My observation is as a relative outside and rare poster, one man’s clique is another’s trusted community. Depends what side of the fence you’re on. I’ve watched new, or ‘sleeper’ members ripped to shreds without an ounce of sympathy, but others warmly welcomed, usually correlated to the perceived contribution they’ve made before taking something from the group. That said, levels of tolerance for naivety and early mistakes are at an all time low, so it’s not the most welcoming in that sense.
But maybe that keeps the standard of information and posters’ trustworthiness high? Dunno, maybe. People from outside the area always seem to comment on the quirkiness of the NE forums, but we do seem to enjoy comparatively low prices and high standards..
Maybe the lesson is if you’re turning up to a dinner party late, at least bring a bottle of wine or expect the door shut in your face.
