Sorry to hear that GOC doesn't live up to the excitement level you expect (beyond BB's potato debauchery) but the GOC'ers I know (that I have met in person or have corresponded with outside of the forum, hell I've even worked with at least one of you) have all been interesting, knowledgeable and outgoing individuals. Most if not all are also very proficient and successful in their occupations away from GOC, another sign of a well-balanced lifestyle.
Speaking for myself only, I have plenty of contacts should I need actual technical advice so my main reason to take up bandwidth on GOC is to commiserate with like-minded individuals trying to navigate the obstructions a worried/scared/vindicative government keeps throwing in our path. Other reasons include following the projects others have undertaken, be they old rifles brought back to life (FALover), old vehicles (normmus), bad ideas combined with questionable shortcuts (BSD), fighting off the evils of capitalism (aniest), that pinked guy (f*ck him), competitive shooting (Dewey, R&R), the charmed life (2012Cvoguy), soulchaser's dank political underbelly updates and many others that chime in with an update on something that interests them or affects us as a group. IMO we need more motorcycle content and more fishing content (especially ice fishing) and I'm just as guilty of not doing exactly that.
I see this as a relaxed atmosphere, less competitive and more like you're sitting around ribbing your buddies over something. Never have I thought of my GOC compadres as "old, disgusting barfly drunks" nor expected a Burning Man experience, complete with ecstasy and quickies. I suppose if that's your kink these days M1917 might be kind enough to arrange a hook-up for you with Stinky. I doubt there would be any ecstasy for either of you, it probably wouldn't last 5 minutes but guaranteed afterwards you'd be burning, man.