I don't consider myself in the "in crowed" in any way. I've met quite a lot of people off here and the RSOC BB over the years, but only a small few of them would I consider actual friends that I speak to and see on a fairly regular basis.
As such, it's these people that I reply to in threads first, as they are people I know. I think a bunch of people here know a bunch of people here really well, and are friends, and also reply first to each other and this is where the image of the clique comes from.
Granted, I will agree that it isn't quite as full of readily helpful members that it used to be some years ago and many "old faces" have disappeared and people have moved on.
But I think a lot of it has to do with "friends rings" within a community. I mean, you don't just start talking to random people in the street do you? No, you talk to people you know. Same thing here. The beauty, however, of forums is that you can also converse with people you don't know.
I for one, if I can give advice or input on a subject, I will. But if I can't or don't know, then I won't say anything, which I don't see as unreasonable.
I also belive that in building a "community" you need to input into it aswell - both in help/advice etc, but also in personality. You don't become part of the furniture or a face without putting in any effort (let me just outline I am not talking about any member or person in particular, I am generalising)
I'm not the most outgoing person in the world, but I talk to a lot of people, and get involved here and there and for me, it's paid off. Like I said, I've met a lot and only consider a few as friends, but those I do consider friends, are people that I REALLY do see as friends (if that makes any sense
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