[JoshuaEN]

To me, reading HN or some other site (and replying), playing online games with strangers (and no voice chat or really the need to communicate at all), etc... are largely just ways to pass time and relax. I never really thought of it as being around people in the way I would say going to a party is.

I think the drain from interacting with people for me largely comes from overthinking everything (and devoting a lot of mental energy to doing so in real time). But with replying to an online thread, I can take my time to make a reply I'm happy with, or flat out decided not to reply, which I do a lot (though I try not to if someone replied to me in a way which I could then reply to add to the conversation).

I also find the drain goes down as I build relationships and figure out the existing dynamics, and online forums give ample time for the latter to happen because I never feel compelled to get involved in the discussion before I'm ready.

Online discussions often also have the advantage of clearer feedback, though voting systems and blunt replies (where in person people tend to be less confrontational).