Are there cliques on Fluther?

If people want to see cliques, they’ll see cliques.

I’m not sure if there are small cliques, but I know that the people of Fluther in general, the established users, can be cliquey towards newer members. I know I’ve been insulted here before where someone posted a comment that should’ve been removed as it violated the guidelines of this site, and yet people were praising that person for insulting me. If that’s not cliquey, I don’t know what is. But of course, that was back when I was a new user and no one even knew me or had gotten used to me.

It’s natural for people to form cliques everywhere, in person, on the internet, etc. It’s just human nature to group with people who share similar attributes and interests.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic

Likewise if people don’t want to see cliques, they won’t.

@DominicX Pretty much. People will see what they want to see.

i’ve been discussing this with my jelly cabal and our official position is “no”.~

nope

kind of I suppose.

I remember when a lot of us from wis.dm came over to fluther, it got a little cliquey.

for the most part not though I really don’t think there are cliques.

I think the reason for that is everyone has more than one interest, and a wide variety of opinions so there could be two devote catholics that seem cliquey with eachother sometimes but seem at each others necks in a question about music taste. It keeps everyone balanced I think.

i don’t see how cliques could exist in a forum where there are no categories or groups, and there is no real separation besides individual threads.

but elitists, i guess, could qualify as being part of a “clique”

I haven’t encountered a probem with cliques here, so either it isn’t a problem or I’m just as blind as you are.

Naturally, there are going to be people who get along better, who are more outgoing and appeal to almost everyone. People who’ve been here a long time tend to get to know each other, and can understand references to past discussions and shared experiences. There will also be people who, by their very nature, don’t “mesh” well or, however unintentionally, rub people the wrong way. Or people who don’t express themselves well, or spend enough time here to get to know others, or put in the effort to build more solid relationships through pm and email.

But cliques? I dunno.

@DominicX Does that describe a clique though, or was it just due to you not being well known yet? I think if there were cliques, that sort of thing would happen more often, to people who’d been here longer as well. A clique typically has a leader and several followers, where the followers just go along with the leader even if they don’t really agree. I don’t see that here. But I will admit to not being terribly observant, and I do tend to avoid discussions that get heated.

I don’t think I’ve noticed that. Everyone seems pretty nice and welcoming.

If you see fluther users accounts you’ll see how it’s a very long chain of friends…..that goes in different directions. :)

I don’t get the impression that there are cliques here. I feel that there are a bunch of us that feel similarly about certain topics, but I don’t think it comes across as “cliquey.” Plus, I think after awhile people just start to make friends here that they can easily relate to and just lurve to broaden their knowledge about life.

Nah. Some people have more in common and are drawn to each other. Some aren’t. Some people even have friendships outside Fluther itself.

I’ve encountered some people who’s little group of friends seems impenetrable, but I just assume that some not-so-nice people found each other. Yippie for them.

Click!

I think the “cliques” that you might witness are the people that like to stick up for the mods when there is a moderation question. Other than that… nope. like I said before

Not that I have noticed.

Yes, it’s called your fluther. zomg!

Clique is defined as “an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose.” The only group that meets this definition on Fluther would have to be the moderation team. Dun dun dunnnnnnn.

@PnL well, we all know the mods are a clique. duh.

I always just thought the mods were a collection of divinity in which we should worship and sacrifice too…

wait, are you telling me all those stray cats I caught were for nothing????

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 stray cats? i sacrificed virgins.

I haven’t noticed any cliques and it doesn’t feel cliquey to me. In fact, I have felt fairly at ease here from the start, which is unusual for me. I guess that is why the mention of cliques surprised me and prompted me to ask.

@PnL I am now having a good time imagining the common purpose of some of the people in cliques from my high school years.

As the author of the example, I have to say that when a group of members come together for the purpose of deliberately excluding another member, whether it be “language” or “censorship” or whatever reason, they have formed an “ad hoc” clique.

@eponymoushipster dude, why do you always have to one up me like that?!

;)

You should join my exclusive clique dedicated to the abolition of exclusive cliques

@Ansible1 we already have one… you’re not invited…

;)

when i think of cliques, i think of the movie mean girls. and i don’t see that here. there are always going to be groups of people who get along better than they do with other people, and if people have a problem with that, they’re gonna have a lot of problems in life.

