I've subscribed to rec.music.folk for a few years, and I've never seen "Hey, why doesn't everyone who subscribes to this group, and can make it, plan on coming to my house on 3 & 4 Octember." I've never had anyone call me on the phone because I met them there. I have made friends through that group, and have been offered floor space, but that's between individuals, not a group-as-a-whole thing.

Note that I'm not saying it's better, just different. I'm on a couple of e-mail lists as well. I would describe relationships as cordial but somewhat distant - also not better but different. There are enough "places" on the internet for folks to find one or more with the qualities they like and spend whatever time they want there.

Ickle, the problem may be the way we define "community," and it may just be an American usage. Mainly what I mean is a group of people with a common interest and some feeling of group identity. We have friends within this "community," people we don't know very well and some we probably don't agree with and maybe even dislike. We help each other and squabble in ways we wouldn't if we were just a bunch of unconnected individuals. We often know more about each other than I think some people care for.