I'm talking about sci-fi fandom. The worldwide science fiction community has hierarchical compression that would be the envy of Chairman Mao. Approachability is the name of the game when your audience is so niche-oriented. In fandom, they are equals. Weekly parties serve to introduce Clarion West students to this convivial atmosphere.
Most students are hundreds, even thousands of miles from their normal support group.
In addition, students have to deal with the emotional pain of honest, though usually constructive, critiques. Most of us learn to swallow our critiques as well as dish them out. Drama does ensue, though, and it can range from sudden, sobbing classroom exits to a midnight trip to the emergency room. Writers are rivals, but they're also readers, and often quite appreciative ones. And groups of like-minded writers, such as the cyberpunks, have changed the face of science fiction.