There may be handfuls of people who post together because they understand one another, or have similar preferences...
...there have been changeable groups, who have been somewhat actively exclusive and unpleasant, and even bullying in some cases, oh yes. These people were cool in each others eyes, but I do think the vast majority of this crowd thinks that kind of thing pretty pathetic and neurotic and steers clear of it...
...It's not anyone's fault if a few posters have more time and enthusiasm than others and post prolifically in several places together. It's fine as long as it's on topic and not spam.
I remember a few posters actually leaving over this. I never actively ignored anybody, however. How can you? It's a board of thousands. It might mean you merely don't run across certain people on a regular basis, or perhaps you're not online at similar times enough to whip up a raport. One poster who I actively admired, but hadn't had an opportunity to get to know, actually said he was leaving on account of myself and some others in the VOY forum "taking over". I was shocked and somewhat hurt. Sometimes, you might think you're entertaining people, it might just be that you're annoying...
I concede these things can be a matter of perspective - you might think you're inclusive - others might see you as exclusive. The truth lies somewhere in between, and perhaps in your own opinion of yourself. No one is truly inaccessible on a bloody message board - if you are friendly, you can have a good time with anyone.
An Officer hit several nails right on their heads. Cliquey? No. If you're new, folks may or may not speak with you at first, depending on what you post and where you post to, but the more you participate the more you will become familiar with the various personalities, delightful and abberant and all things in between, who frequent this BBS. And the more likely it will become that people will recognize and talk with you. In that regard, it's a lot like high school; if you loiter by the lockers and don't talk much, people won't speak often with you, but if you make an effort and get involved, you'll find plenty of friends.
Some hang out only in specific areas of expertise (Trek Lit and Trek Tech immediatley come to mind), and some (like myself) hang out in multiple forums talking (out his ass, in my case) over widely varied topics. Some exist only to spam up the works ("How you doin'?"), others have great content to add at all times; some blather on ad nauseum (boy, I wonder who THAT could be?...) and others deliver their message briefly and concisely. Some participate daily, or even hourly, and others only every great once in a while. Some offer great advice, which you'd be wise to take, and others offer grossly incorrect advice, which you can take tongue-in-cheek with a grain of salt. I have offered advice (dating, parenting of teenagers) which has left me thinking, "Boy, I hope I've been able to help so-and-so with his/her problem and that he/she has a brighter day because of a solution!", and I have offered advice (throwing maple syrup balloons at drivers chatting or texting away on their cell phones) which has left me thinking "Boy, I hope so-and-so doesn't get into some legal or moral hot water over that shit!". I've entertained, I've annoyed; I'm always pushing towards the former than the latter, though.
Quite literally, all shapes and sizes and persuasions haunt this board. And I feel a better person for participating and exposing my fat liberally conservative Midwestern self to all of their viewpoints, whether I agree or disagree with them.
And every once in awhile, someone starts a "getting to know you" thread, where the barriers between the Trek BBS and real-life come down just a little, and humanize everyone who participates as something more than a clever user name, a creative avatar, or a neat tag line.
Which is nice.
There seem to be less in-jokes from what I've observed.