I don’t feel there is any exclusion, but I do know those who are closer than others…but that doesn’t mean they are a clique, they have just been talking to each other long and off Fluther itself.
I haven’t noticed any cliques.

In my short time of being here I have not noticed any form of “chiques.” I guess it depends on how you look at it.

What about the pancake or frizzer folk?

I’m a Pink Lady myself! :D

OK, so right now it’s a gang of one.

@YARNLADY You mean the people who reference those things? They find it funny. And new people who ask about them are routinely given the links to the questions so everyone can join in.

”...when a group of members come together for the purpose of deliberately excluding another member, whether it be “language” or “censorship” or whatever reason, they have formed an “ad hoc” clique.”

Good thing that doesn’t happen on Fluther.

@MacBean yes, it does

@YARNLADY I’ve never really seen anyone specifically exclude someone else on here, I know there are questions like “For christians/atheists only:...” but I hold those in the same regard as “For Mothers only:..” questions, they’re simply looking for expertise for lack of a better word.

Who are these perceived cliques we keep hearing about?

@YARNLADY Aside from language, which was covered on the other thread, can you please provide examples of these so-called cliques?

…maybe it’s the click of the clock as time marches on…

Fluther has its cliques. there is the Christian clique, the atheist clique, the vegetarian clique, the hunter clique, the carnivore clique, the mean old lady clique, the gay guy clique, the gay girl clique, the bisexual clique, the overly-medicated clique, the can’t-stop-talking-about-sex clique, and a few other cliques that cannot be fitted with a name because they are secretly meeting in a place not on this plane of existence.

don’t be a dick, pick your clique. =)

@evelyns_pet_zebra You forgot the Finnish clique.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 I saw an example of people making comments in foreign languages, which I could not read (without referring to an outside source) and when I asked a question about it, there were several answers in non-English in a deliberate show of clique that I could not read – without referring to an outside source. Most of the people who answered conspired (formed a clique) to deliberately exclude any non-English reading member.

@evelyns_pet_zebra But are they really “cliques” or just people who have stuff in common and tend to agree with each other?

@YARNLADY that’s by far the only time I’ve ever heard of anything like that then.

@evelyns_pet_zebra if that’s the case, then i fall into several of those, and what’s more, by definition, we all fall into the “breathing clique”, “human clique”, “people who use computers clique” etc.

any activity becomes a “clique”.

I’m starting my own clique right now, and you’re all invited.

@Likeradar they aren’t real cliques, my answer was tongue-in-cheek. This has been a really tough week and I needed some levity to balance it out.

I really, really don’t think so.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities i want to be in the jeff goldblum clique. i can stutter freely and look intelligent.

@evelyns_pet_zebra got ya :)

@eponymoushipster Sold, you’re in.

@augustlan of course you would say that, you are in the snooty Mod clique.

@evelyns_pet_zebra I volunteer to be president of the gay guy clique.

@MissAusten

And I meant it more in that I was being excluded by a group of people. The behavior was cliquey. Doesn’t mean it was an actual clique, but cliques are by nature, exclusive

I agree with @YARNLADY below me. People have definitely been ganged up before. That’s what I was getting at in my first comment. Whether you want to call that a “clique” or not, I don’t really care, but people do get ganged up on sometimes. It happens on all websites like this that I’ve been on.

@Likeradar there have been instances when some members have asked questions and then been ganged up on by a group of people who always give similar answers, and the user is left with the impression that they have been attacked by a clique. Without looking for specific references, I can only site the many complaints of newer members who are jumped on for not recognizing “old” Fluther traditions (it hasn’t happend to me, personally), or who were “moderated” for questions and comments that are never-the-less allowed for the older “clique” members.

Yes, there is one clique, the clique of people who think there are cliques!

@YARNLADY explain these “traditions”.

I forgot about the middle aged mommy clique that discoinferno was so concerned about.

Yes there are cliques. wtf was I thinking!?!

While I have seen people disagree with each other, as is the natural course of discussion on any site like this, I don’t know that I’ve seen any organized effort to alienate any group or individual.

There are people who will find others that they want to talk with more often than others. It’s not discriminatory. That’s how friendships work. If friendship is cliquey then this site is very cliquey.

Now if people are ganging up to bash on someone, that’s very uncool and of course we will always do our best to keep things like that from happening.

