pips - The trick with any internet exchange is to allow for the fact that human nature rules here, the same as everywhere else.
So you will get people giving you the 'not real / off button' responses - just ignore them, and respond to the posts that provoke your interest.
That's always been the way through sites like this.
Some people don't grasp that fundamental point, and spend screeds of cyberspace moaning about what they see as the shortcomings of one AB'er or another, when the simple answer is just to ignore anyone who gets your goat, and converse with the people you like.