It has to do with internet forum decorum. Verisimilitude is right, the chit-chatters do so as a way of marking their territory and feeling like they belong somewhere. On the one hand it is pretty pathetic behaviour, but more importantly it is against the Forum rules.

Some of the ones posting in this thread are the worst offenders. I can only hope they will give some thought to whether what we are saying applies to them and control themselves in the future. But I rather doubt it.