Fuck all the arguing regarding the Straight Dope Clique. (or Cabal, or in crowd, whatever you want to call it.) There isn’t a clique. There are many cliques. Before you all get set to flame me for this, hear me out.
For instance, there is the Chat Clique. You guys are in #straightdope (Not affiliated with The Chicago Reader, of course) most nights. You all know each other, you discuss your personal problems, flirt, have mindless chatter, basically, you hang out together. On the Boards, you are always around the same threads, use first names, and back each other up during big arguements. None of these are bad things, but they do intimidate new members. Even thought you don’t mean to intimidate, you do.
Another clique is the Oldtimer Clique. These tend to be members who belonged to the AOL board, or joined here late 1999, early 2000. Usually you have a high post count. What I often hear from this group is that the boards aren’t what they used to be. These complaints usually come at the expense of a newer member. Well, guess what? The SDMB isn’t what it was in 1999. It has grown, in large part to the tradition that you Oldtimers began. That tradition was being extremely freindly and helpful to new members, and making the SDMB more than just another message board on the net. Its not going to go back to the small board it once was, just be happy that you were able to be in at the start, and you started a good thing.
I chose these two cliques to use these two cliques as examples because I go to #SD, so I know what its like on both sides of the group, and while my registration date is Oct 2000, I lurked for nearly a year before joining, and know the board history. They weren’t picked to single anyone out. I figure if I can identify with them, I’m using myself as an example.
If you are in a clique, you probably don’t realize it. But those on the outside of your group of friends see it. It is scary for the average newbie to see jokes about feltching, munging, JDT, or any other thing we talk about in Doper language. Not all newbies are trolls, some just take a while to catch on to what the SDMB is all about.
If you are a newbie, deal with the fact that there are cliques. Basically, if you aren’t a jerk, and you like it here, you’ll find your place here. We are a friendly bunch. Just don’t jump into the pit within your first few posts unless you can handle getting called names.
The final thing I want to say is this. I know I don’t get my point accross well in long posts like this. I hope anyone reading this doesn’t think I’m trying to single any one person or group out, because I’m not. These are just my observations. Also, don’t ask me for cites, because I’m not going to point any one Doper out for anything.