I loved this commentary! I've been online since 1994 (bbs's, dos-based aol, trumpet winsock on win 3.1, etc.) and the only time I really participated in any real way was on those small local bbs's. But then I have a hard time joining in real life, too!

Anyway, thanks for the wonderful commentary, and if you'd take a Californian, I'd love joining your community, just as long as I don't have to create an avatar, or tell anyone anything about myself! And maybe the forums post count could give you lower rankings the more you posted!

Some of the "friends" in my list went to high school with me. Unfortunately, I could never get on the same page when it comes to what I do on Facebook and what they do on Facebook.

Then again, I am very savvy in technology and also in the fine arts, and my educational background is in Mathematics and Computer Science, and also includes the Liberal arts, and photography has been a hobby of mine since 1977!

I visit plenty of web forums, particularly those of Linux Format, and vendor forums where I provide technical support for those who post questions about their computer problems, mainly getting specific hardware to work with Linux.

I first got online back in Junuary 1996, and like Jim, I see the Internet as an extension of real life. The difference here is that you may be travelling around the world, and virtually be in more than one place at the same time.

I see "lurking" as a way to try out a sevice like Facebook before getting actively involved with the community.

The Internet for me has brought me opportunities to interact that I would never have had twenty years ago, when I graduated from Valparaiso University.

To Jim: If you wish to form a community, I would be more than happy to join.

Note: I used Rootweb.com to find out about my ancestry. Though I am a US citizen, my great grandfather is a native of Chatham (Kent County).