I don't disagree with the latter half at all, Jon, I admire it tremendously. I have been in other sites where the moderator is immoderately interfering -- and given that after all Max has a lot of knowledge in these areas, his reticence is commendable. But I think you underestimate the power of the format to reinforce the obvious quality of the participation. It is hard to describe it, but it has something to do with the mixture of egalitarianism (all posts are treated equally) and lack of busyness in the main thread page. It has a kind of transparence that many other sites either struggle to achieve, or clog up with crap. So we can get on with being or saying what or who we are.

Sorry to go on like this. But I think the sociology of Internet participation is completely understudied, and that it is either carried out by people who have no understanding of sociology, or no sensitivity to design, or the relationship between the two. That is why there is so much dismal crap out there, and why the Internet is disappointing some of its original promises.

Anyway, I always enjoy reading your wise words here! (funny that it is so easy to do here, huh?)!!!!!!

yours, Peter T.