I am sorry for the offence, Steve Madden, and it was not the intention of my posting to refer to the type of support network you describe in your comment.

I was refering to the communities which I observe amongst the youths with whom I have had dealings - of those who make a choice between "regular" - a terrible word, but i'm taking a break for mind-numbing work - and another online... those who make a "lifestyle choice" or sorts. You, on the other hand, as you receive insufficient support from general society are finding it online. To find necessary support is nothing shameful at all - I was referring to those who make the active choice to not be part of general society.

I don't consider this an online commmunity. It's like writing a letter to the editor of a paper, and takes 1 minute. One can read the Herald, Age or Courier Mail online and within a minute, send in a letter - it's no different... except that you always get published.

Pesty, I never said that elite schools are the only ones that foster school spirit... I said that observing my peers that is what I saw. I feel that schools with strong spirit do not necessarily lead students to not partake in alternative, online communities. Elite schools - due to their regular expression of school spirit at high-profile events, be they sporting or cultural - thus lead students away from online communities. I was not making a judgement about other schools based on school spirit, but noticing a reality of the practices of elite schools alone. Elite schools which don't foster school spirit tend to encourage this social detachment... note that I didn't say "elite schools foster school spirit" but "elite schools which foster school spirit".

And on conscience, there is nothing to foster it like face-to-face, human contact.