I never read the books but years ago I did hang out in a popular bulletin board based off the same premise.
As an aside, lately I've been visiting the
SLU club house at random times in the day and I always find at least 1 person there. This morning I logged on really early (UK time - about midnight SLT) and found an insomniac East-Coaster, with whom I spent a fun hour or so being taught how to play Greedy-Greedy. Then this evening I was on again and there was quite a crowd.