@jonsblond damn, i forgot them to. but i think that was a pretty inclusive clique – anyone who didn’t agree with her.

wait.

that seems to be the leading cause of cliques around here: disagreeing with someone.

@jonsblond lol…there are a lot of middle-aged parents on here, it seems.

@eponymoushipster

One tradition is the 10K celebration question that is allowed even though it breaks the guidelines. A certain new user pointed this out and was ganged up on by several other users.

One word – “wis.dm”

<——-not a middle aged parent, unless you count the Hissers.—

@YARNLADY Its actually two…

@DominicX I will be your vice pres.

@DominicX There are also many teenagers and cute young men with lisps. :)

@YARNLADY Sure, I guess I could see how you’d come to that conclusion. However, I see it in another light.

If I asked a question and got a lot of answers that went against my beliefs, I would probably start questioning my beliefs. If I still thought I was right, then I’d just assume I’m in the minority with that opinion. I don’t think it’s reasonable to feel attacked for being disagreed with.

Also, joining an established community has growing pains. Part of those pains is learning what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Are people who know many of the traditions a “clique”? If that’s the case, a new user could spend a little while browsing the site, learning the traditions, and instantly be a so-called clique member.

Cliques imply exclusivity. Fluther is not exclusive, nor are the vast majority of the friendships that form on here.

@YARNLADY There’s a wis.dm clique?

Just about a year ago some exiles and their supporters came from Askville. I was the last of the banned and was surprised by some of the negativity against us. But it was obvious this was a minority. We had been shocked by what happened and needed to work it out, That may have seemed cliquey but Fluther gave us our own chat room and to some extent held our hands as we stopped licking our wounds. Eventually some went back and others remained and integrated completely.

When the wis.dm folk arrived I felt a little of a “prove Fluther is as good as wis.dm” vibe that made me think “How rude!” But very quickiy and with a little bit of schooling they broke down barriers.

What I see now is that some people are closer to each other and talk privately and even know each other beyond the sea. What I don’t see is evidence of clique exclusivity. I understand why other people might. It has to do with why people are here. Seeing Fluther as a social site is perfectly valid but you might be more sensitive to insider comments than I am. I am here for different reasons, interest in certain topics, the need to release pent up sarcasm without getting a punch in the nose and an obsessive need to teach,

I don’r ever feel left out because I have no desire to be let in. ( I guess that insulted 17 people-sigh)

@jonsblond I don’t have a lisp. Hmph. :)

@lefteh Hell yeah.

@DominicX but that’s not a “clique”. that’s called experience, which the complainer in that issue lacked as regards Fluther.

@YARNLADY wis.dm isn’t a word. it’s a URL. And when people who are new come in and attack (which happened on more than one occasion) the defined order of things, without experience, as with @DominicX example, they’re speaking out of turn.

In the other thread, you kept pointing to your age. How would you feel if someone came into your home, which you’ve resided in and have set the way you like it, and told you to rearrange things, because that’s “how they like it” or “do it at their home”?

i have no doubt you’d be less than excited about it.

god, not the fucking wis.dom shit again. we are all jellies.

@DominicX Guidelines be damned! The 10K celebration is about recognizing great people on Fluther. Everyone (new users included) can give and get lurve. That’s not a clique, that’s a celebration.

@Likeradar But did you ever have to go outside the Fluther to even figure out what they were saying, or maybe look up the reference on the “search” feature? I did. The first time I encountered frizzer, I had to look it up, because the “frizzer” clique didn’t bother to explain it, and likewise with pancakes.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities

I didn’t say it was a clique. I said the person who complained about it got ganged up on and there’s no denying it. That’s all I said.

@YARNLADY FRIZZER isn’t a clique, for pete’s sake. It’s part of the history of the site! that’s like saying to a foreigner in the US “The Declaration of Independence”, and them feeling left out. get over the frizzer thing.

@YARNLADY Did you bother to ask “what is a frizzer?”

I had no idea what it meant when I first saw it. So I looked it up. Now I know. I don’t feel even a little like a victim for having to type in a few phrases when I joined a site. Was I being intentionally excluded? Not even a little. Do I think someone would have answered if I asked? Yes, absolutely. I’ve seen it done many times.

Or, what @eponymoushipster said.

