Hmmmhhh .... I see your point that it's easy to set up a forum - even for techno-dolts. And since the barriers to entry are so very low it is hard to convince anyone it's worth $100/yr to purchase access. I agree with all of that.
I will say that while anyone can put up a Bulletin Board or Facebook feed very few of these become a community. Look at the free board on the Bootleg or the many fansites on Facebook. How many of them have created the sort of community we enjoy here? The care, setting of norms and attracting the distinct voices that this site and one or two others enjoy isn't as easy as throwing out a shingle on the web. I bet Redrum could add a lengthy list to his Pleistocene era history of those who tried to do just that and failed miserably.
All of which is to say that I bet it's at least as hard to start a vibrant web community as it is to set up a recruiting feed and may I parenthetically offer a big thanks to those of you who have kept this place a web address where it's fun to hang out and where the voices at the holding forth at the bar are unique and worth listening to.
I will say that while anyone can put up a Bulletin Board or Facebook feed very few of these become a community. Look at the free board on the Bootleg or the many fansites on Facebook. How many of them have created the sort of community we enjoy here? The care, setting of norms and attracting the distinct voices that this site and one or two others enjoy isn't as easy as throwing out a shingle on the web. I bet Redrum could add a lengthy list to his Pleistocene era history of those who tried to do just that and failed miserably.
All of which is to say that I bet it's at least as hard to start a vibrant web community as it is to set up a recruiting feed and may I parenthetically offer a big thanks to those of you who have kept this place a web address where it's fun to hang out and where the voices at the holding forth at the bar are unique and worth listening to.
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.