An interesting thread, and if I may, I would like to say a couple of things.
As a relative newcomer I have definitely sensed a clique culture on these boards (and I say this with absolutely no criticism or judgement ).
This is inevitable in almost, if not all internet forums.
It happened on the BBC Get Writing & later the More Writing site, and the more we met up for drunken/fun-filled weekends, the clique-ier it got.
Newcomers (I detest the word newbie*), though invariably greeted with a friendly welcome, were regarded by some 'clickies' as a kind of non-entity until they had 'earned' their acceptance into the fold, though this was never acknowledged on a conscious or unconscious level.
People are people. It happens in real life and there's no way it won't happen on forums where it's so much easier for some clickies to be churlish or even downright rude to newcomers from within the safety of a clique. And that certainly doesn't apply to all clickies.
On a personal level, you can find most of my posts by the 0 replies. I can only assume...
a)Inadvertently upset someone
b)Made a statement too opinionated for a newbie*
c)Nothing of interest to say
d)Crap work - not worth acknowledging
I expect c & d to be 'quoted' along with a 'piss off' smilie!!
So sorry to drag up a subject that's obviously been thrashed out before - just had to get that off my bosom.
Seriously, just here to share some comedy with like-minded souls.
Peace. Love. Laughs.
