They were also more than a community. They became massive sources of niche information. Often incredibly detailed, and incredibly specific to a niche (1980s BJ

They were also more than a community. They became massive sources of niche information. Often incredibly detailed, and incredibly specific to a niche (1980s BJ74 landcruisers in Canada, or Halo 2 mods for Soft modded xbox 360s, or pedal steel guitar - latest favourite) Some of these still exist. But if they disappear the world will be worse off. Thankfully some remain in the archive, but once they’re inactive you can’t just jump in and continue the thread. Some have been going for 10+ years, sporadically. Real time communication is not required for a community. And it’s a really poor way to create information that will remain useful for years or decades to come. Google seemed to discount forums at some point, and what filled the vacuum is not as valuable to the user.