Is this group really as clique as it appears?


I write this not to chastise anyone, because I have no right to do so
and in any case chastisement would have no effect. I write this
because I suspect that many of the regular posters he may not realise
how cliquey they appear to 'outsiders'. I have been reading this group
as an 'outsider' now for some years and ISTM that this cliquey
behaviour is more noticeable now than it has been in the past.

Now I realise that people can choose to respond (or not respond) to a
post in any way they like. However, one of the main indicators of this
clique is that this choice appears to depend almost completely on the
original poster rather than on the topic of the post.

If a regular poster (i.e. clique-member) posts a totally off-topic
subject (owls, goats, TV-licensing) then a long discussion often
ensues. If a non-member of the clique posts something even a little OT
they are ignored or brusquely told to go elsewhere.

Two recent examples: 1) A regular poster asks about matters relating
to law (sale of goods & small claims court) and receives a lot of
responses. but a non-member of the clique asking a law-related question
is curtly told to go to a legal newsgroup. 2) Recently I, an outsider,
ask about broadband speeds and am (correctly) told to go to a uk
broadband newsgroup. Bella this week asks a very similar question and
gets several helpful responses (including one from me).

Also, I've generally observed that if a regular poster asks a question
which has been covered before they are usually given a link to the
results of a google search or may even be given a brief summary of the
previous discussion. An 'outsider' asks a similar question they are
brusquely to to do a google search.

Obviously people treat their friends differently from the way they
treat strangers but perhaps the regular posters here don't appreciate
that in such a public forum such obviously extreme differences in the
way they treat posts can appear to be very cliquey and may even be
quite hurtful to the 'outsider'.

Kit
.

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