Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

Paragraphs, please.

PS: I did read your post, in its entirety.

Originally Posted by License2Ill

I rarely find qroupthink interesting other than as a phenomena, and I'll rarely just pile on in an informational answer to a question, unless there is some nuance that could or should be flushed out further or added to discourse. i don't think everyone comes here for companionship, but don't begrudge those that do, until that gets in the way of real, good, and whole information that may involve confrontation and debate.

The difference between in-person and on-the-net is the amount of inter-personal relationship sought by engaging in the activity. Some seek more of a relationship on the net, but that usually is what leads to more in-person relationships like going on a ride together or something.

You can certainly swap info either way, but the goodness of online(and written) communication is that it minimizes the ego content even if it appears to heighten it at the same time, by keeping the focus on the info rather than the personality. In other words, I've seen a lot of gurus out on the trail, but as soon as they get online, their egos and experience have to be backed by good ideas.

Some of the issues people have with attitudes are due to the fact that online interaction is in the form of written word, which is inherently sharper and matter of fact. This is what led to the use of smileys since the inception of the medium. But if you're on a forum, it's a back and forth discussion format, not just an encyclopedia or bulletin board, dating site, etc.