There is a principle called homophily. It sounds like a high-brow concept, but when pared down to its essentials, it just means that we prefer to associate and create connections with those who are like us. Because birds of a feather flock together, this gives rise to a phenomenon known as social contagion.
Social contagion means that people who are closely bonded with one another will gradually adapt their behaviours and mannerisms to align with the predominant norms of the group.
This made me wonder. How has you changed as a result of hanging out so often at Stacker News? Or Stacker News is just like Homecoming for you, where you find kindred spirits left right and centre and assimilate smoothly into the network?