Thanks.

I still don't feel like I 'fit in' these days, especially not like I used to. B ut I don't put in as much time as I used to either so I guess its like 'real friendships' in that sense

I also do think that the chat threads are quite cliquey. Not that anyone seems to be deliberately made unwelcome, but people who dont usually post there will be pretty much ignored a lot of the time. Its always been like that though, I just didn't really see it when I was 'part' of that group.]

But again, its like that in real life too. if a group of friends is talking and a randomer comes to join in, people tend to pay much more attention to their mates

Ty so much for the reply I am sorry you feel that way :( I really hope you feel better about the forum soon xx

PS passes you big bar of choccy

I agree with this.

The thing is I know full well I'm considered to be part of the 'clique' that apparently is rampant on this forum. I consider a large number of people on here as a friend, and it winds me up being accused of things that wouldn't seem out of place on the school playground.

?? you fit in thats good :D

But what do you mean by 'winds me up being accused of things that wouldn't seem out of place on the school playground'?

Are there cliques?

I've never really seen you as part of the clique, but anyhow I see it less as a clique and more as a friendship group that have some walls up. Everyone's still lovely but some friendship groups are harder to get into than others

No, just friendship groups with metaphorical walls up imo

I mean the clique thing, which would imply that I am unwelcoming and part of a 'gang.' The number of people who post in the chat thread alone seems to be too large to be considered a clique in my view.

Thank you, but I know that I'm considered part of it by those who see the chat thread as a problem on here. The thing is, I remember when I first started posting in there and I was practically ignored at first, but I kept at it and soon my sparkling personality shone through :smug: Seriously though, outcasting new people is just not something that I would ever do in real life, so why the hell would I do it on an internet forum and why would I be friends with people who do it either?

Exactly

ahh i haven't mentioned clique just that.. getting into a group of chatters is sometimes hard...as they have all known each other ages and its hard to find that way in to fit in

I am not baiting nor hating just saying that I feel that I just don't fit in to certain groups that have known each other yonkeedoodles...

so please don't make mountains out of molehills and put words in my mouth :D but ty for your replies

I'm not trying to put words in your mouth at all, so apologies if it came across like that. But threads like this don't help the notion that the clique exists. Not your problem, and you're more than entitled to say how you feel, in fact I applaud you for it. But, and I say this with all due respect, if you don't post on here all that often, it's tricky to make many close relationships on here, the same as it would if you didn't frequent the pubs and bars and cafes or whatever that people you know in real life do.

I've only been posting in the chat threads for around a month, all feel like I can speak to many people on the forum whether they post in the chat threads or not

Like Rob said tho, you just have to get yourself known one way or another

ahh ty kind sir indeed you are right :D and apologies too if I came across wrongly :D

Well yes, this is what I said happened :p

Well yeah, but everyone would have felt like that when they first started posting in there surely? It doesn't mean that there's a clique or that new people aren't welcome to start posting in there though, does it?

I didn't say new people weren't welcome to start posting there, but I understand why people think its a bit 'cliquey' as people ARE usually pretty much ignored to start with. As they would be IRL, its no different really.

You sound oddly defensive about this, when you just admitted you felt the same when starting posting there D:

I am defensive, because it's one thing people who don't post all that often like Sue saying it. From her point of view, I don't think 'cliquey' would be a fair assessment of it, because as we've all said, it would be the same IRL. It's when members and mods and admin who have been posting on here for years are saying the same thing, that it winds me up and that's where my argument is coming from, more than newbies or on season posters saying it.

Don't worry Sue I'm old too :laugh:

I don't anymore tbh, I did in like 2009/2010 (the best days :flutter:)

I just jump in if I have something to say, obviously I am older and not on the same wavelength as some of the younger ones, but it is a great learning curve.
I have to say I never feel shunned if I get no response to my posts, I don't feel the need to answer every post I read either.
I love that we all have different views on life in general, and I admit that the banter is like a different language at times, but stick in there Sue, you will eventually realise that a lot of things we might take seriously are really only tongue in cheek banter......unless you are in the SD forum:joker:

:joker: no...you are just middling.

yeah all this pretty much :love: