Yep.

one of the ironies of the internet is that it allows an outlet for the natural human drive towards socialization and group formation without the messiness which comes from face-to-face social interaction.

or, think about it this way - i don't think that people would willingly join a group in which meetings were conducted in large halls broken up into individual rooms where everyone just typed notes to each other on slips of paper that were then posted on the ceiling...and yet, the internet is very much like that.

to repeat - human relationships are messy, which is to say - they involve trying to establish rapore with others and some of that can become confrontational. no one really likes emotional confrontation - it's stressful and a bad form of stress at that. the internet provides a more sterile and controlled environment and hey, what could be more sterile than a golden-dawn ritual <snort> so i could see the appeal of remaining safely behind one's keyboard.

additionally people are afraid to be judged by others, and that happens in face-to-face organizations...or at least the FEELING that you are being judged happens. i have met many many occultists who were terrified of "looking like a goober in front of other practioners" - well - screw that, become one with your gooberness and stop worrying about it i say! :^)

or, like my kung-fu instructor would say:

"people go through three stages regarding what other people think of them: the first is worrying about what other people think of them. the second is not caring about what other people think of them. the third is realizing that other people DON'T think about you, they think about themselves."

to me that's the thing to remember about groups and group dynamics - everyone thinks about themselves first and foremost - they really don't think tons about you. so just be yourself and think about yourself and you'll be fine ya know?

"t can make one wonder if that approach has a tendency to breed a type of "selfishness" "

As someone who has considered joining IOT, I can only give my personal reasons for not yet doing so; the website is offputting - no lists of groups in the areas, no welcoming remarks, just comments that IF the applicant follows six months of work, and writes his homework up; practices at least an hour a day, then he MAY be indulged by the leaders and invited to join.

I can see why that attitude manifests, but its still not very inviting.

Particularly not to independent-minded folk such as are attracted to Chaos.

By contrast, groups such as the various golden dawn offshoots, etc, generally invite people along to see the local temple, take part in public ceremonies, etc. Its all very fine to maintain the purity of the order by weeding out the unfit before they begin, but its ironic then to query the motives of those who dont run in droves to sign up.