@Likeradar asking is effort. searchng is effort. putting forth effort is bad, mmkay?~

@DominicX Well, that shouldn’t have happened. Some people can definitely be a little harsh towards new jellies, but overall I think we are a pretty welcoming community.

even i don’t know what a frizzer is, and personally, it really doesn’t matter. I missed out on the whatthefluther and sscrowell marriage thingie, but that doesn’t make the people who were there cliquey, it just means I missed out. its not a big deal. There are no cliques on Fluther, unless you WANT to see cliques here.

you might want to check under the bushes in your front yard for sexual predators while you are at it, according to the media, they are everywhere, too.

Frizzer
Other Fluther memes

I hope this doesn’t mean I broke up any cliques.

dammit @PnL. our secret’s out! boo on you!~

someone let me know when you get this all straightened out, and then tell me what clique to join, I’m off to answer questions and have some fun.

@PnL Holy cats! I never knew about any of those except the ~ thing.
I’m starting an “oblivious” clique. I never even knew about the CIA question until I became a mod.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic – Look through the list. They are all pretty neat and tremendous contributors to Fluther history. Plus, most of them are hilarious and a good read :)

@Likeradar @eponymoushipster I did not ask, I looked it up for myself, as I did “pancake”. I am saying that it shoudl not be necessary to force a user to look up outside sources to translate that which can easily be stated in English, and I don’t see why some people arre so insistant that they have the “right” to exclude English only speakers.

@YARNLADY So, you’re just carrying over from the other thread, in which you stated that you had changed your feelings anyway. Got ya.

Oy.

and maybe you should be looking at why you think you have the right to insist that everything be made easy especially for you.

@Likeradar holy hell.. that is the best question I have ever seen…...

falls to knees and weeps

@Likeradar I did see the relevance behind it, but I still do not accept the basic premise. Other languages are beautiful, and they certainly have their place, but to claim they don’t exclude those of us who don’t read or understand them is wrong.

And no, I won’t “get over myself” I have just as much right to participate on Fluther as anyone else does, and just as much right to expect to be afforded the courtesy of language I can understand.

@YARNLADY then the problem lies solely on you. stop trying to pass the blame onto others.

@YARNLADY perhaps you should learn that language then?

just a thought

@YARNLADY When I witness my husband and @gailcalled speaking Finnish with each other I don’t get upset. If I really wanted to know what they are saying it’s not that hard to find out. I know that they are just having a laugh. They are taking a moment in a question (after serious answers have been given) to have a little fun.

@YARNLADY Have you considered the opinions of those who don’t understand English? They don’t deserve the same “courtesy”? Seriously, Yarnlady, IMHO you’re really pushing the boundaries of what should be expected from a community.

Holy hell, this is flat-out threadjacking. You have another thread about language already. Let’s take it there if you want to keep on about it.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 unlikely, as it requires effort.

@Likeradar why would that matter? They probably think in their “mexican” accents.~

[Mod Says] Let’s try to not make this personal please.

OMMFG!! Again with the translation thing? The only one that those languages exclude is you if you think of it. You don’t have to know what they are saying, if you want to then you know what to do, and if it requires “effort” to do so, then just don’t bother with it, ignor it, and move on. IMO.

@Tink1113 well said.

There’s a Fluther chatroom. Most of the Flutherers do not use it. Does that make those who use it a clique? NO. they simply haven’t availed themselves of its usage, even though the location and access are freely available.

Should we shut it down because most don’t use it? No way.

Is there a clique of people who would deliberately exclude other members because of where they come from, because of their inability to read or speak any language other then English, or because they haven’t been on Fluther long enough to know of the historical jokes and “memes”? Yes, there are such cliques here.

Am I harping on the English language too much? Well it was the basis of this question, so I guess I am. Cliquishness does not recognize itself, and when pointed, is very strongly denied. It does exist, and no amount of denial will change that.

omg. facepalm

lol4rl

@YARNLADY Has it occurred to you that you want to turn Fluther into an English-only “clique”?
The way to avoid cliques is to avoid exclusivity, and exclusivity is exactly what you’re advocating.

And are there people on here who would exclude others based on their not knowing the memes? Sure. They’re not called a clique. They’re called assholes. There is a difference, you know.

@Likeradar So, I have got it wrong, then? Fluther is not an English language site at all, and I have been mistaken all this time? Perhaps you could direct me to the guidelines that explains the “international” nature of this site?

