For all who think DU is bad in terms of cliquey-ness...

[lightningandsnow]

You should see this other forum I go on.

In their signatures, most people have designated people as their "(name of site) family", as in "so-and-so is my big brother, someone-or-other is my twin sister", etc. Especially with me being kind of new to the site, of course, I'm not in anyone's family.

Also, I tried posting in one of those "bar"-type threads (the ones where people kind of just chat, and it goes on for pages and pages), and someone replied, "Who's she?". And someone else said, "I love you all. Except for the randoms I don't know."

WTF?

Yeah, and it's a site that's supposed to help people out with emotional issues. It's actually making mine kind of worse because it reminds me of how alone I am.

[DainBramaged]

1. You are not alone here

:hi: :pals: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[TZ]

2. Sorry to hear about that

I think those people are missing the support part of help with emotional issues.
People can say what they want about "cliquey-ness" here (which I actually used to feel myself) but in general I think that the people in the Lounge are the NICEST friendliest and most supportive people one could expect from a message board of "strangers".:hug:

[lightningandsnow]

3. Yeah. I heart the Lounge.

The people on the other board can be pretty nice too, but it's bothering me how they keep forming little cliques with each other.

:hug:back.

[Dr. Strange]

9. Don't listen to TZ

She's my twin cousin twelve times removed, and we try not to listen to her. She's sort of the black armadillo of the family.

:)

[Lars39]

4. Sounds like Who's your daddy syndrome.

Ditch 'em.

[Skittles]

5. Aspie

I grew up as a military brat and moved every year growing up, here and overseas. Didn't matter where I went - the same idiot cliques existed EVERYWHERE. How I detested them and laughed at them and resisted ALL efforts to be assimilated. CLIQUES ARE THE RESULT OF PEOPLE ACTING LIKE SHEEP. EMBRACE BEING AN OUTSIDER - IT MAKES YOU MORE INTELLIGENT BEING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

[Iggo]

7. I wasn't a military kid...

...but I did go to four different high schools. I saw the same thing you did: the same cliques are everywhere. It's natural...FOR CHILDREN!!!!

[asteroid2003QQ47]

11. PHS?

My school was near a military base thus "military brats" were constantly coming and going, for me, a small town boy, it was a great way to "see" the world, I made many friends and deeply mourned my loss when they moved on.
That said, I know exactly what you mean by "idiot cliques" and how detestable they are wherever they are found.

[Ordr]

6. Stick with the Lounge here.

You and I have shared words on some political crap but at the end of the day we're all here for the same positive reasons. We're better than some silly clique because we talk about substantive and intellectual issues. That brings far more personality and realism out of an online interaction than just emotional platitudes. :pals:

[lightningandsnow]

8. ...

:pals:

[EstimatedProphet]

10. Why keep posting there?

The internet is full of message boards.

[BuelahWitch]

12. I think all forums are cliquish to some extent

There is some unwritten protocol of bowing down and kissing the ring of a King or Queen Bee. This was true even with my old classic film Yahoo lists. You'd think people with such a quirky interest would welcome others with same interest into the fold, but no. Threads about the most mundane (and often off topic) shit would get a bunch of responses, others that were but were not posted by a member of the accepted hoard would get crickets. I stayed on the lists for awhile, because every so often some decent news came through the dreck, but soon got pissed and just signed off them.