This forum is so interesting to watch develop. I mean, I've only been posting here for a few years, but in that time some pretty radical changes have gone down. I used to be really afraid of Khar and Kieffer, actually.
The problems with these forums, from my end anyhow, can be separated amongst the two main groups, the regulars and the newbies.
NEWBIES:
as previously stated, this forum is tight-knit because there's people here who have been conversing over the internet for several years, and so they've grown close enough that they've gone across countries to meet up with other people from these forums. Jumping right in to the thick of things and expecting to be immediately accepted is unreasonable; just like if you were introduced to a group of your friend's friends, and acting as if you've known them for a while. I don't know if too many other people have done it, but when I joined the regulars were the big men on campus, the kids at the cool lunch table. I was actively trying to be like them. This is an example of Trying Too Hard. Don't worry about how clique-y the forums feel, just treat it like meeting a bunch of new people. Be yourself, make some good posts, and at least some people will like you.
REGULARS:
that said, it really does feel pretty exclusive around here. Not that that's a bad thing! I'm just saying, I've been posting here for almost three years and I feel like I'm just flying under the radar. Certainly there are those who are pretty receptive to new posters, but there are still some who make this place pretty goddamn intimidating to post in just for fear of getting chewed out for having done something wrong. The basic guidelines for posting are pretty flexible; you're not going to get a perfect post every time out of everyone. Even more, new people are going to take some time to get a feel for how things go here. Most new people haven't read the rules and are trying to be That Guy, but if you give them time some of them might turn out pretty good. Take n0t_robert_b0yle Tom. Back when he had that username, for the longest time I thought he was an awful poster and a jackass. But over time he's become one of my favorite people to watch post here.
In general, as said several times before, everybody just needs to take it easy. Even if a good amount of people here are good friends, this is the internet, and a lot of the inhibitions in inter-personal interactions are going to go away. Take everything you read with a grain of salt and let's move on.
(i had to look up how long i've been a member and got curious, god damn were my first like hundred posts awful)
