I totally agree that engaging with the community is immensely valuable in technical pursuits like law and coding. I'm sure a lesser amount of engagement is also

I totally agree that engaging with the community is immensely valuable in technical pursuits like law and coding. I'm sure a lesser amount of engagement is also beneficial for skills that are somewhat more subjective, like art. These are great ways to stay apprised of the state of the art and to keep a pulse on the zeitgeist. However, I think that the author is correct that a lot of fansites/forums/groups for [what are normally considered] casual interests are full of very obsessive people whose advice and opinions are not worth taking seriously. In some cases, these people may be completely non-functional and detached from reality. It's really important that we step back and allow ourselves to see and enjoy the whole picture, instead of allowing the bubble of our online hangouts to color perceptions too much. The big picture is usually much wider, much less exclusive, and much less angry, and it's really healthy to appreciate that, especially when a community starts piling on.