Online Communities

Online communities seem to be the hot thing these days. Right now this article does a good job of looking over this not-so-new phenomena. I dunno-I guess I just figure we worked a lot of this out in the BBS days, and wonder what the big fuss is. Sure, graphics and such are neat, but how necessary are they to actual community? Being able to exchange ideas without rancor or reproach is what really matters I suppose.