Often people respond to other posts as if it were only the two of them talking, even when the thread has numerous posts.

It works out a number of times because the response is right after the post responded to.

However, it is often confusing.

Maybe if you would, if you don't want to use the "quote" function, start off with the name of the poster to which you are responding, it would make it a lot easier on the rest of us.

I probably have been as guilty of this as anybody else but I'll try also.

Noted. I will try to improve because I don't think I ever use the quote function.