I did read it. Perhaps you should read it again: "I'm just a 'lurker' here, but I just had to respond to this thread, it has gone on and on (and on!), but not one response to the prayer request, from Karen, for her friend!"
I found "gone on and on but not one response" to be a critical statement. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way, but it certainly came across to me that you were chastizing others for not responding publically to Karen's request for prayers.
You keep saying that you've been slammed, but you really haven't gotten any worse than you gave, in my opinion. You questioned why people hadn't responded, were told that most people here do that privately, and took offense because Karen phrased it in cultural terms (but newsgroups really do have their own cultures). And now you're all wound up over what really isn't anything. I'm sorry that you didn't get what you needed from reading this thread, but that's not what we're here for.
Any particular reason why you've chosen to focus on me to the point where you put my name in the subject? I'm not the only one responding to you. Why have I all of a sudden become your punching bag?
Elizabeth