GroupsRus: Classification

This is a very primitive attempt to outline some of the dimensions under which people classify themselves into groups, and to give examples of the types of group which could be allocated to each of the dimensions.

Visitors are encouraged to add new categories (dimensions) or to add new groups to any of the existing deimensions. To propose a new category or a new group, please write to Chief Editor M G Bell at mgbell@groupsrus.com, with Groups in the subject line.

The touchstone of what makes a group is always the same: could one or more people say 'We xxxx-ers' or use an equivalent expression such as 'Xxxx-ers always . . .'

There aren't really any other rules; a group exists if people think it does - that is the whole point - and it's not always possible from a distance to be categoric about the existence of groups. Thus the particular groups listed here are some of those that are likely to be real groups. Many others will no doubt be added by people who find that their particular group is missing.

Closely equivalent wordings have been excluded in the original list. Thus, 'Puppetteers' would include puppett-makers and puppett-operators. But if puppett-makers ask to be separately identified, they will be!

In each section, only a certain number of groups have been listed. This is partly to cut down on the initial size of the classification (there are still more than 1,000 categories) but mostly to give an indication of what sort of groups can be included while allowing maximum flexibility for the submission of additional groups.