Pullup resistors on I2C, why?

[atrent]

Hi, is there a motive for R1 and R2 (pullup resistors for SDA and SCL)?
I'd like to use Wemos pins D1 and D2 for a SoftwareSerial...
Thanks

[pfeerick]

Because I²C needs pullups.

If you're not going to use I²C, don't put them on.

[atrent]

thanks for the reply (and sorry for the delay in my follow up)

I actually have an old version of the shield (see photo) and I've checked now that R1, R2 and the 24AA... chip are NOT present, so the fact that I could not activate a SoftwareSerial on those pins is to be investigated more, my bad