I think a rock band is a better analogy. If your guitarist isn't showing up to practice and just doesn't keep up with the rest of the group anymore, you can rep

I think a rock band is a better analogy. If your guitarist isn't showing up to practice and just doesn't keep up with the rest of the group anymore, you can replace him with a new guitarist. That doesn't make membership in the band worthless, or the band itself a fiction.