Writing Groups and other foolishness

I found the discussion about the Franklin group most illumiknating-especially as I have just started working with such a group and have yet to figure out this group's dynamics.

It appears that of all the group members-Doug has the most "ownership" over his material and is the least receptive to change in his writing. It's really interesting to figure out just what it is that Doug wants from the group. He plots his fiction so far in advance that they cannot be changed without subtantially changing the story. I found his defense of his use of shopping malls in his story to be particularly defensive. Soes Doug juts want affirmation of his writing skill by the group? Is he just looking for acknowledgeent of his writing ability?

I find it curious that Fay, who has the most writing experience, needs the group the most. This may be because she thrives from genuine contributuions from others for her work. Despite her published track record, it appears that she has less individual "ownership" of her texts.

I have to say that I have benefited greatly from contributions from writing groups. For instance, I once set a lovemaking scene in a cave. I guess I just got carried away with the image of two people entering unknown territory. Someone in my writing group pointed out to me that "doing it" in a cave was a pretty horrible idea and genuinely yucky. I chucked the cave and my intimate scene was much better. (Just so you know, the couple ending up "engaging each other" on a picnic blanket on the grass, or is that T.M.I.?).

I hope I'm not going too far off topic here, but reading about the adventures of the Franklin Writing Group has really led me to question my won motives in seeking out a writing group. Am I like Doug and looking for people to acknowledge how great I am? Or, am I more like a Fay and genuinely need the give and take of such groups.

Here's my question for you all-should writing groups have the disparate Dougs and Fay's or should they be more homogeneous in their composition? Which would work better for you as a writer? (assuming you do some writing).