@YARNLADY I think the allowance of occasional non-English conversation is evidence enough.

@YARNLADY you know, the US doesn’t have an official language, either. Perhaps you need to write your congressman, or mental health care professional.

@eponymoushipster As far as I have been concerned, this conversation is about Fluther. I have already written my congressperson (a woman, by the way).

@YARNLADY postman. congressman. woman. who cares?

There are a few secret cliques (and by a few i mean one) that take it upon themselves to seek justice for jellies that have been wronged. This clique uses new and creative techniques in order to exact said justice. Other than that there is no exclusion of anyone in any way.. unless you aren’t cool enough to know about it…

P.S. I’ve got the testicle clamps, kerosene and matches… Regulators…...

How does it feel to be on the outside looking in, losers! Nah nah nah nah.

@Dr_C…mount up! (though the clamps don’t apply here)

@eponymoushipster don’t they? Check again young one…

[mod says:] I really don’t think anyone is on topic anymore. This conversation is just going in circles. Only those that have something NEW to contribute should add to this Q. The rest should take it to PMs. Thanks.

Some people on this site have mad an effort to connect to their fellow jellies… have made an effort not to judge and have made an effort to find some common ground. Having things in common, displaying camaraderie and developing friendships based on interaction, mutual respect and shared experiences IS NOT a clique. It may be seen in that light… but only if you choose not to make the same effort. It’s called civility.. it’s called friendship… it’s called taking others into consideration and not believing you are the center of the universe.
There are no real cliques here… just groups of friends that can be as inclusive as any group.. as long as you make an effort to adapt (not conform).

@PnL does this count as new?

excuse me, it just seems we need a little humor in this thread
it’s okay to laugh every now and again, my friends

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 you win the internet

Sorry to lead us down an unpleasant road. :(

I did know what a frizzer was because I clicked on a link once when it was mentioned and the explanation was there. Still don’t know about the pancake, but I’m good with that. I can probably find it if I want to – like in @PnL‘s link. I think I get the gist of the ~ thing but, again, could go to the link to check it.

@YARNLADY‘s description of the language episode (which I missed) where people deliberately responded in another language makes me think people were joking around and being smart ankles (the smart ass’ kinder cousins) about it. However, I should probably go see that thread before judging.

I got here right after the wis.dm thing and caught the tail end of some of that, but had forgotten all about it. I do see how some of that could have been cliquey, but it seems to have dissipated.

In all websites there is a tendency for members to get comfortably ensconced in certain groups, and because of the principle that you should stand by your friends there will always be times when one person attacks or slights someone and their group all piles in and joins.

I think it’s a human-nature thing. But Fluther has the ultra-ultra-ultra-lite version of this, which is to say I have not noticed it and I am a happy newbie jelly.

So this is just answering the original question—I don’t think there are cliques? Are there? Can I start one for hybrid pandajellies?

@evelyns_pet_zebra is there a clique for the vegetarian cliquers that were never invited to that clique?! i am getting kind of nervous, waiting for my invitation to come…~

in all seriousness, i think that some people get touchy about things. having inside jokes and being closer to certain people doesn’t mean that others are excluded. the only place you are going to find a place where people don’t click (no pun intended!) better with some people than others are a place filled with robots. and hey, we’re all jellies here, so i don’t think there’s too much of a problem with that!
when someone references something i don’t know about, and it seems that it’s a reference to a private conversation, i don’t get offended. there is no rule on fluther that says “no work relationships/friendships”, and i don’t think there should be.
i feel like the overwhelming majority here makes an effort to include others. i’ve seen countless links to older ‘fluther memes’, and a lot of explanations. sure, sometimes we all get a little too sarcastic for our own good, but i rarely see any intentional meanness or exclusion.

^^^^^^best response in this entire thread^^^^^^^

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 are those arrows pointing at me?! if so, i am very honoured (((:
if not, well i feel silly. :p

lol yes you

@tiffyandthewall You are so right. Everyone here is quick to provide a link to past questions so everyone else can be involved in the fun. I’ve never encountered anyone who wasn’t willing to help out a fellow jelly that was left in the dark.

@tiffyandthewall I totally agree about the links to memes. The very first question I asked on Fluther was something about advice for a newbie. I was given a link to some of the most hilarious things I’ve ever read, including the frizzer thing and the CIA question. What impressed me about the answers I got to my question was how willing and happy experienced Flutherites are to share those “inside jokes.” If this place was cliquey and hostile to newbies, I’d probably still be wondering what the heck people were referring to sometimes.

