@rocketbeee, thanks for the kind words and support.... and you bring up some interesting points there. "This" kind of community was not rare, pre-Farcebook; it was how we came together, in social blogging communities. FB was really a "downgrade," in terms of connecting... in a strange sort of way. Everybody migrated, of course, because the *interface* was slick, and they had photo albums and better usability-- you didn't have to know HTML and such. But FB "stole" depth of connection... ever try blogging there? It doesn't work. It's great for posting pictures of your taco... if that sort of thing rings your bell. 

The underlying premise here is different. On FB you "collect" friends and likes... here you earn friends, and you are *given* upvotes. There's a "pay it forward" thing happening. And the cool thing about it? As we learn to "give freely" here, it subtly changes our mindset, as we go out into the world.