Minyan Gal –
While I’m not on-line quite that long, I see one major difference between the AOL group you describe and the frum, on-line communiity of today. That group was seeking people who are like-minded, and the net brought them together. Today, many of us share the same ideas, but for one reason or another (gender, family, ect) need to keep our ideas off the public record.
For example, I feel that boys should be ready to work, shortly after marriage. But if my kids decide to be the sit and learn type, my rants will only embarress them, and my spouse / mechutonim to boot.
Or if I have some really good cc cookie receipes, that ms. 19 year old, still in sem, would like to have, that’s ok if its shared on-line, and in a moderated site. But very NOT ok if its swapped in Vegas.
And for the record, YNW is the only CR I visit. Mods (and the CR group)keep things on a fair playing field, and I don’t need the trouble the unmonitored net can bring.
Canadian Praries, huh? Boy, talk about OOT!