I will also be eternally grateful for learning how babby is formed.

Paranoia strikes deep.~

How is this? I missed the original pancake thread. I don’t know if I was not Fluthering then or what, but I never saw that thread.

Months later when people were making pancake jokes, I tried finding it. Search being what it was at the time, that was not successful. Finally, I asked. Someone gave me the link. So if there are cliques on Fluther I am not in them.

When I first came on the site, long time users who had become friends over time sometimes referred to another user by their real first name or made an inside reference (I had to ask about the cake story too). I never saw that as a reflection on me. I thought those folks were lucky to have formed that kind of bond.

As to the language thing, I use a translator if I want to understand what is said and check it with the speaker if I’m not sure. If I don’t care, I ignore it.

I don’t see or know of any concerted attempts to exclude users.

Much more annoying to me are threads in which the questioner attempts to limit or control who the answerers are. (Guys only please or only women, etc.) I figure anyone has the right to answer any question.

When I first checked out this site, I went into the chatroom to try and get to know who the mods were and some of the regulars, get a feel for the energy that makes this site a pleasure and it was the best thing I did to get my questions about posting or commenting answered and also to be made to feel welcome and comfortable. Did I find it cliquey? No. What I found was what I found on other sites and what’s been mentioned previously, people make connections off the main forum, form friendships and that carries over to forum interaction, it’s pretty tough not to. Have I noticed anyone picked out for exclusion? Maybe a few hostiles from other sites come to get up to no real good, bah- who needs them? j/k, even the hostiles seem given a chance here.

Self importance is so embarassing. I don’t belong to cliques, that way my opinion remains mine, even when it concurs with a majority opinion. I think I’ll visit my old friends and neighborhood this weekend. I need to hear somethings I don’t understand so I don’t ending thinking I’m entitled to that which I am not.

I thinks some want it to be.

If I started a clique, would everyone join?

@daloon Only if I don’t have to get a tattoo on my ass.

@MissAusten But then how would people know there was a clique?

Although, come to think of it, the tattoo probably wouldn’t be visible in public. Probably.

@daloon I’d join, but you probably wouldn’t let me.

Hey. I said everyone didn’t I? Even you, @Marina, are included in that term! Or is there something you haven’t told us? ;-)

Jeez, beginning to wonder if I should have worded it the way I originally conceived it: “If I started a clique, no one would join. [all Eeyore-esque]

@daloon Sorry, I was joking. Clique, paranoia, . . . Sometimes it just doesn’t fly.

I thought you were joking too because if it was everyone, it wouldn’t be a clique.

@Marina Exactly! Same as if no one were in it!

Now that @eponymoushipster has given his jelly cabal the go ahead to answer in this thread I’ll give my two cents.

@YARNLADY are you suggesting that because people don’t automatically link to a Fluther Meme every time they mention it, they are part of a clique and trying to keep that particular meme within the clique? That makes no sense to me. I know for a fact that every time anyone has asked me, I have linked the origin of firzzer or pancake, and when I asked about cake the link was happily provided. People being around a site longer than others doesn’t mean they represent a clique, it just means they have been around longer. I take the non-English stuff as a joke, if I was interested in knowing what they were saying I would have asked or tried to translate it myself.

In short, I have never gotten a “cliquey” feeling here on Fluther. I have spoken by PM veterans, Askvillers, Wis.dmers, and in the Fluther tradition of appreciating new members, always welcome newcomers. Not including trolls.

@SuperMouse I have always appreciated your quips, however, not everyone is as considerate as you are. The “inside” jokes from long time users that often appear in quips are a sample of cliquish behavior, (quack,quack)

@YARNLADY so wait wait, it’s bad for people to rehash fond memories?

I would also like to point out that it is a ‘feature’ of this site to engage in what could, by a stretch of the imagination, be called clique, and that is the “Questions for You”. They are apparently generated by and for people with similar interests which could be seen as cliquish.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 Did you read “bad” into something, because I didn’t make any value judgment that I can see.

But the questions for you are not totally drive by who asked them, but by the user’s profile and answering patterns.

