In the circumstances of the group I created (for mental health issues), I see it as similar to a thread where you can go away from everyone else, it stays up continually (like long after the other members are tired of hearing about X) and how you know a certain group is always interested, unlike the casual participants within any regular thread or fora on the board.
Hope that helps at least one person’s take on it. 
My four year daughter did head shoulders knees and toes today, first time ever. Of course she couldn’t sing, she is 99% nonverbal but she tapped her body parts along with the therapist. Interesting to most dopers? I don’t think so but to me it was a huge jump in her progress. And other people affected by autism would not only understand but also be able to give information on improving things that worked for them. If I made a thread a day about the little things she does, or doesn’t do that would get annoying to most people. But if we had a little home, the other people affected or just honestly curious, could get help or provide help and keep track of one anothers progress. I’m not the best at explanations but I hope I kinda made a tad bit of sense.
ETA: Of course the same applies to many other “groups” that got created, mental health, even things like the military and mafia (mafia would be able to keep track of upcoming games, without having to worry about bumps or stickies)
I thought it was a rather neat feature; sadly, it is disabled. I wish it could be turned back on.
So it was turned back on? If this was purposeful, thank you to TPTB. If it was an accident, well, dang.
Hmmm, it may be on, but I can’t join the groups. I don’t see the little join button anywhere. Someone tried to invite me, but the system came back and said I can’t join groups. WTH?
Social groups have been disabled for now because of board stability issues and because the staff needs to work out some rules and guidelines so that it doesn’t get too chaotic in there. (For example, someone created the ‘Dipshits’ group. Funny, sure, but probably not a type of name we’d want to encourage.)
We can’t promise when or even if they’ll be enabled again, but that’s why they’re currently not working.
**Skip **this is not quite correct. I can get to the social groups, but most of the functions are not working. Additionally **SmartAleq ** was able to posta message using Firefox v.2.0.0.16 (refuse to go to v.3 because my favorite add-ons aren’t supported) and Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit.
Just to confirm, I can read the public groups, but I cannot join them; there are two I would join if I could.
This is (in some ways) the worst of both worlds; able to see but not get in the fun.
I agree with RyJae. I’m a member of another site that has “teams,” that can be rather specific. It’s nice to hop into one and know you’re with a bunch of people who know exactly where to go for that special knitting yarn or how to combat nasty mouth from chemo.
Thanks, guys. I found the setting(s) that needed to be tweaked. Access should be removed now. Sorry for teasing you like that, MHaye.
shakes fist Hope you guys discuss this and you threaten to lay down your jackboots and say “Hear me, my Admins, I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will moderate no more forever.” if they don’t allow the new discussions area. 