Perceptions of a clique

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve noticed that one of the final attacks made by a poster losing a debate in the Pit will make is the idea that the “clique” is out to get him or her. This is usually met with derision, with people stating ironically that there is no clique.

But there are cliques on the board- just not the all-encompassing “Us vs. them” clique alluded to by the Pitters. My rationale:

-Many of the posters from the original AOL board formed friendships and associations at that time. It’s referred to often by posters as a simpler place, where there was more of a feeling of community than exists on the SDMB now.

-Quite a few posters take their comments and ideas to Live Journal, the UnaBoard or Fathom. This is sometimes used to discuss things that would not be tolerated by the moderators here.

-Small groups of posters have friendships (or more) that developed here, and they have a tendency to defend each other and to respond to each other more than a single poster in the same threads.
I see nothing wrong or disturbing about any of the above; I merely point it out to show a perception that some may have that there is a clique. My take on it is that when issues are discussed here, and then some of the participants take the discussion to another place where some of the original particpants cannot follow (without a code, or URL) it does look like someone is being excluded, whether or not that is the case.

I have no particular cites because there is no reason to stir up controversy- I have no stake in it, and I am not complaining. Just making an observation that may help some understand that it’s not always personal.

2

I was just thinking about this recently. I guess it happens everywhere. I just occasionally notice that some posters get ignored in a thread, where others (the perceived buddies) get comments. FWIW

3

Why should the SDMB be any different than the rest of the world?

4

No reason for it to be different…but it is…in the real world the clique is acknowledged and often times even celebrated

Here you often see pile ups deserved or not and when the person getting their butt kicked claims to be a victim of the notorious clique the denials come fast and furious whether accurate or not

I stay out of those threads but I do check them out sometimes and I’m incredulous when person after person comes in to just add a me too post and BTW I ain’t part of a clique when from the outside it is plain as day the exact opposite is true

I don’t necessarily think it’s such a bad thing…in fact it’s pretty natural kind of thing to happen as people get to know one another

So why whenever this topic comes up is the overwhelming response usually…deny deny deny?

5

Well, agree. You guys are absolutely right. There is no Clique.

Well it’s obvious who didn’t get an invitation to join. We’ve got some more to laugh at at the next Clique meeting.

6

Of course there are cliques…it’s human nature.

I try my best to evaluate posts based on the opinion presented and not my like or dislike of any particular poster.