This is all just stupid now, you’re trying to find ways to make Fluther sound “cliquish” the “Questions For You” is NOT in any way a clique, it is actually your fault if you aren’t in that “clique”, you choose what to write on your profile and that’s just you, everyone is different. And how the hell is that even considered a clique!? It’s just your interests!

@Tink1113 No, no I meant it could appear cliquish when several of the same people always answer the same questions. I don’t see it as that, just it could appear so.

@YARNLADY But how? They are entitled to their own opinions, they just answer it because they know. And if its always those same people it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a clique. But you can look at it however you want.

@YARNLADY It really seems to me that you already have one entire thread in which you are going on and on about cliques, the one regarding “only speaking in English. Why two? We all get that you think there are cliques on fluther. That is your opinion and this is a site for opinions, but this is just cramming it down everyone’s throat now.

@chyna this isn’t my question, and never was. Since when is it acceptable for one member to tell another what questions to comment on or not?

I am giving examples that answe the question as it was asked, by Supacase. That doesn’t mean I think there are cliques here, just that these examples could be viewed as seeming to be.

@YARNLADY

“The “inside” jokes from long time users that often appear in quips are a sample of cliquish behavior”

inside jokes are nothing more than two or more people rehashing a funny memory they shared, you called it cliquish. Which, based on your previous posts you’ve more than established that you think “cliques” are bad. thus, you said you think two or more people rehashing a funny memory, is bad.

you didn’t say the word, but that’s what you were saying.

OK everybody clear out of this thread. My clique er group er friends er well you know who you are want to congregate and conspire er intrigue er plot er have big fun without dealing with a lot of idiots er losers er oh you know who you are, getting in the way.

Of course there are cliques here. I happen to know @jonsblond and @blondesjon are sleeping together.

@filmfann you were supposed to keep that for the clique meeting!

Doesn’t anyone want to join my clique? Pleeeeeease?

@daloon I’m in!

@daloon do we get hats?

Only if we call it the click clique.

The most impertant criteria for my clique is pants.

Hmph. I always wanted a pants-free clique. Can we at least be barefoot?

I was thinking of this more and how can people not appear cliquey when some of them are friends irl or share twitter, facebook, e-mail, music sites, talk in the chatroom, know each other from other sites, etc?

I’m guilty of all of it

In spite being told I am not allowed to give any more answers here

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 I say what I say, you chose to read it anyway you want.

I don’t see any sort of discrimination happening here. Am I mistaken?

@The_Compassionate_Heretic I see a problem brewing with @galileogirl‘s “Pants Required” clique, and @MissAusten‘s desire to be unencumbered. May I suggest that @Daloon make his a “Pants Optional” clique as a nice middle ground? Other than that I see no discrimination, in this thread, or on Fluther in general.

@daloon i’m all for the pants optional clique. I agree with @MissAusten that barefoot is the way to go…. and @galileogirl should be involved in the clique protocol decisions.

So, we have hats that say “clique” and pants that say “clique” (on the ass, of course) and if you don’t want pants, you can tattoo “clique” on your ass. We have shirts that say “clique” and wristbands that say “clique”, male and female undergarments that say “clique.” We have banners that say “clique” and even fluther stickers that say “clique.” You can see all the merchandise at www.flutherclique.com.

Oh. Anyone who does not join the clique is not in the clique, so nyeh!

oddly enough, i created a website, too: www.flutheranticlique.com. We have all the same merchandise, except it all says “no clique”.

anyone who buys “clique” stuff is sooo not in our “non clique”.

We’re all inclusive. If you non clique folks want to join the clique, you are soooo welcome!

Forgive me for being a retard, but those websites aren’t real :( I was sooo gonna buy merchandise!

@daloon you say that, but what you really want is for us to wear your “clique” clothes. what about the people who can’t get a tattoo shorter than 9 characters, hmm? ~

Hey, I am all for a tat on the ass. Always wanted a smiley face.

clique away!

Are those often well endowed girls with JUICY across thir butts a clique or are they advertising their juiciness?

@galileogirl I’m fairly certain they are advertising…something.

I want the pants that say “what what” on the back.

If anyone gets this reference, I will give them a cookie.

@DominicX: Samwell?

@MacBean it’s almost like you were in chatroom last night…

I want to meet a girl who has “quarter pounder” written on her sweats.

I said what what in the butt!

That is too hysterical! Oh the things you learn on fluther!

