It's more of a natural diffusion of common sociological binding properties with increases in cohort size than ego. In small, cohesive groups communication IS s

It's more of a natural diffusion of common sociological binding properties with increases in cohort size than ego. In small, cohesive groups communication IS simultaneously MORE efficient and MORE intimate. As the group size grows, the differing mixtures of shared properties amongst its participants grows. There are more total possible channels for signal-based bonding, but also more noise. With choice comes confusion, ambivalence, and even rejection. In the extreme case, the original cohesive set of properties in the "core culture" can be bifurcated or disappear altogether. It's no different than what happened on the original Fidonet, The Well, or the infamous AOL-invasion of the academic Internet. SXSW has simply gotten too big for the original cultural center to hold.