The Tories stand as an inspiring example of a successful online community where the ever-increasing numbers of affiliated members enjoy a fertile environment for discussion and debate about the ideas that shape the face of Canada.

The majority of Tory bloggers do make political events and topics the focus of their blogs, but not all of the content that they create and publish is overtly related to the movements of the Canadian parliament or the prime minister.

Although the community members were brought together by a shared conservative viewpoint, the fact that not all of the postings on all of the member's blogs focus on political topics is one of the most exciting things about them.

On any given day, the main website's blogroll may feature postings about Olympic medalists, a James Bond film festival in Quebec, or a comical personal experience with a telemarketer.

The idea that having a political affiliation in common makes it possible to have a fruitful discussion about other kinds of topics has interesting implications for how online communities are established and how they grow.