Comment by hypfer

Yes, I got that, but what I actually mean is that these criteria do not necessarily lead to good conversations.

I know the kind of space you are referring to. I'm in those too. But my point is that they regularly disappoint me.

Which is usually worse disappointment than with randoms on the internet, because the people should know better but don't.

With these tight knit spaces you get all the social dysfunctions of people liking each other not for merit but because they've been around each other for long, and that's - for me personally - worse than the public alternative, as you suddenly do not argue with logic, but with the tribe and social cohesion.