before SC and since Justin Sun the owner has an AI "surprise" for Steemit (he announced that on X) we can only see what will happen.
If it comes to the steemcurator.. they are people like you and me and not a special species, not better writers, engagers and many of them rarely comment. So leave the "even" behind. You can take the advice or let it be.
I once asked when an account is seen as active and the answer was if you post 4 posts per week (which leaves you with 3 days for commenting?) but on the other hand there are also plenty of Steemians who only post 1-2 times per week. Ask yourself what is more important and what will benefit you on long term. Contacts or just posting and leaving.