[ John Phillips wrote in 110601 MMDigest

> It seemed to me that a great deal of the AMICA magazine's content
> was devoted to describing social meetings of the various chapters,
> with emphasis on the sumptuous afternoon teas or suppers that were
> provided.

This has caused me to drop a few newsletter subscriptions and group
memberships.  I'm first interested in the object or activity itself,
that's what brought me to the organization, and not as much in that
people are enjoying the object or activity.  Or, put another way,
is it a musical instrument club that's social or a social club that
listens to music?  The social factor is nice, but that's not why I
subscribed and joined.

Of course this isn't isolated to our interests here.  A great many
hobbies and organizations are withering because the membership is
glowing old and young people just aren't interested.  And even if
they are, ofttimes the "old folks" can't (or worse, won't) make the
welcome, so they leave.  (Many examples omitted.)

z!
Carl Zwanzig