@eponymoushipster So, now I feel totally out of it. Nine characters? Sheesh. I’m starting a clique that won’t even let me in it! I wonder if that relates to the “I’d never join a club that would let me in it” quote? How exclusive is that!

And then there’s the chatroom crowd. Now they are in! I mean, IN!

What a classic music video. Ah, Samwell. Takes me back…

W.t.f.

@filmfann That. Was. Awesome! Makes me wonder what other Internet delights I have been missing out on.

Yes, for example “Christians are not very intelligent and lack good education”.

@Supacase No, exclusionary groups are not acceptable on Fluther. If you don’t believe me, try posting a comment using text speech – not allowed.

@YARNLADY near as I can tell not permitting the use of text speak is more about keeping people from getting incredibly annoyed while reading the questions and answers. I don’t see it as being about text speakers being an exclusionary group.

@SuperMouse Probably so. I found a text speak translation site, and it is very funny.

This is probably going to make me unpopular, but I do notice a certain cliqueishness here on Fluther. It’s not as exclusive or as bad as, say, high school cliques, but I do notice a very similar kind of trend. The most obvious example to me is certain people getting all lurve-happy with their friends, regardless of the question or answer. What makes it stand out more to me is when jokey, non-answer posts get tons of lurve because of who the poster is, all around someone else’s serious answer post, which gets little to none. In a way, it’s frustrating, because I feel that we should be rewarding the well-researched, well-informed, well-written posts that take time and effort to write. Jokey posts can be fun and have their place, but in my mind, should not get more GAs than an actual answer to a question.

I’m actually very surprised most people who have posted in this thread don’t agree that there are cliques here. I guess maybe if you believe yourself to be on the inside of the cliqueishness, it’s easier to dismiss (“What cliqueishness? We accept everyone!”).

To be clear, I’m not complaining about not belonging or whatever. I’ve never been one for cliques and, in school, generally floated between various groups/cliques because I like all types and can get along with most people. I’m often a detached observer of social phenomena because, well, that’s where I’m comfortable. I’m not really much of a joiner, but I try to be likeable.

How can you say that! No way I am letting you into Gamma Suppa Duppa now!

@MissAnthrope Ah, too bad about joke responses. I rather like them, especially when the question has elements that are just begging for satire. However, I think you are right. Either I’m not very funny, or people just aren’t giving lurve for jokes any more. Except for @astrochuck. He seems to still hit people’s funny bones with regularity.

I’m not saying I mind witty one liners or jokey responses.. they definitely have their place and they keep the site light and social. It just doesn’t seem right to me that joke answers should get GA’d over sincere ones, particularly when the OP is trying to get a specific answer.

I will say, though, that it is a pet peeve of mine when people ignore the guidelines and make a jokey post as the first answer to someone who’s posted a problem-solving question. I feel that it’s counter-productive to the OP on a few levels. I know I’m far more likely to click on a question with few answers (in case no one’s answered it yet) than one with lots of answers (I figure it’s been said already).

I think that you are assuming that lurve is given only for certain purposes. I give lurve to thought out answers, I give lurve to those who make me laugh, and I give lurve to newbies to encourage them.

People spend too much time considering lurve. It has n inherent value and you cannot take it with you.

lurve is dead! long live lurve!

Honestly, it doesn’t keep me up nights. As I said in another thread, I like points, but I’m not invested in that. That’s not why I’m here. I know lurve is given for lots of different things and I give it freely like that, too. I’m not really complaining about lurve or points, though, just using that in my discussion of why I feel there are cliques on Fluther.

@MissAnthrope Don’t take @daloon seriously, sometimes he makes an ass of himself, in fact you might call him a clique-ass guy.

Perhaps it could be that several people discuss a question or quip of a user in the “chat” room and then make future answers based on that or maybe some personal PM exchanges take place. The results of these two actions, while not readily obvious, could result in “cliquish” responses.

@galileogirl Quoi? You are theeenking that I am from Paree? I’ma gonna coma over there anda keeka yo ass!

For truth—I am from Asserbaijan, and don’t you dare make fun of that!

@daloon LOL!

No.

I’d like to change my original answer now that I’ve been here a bit longer and have been able to observe. The answer is a resounding yes.

I still say no.

@jonsblond I would have to see your proof/evidence. I got thorough trouncing when this subject first came up for my statements of appearance of it.