Joe Cothrel from Lithium asked this question the other day. A bit of background may help you answer the question.
The facilitators of the group help push the group forward toward its purpose and objectives through a range of face to face and online activities.
But what happens when they stop pushing forward for a little while.
Will it be like a Ferrari? That when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal that the group will still roll on for a while.
Or will it be like a golf-kart? As soon as you take the foot of the accelerator it will start to come to a halt.
The size of the group may make a difference to the answer.
As Joe mentioned smaller communities (online groups) are more likely to stop when you take your foot of the pedal.
Whereas a larger groups, it appears to be more about steering it.
How would you describe your online group?