Agree. For our kind, hackerspaces and similar coworking spaces are very important. Especially for starting new companies and cooperatives. Having social media like HN is icing on the cake.

At least geeks have the Net though. Huge portions of the population have no genuine social group as they get older. It is no wonder the Japanese are obsessed with high school. It's the last time their peer group was together. Things like participation in sports, religion and other quasi-social affairs are in decline.