Are There Cliques At DU?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Do you think?

Is DU a lot like high school where certain posters tend to hang out with other posters and such.

Or do you think that DU is too big and expansive to have really well-defined cliques?

And on a side note - if there are cliques at DU - are you in one?

On a second side note - if you're not in one...would you like to be in mine?

:D

[VelmaD]

1. Of course there are...

you're just not cool enough to be in one. :P

Seriously though, sometimes I think there are just a little bit. But I've found that most of the time if you just jump into the conversation people will welcome you on in.

[everythingsxen]

2. Yes there are cliques.

I am not in any of them.

And no you can't be in mine. We are very happy this way aren't we? Yes we are. :P

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

[omshanti]

3. Can I be in your clique magic rat??/

Pretty please?
I'm cute....

[KensPen]

6. I am starting a clique

Of cool newbies,
we shall rise and dominate this board,

my clique is also open to poor spellers and shakey syntax....

Viva la Revolution!

[prolesunited]

13. LOL!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[BurtWorm]

4. Gawd, what a nerd!

No cool person would ask a question like that. :eyes:






;)

[brainshrub]

5. If there are any I haven't found them.

But maybe I'm not cool enough. Tell you what, you and me Magic Rat...we will be a clique.

[JohnKleeb]

7. Its like reality is

I have some people who I hang out with at sometimes, others at other times. Whats a clique?

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. well...think of a high school cafeteria

In the cafeteria you'd have the cool, popular section - the nerdy kid section - the jock section - ect.

[JohnKleeb]

9. I havent been in a cafeteria since early sophomore year

Ive been going to the library for a while now.

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. um...okay

Well, then use your imagination and think of a school cafeteria then... :D

[goobergunch]

16. I don't really have a lunch period....

dropped it for AP classes. *sigh*

[JohnKleeb]

18. dude why?

:hi:
besides the only reason I am not eating lunch anymore is to starve myself and hence lose weight. Sigh I wish I didnt do that but I am obsessed now with eating little as possible. BTW I fully recommend the Kleeb diet to anyone :D.

[goobergunch]

21. My school....

offers AP Calculus BC 4th period, AP Physics 5th and 6th periods, AP Computer Science 6th period, and (normal) Lunch 4th, 5th, and 6th periods. Therefore, my Day 1 schedule looks like this:

1st Period: English (Honors)
2nd Period: Open (Lunch)
3rd Period: Theology
4th Period: Math (AP)
5th Period: Science (AP)
6th Period: Computer Science (AP)
7th Period: History (AP)
8th Period: Study Hall

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 8th period rotate, so my lunch was 8th period today (for example). :shrug:

And if I lost any more weight, I'd probably manage to cease to exist...I'm not a big eater.

:hi:

[JohnKleeb]

22. Thats right youre in Catholic School

Look at all them AP classes, I got gooseeggs. I wish my Catholic School friends were more like you goob, politics wise.
Heres my schedule
1. US/VA History (R)
2. Chem tech (B)
3. Pyschology (daily)
4. philosophy (B)
5. English 11 (R)
6. Spanish II (B)
7. Geometry (R)

[ProfessorGAC]

41. Methinks We've Just ID'd a CLique!

The Professor

[goobergunch]

43. LOL...and so true. (n/t)

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. if you have 8th period off..why not just leave school early?

[JohnKleeb]

24. What I would do

:D

[goobergunch]

28. I do/did

I got on DU at roughly 3 PM today, rather than my usual 4 PM.

Actually, the easy way to figure out when my study halls are is to see when I manage to get on DU during the day. Of course, sometimes I blabber about the news (ex: CO re-redistricting foiled) for the rest of the day and can't concentrate on schoolwork....:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

31. I get home at 2:30 generally

[goobergunch]

36. I usually get home at 3:15-30 PM

But that varies quite a bit.

[nyrnyr1994]

98. Kleeb, you sound alot like me in H.S.

I had friends from sports (jocks), played chess and card games during lunch time with the so-called "rejects", and associated with just about every "type". I was somewhat of an anomaly, no one could label me, i found the whole "high school caste" system to be rediculous. And I was also pres. of my class during my senior yr. (what a fiasco that was)

[Old and In the Way]

11. I am a clique of one.

We get along quite well, thanks; and are not taking applications for membership at this time.

[gratuitous]

12. I'd never join a clique that would include me . . .

Which, I guess, puts me in my own little clique! Aaaaaaahhh!

[Wickerman]

14. I've noticed a lot less cliques since the demise of the sex thread

:evilgrin:

[JM]

66. That wasn't a clique...

...it was a vorgy (virtual orgy)

Later,
JM

[jus_the_facts]

15. Sure...

...you can clique me all ya like :evilgrin:

[kodi]

17. i dont refer to them as cliques, i consider them rat packs

.

[JohnKleeb]

19. I would have many

I got my Kucinich comrades :D
got the guys and gals my age
I got while I got a lot lets say.
Anyways my head hurts and my heart does as well because sigh I need a girl.

[Lizz612]

35. poor Kleeb!

Am I in the "same age as Kleeb" clique even though I'm two years older than you?
I personally am part of the "too quiet and/or sleepy to post" clique. We don't know all of our members cause were all too tired or too shy to track us all down.

[JohnKleeb]

37. yea youre in the gang

its all unoffical. Join up. Now my head hurts :(. Dont pity me, last thing I need is pity.

[Lizz612]

39. How about some aspirin?

[JohnKleeb]

40. well I dont know where any is and I dont have enough money to head up to

the store. Thanks though. *hand on forehead* It will be ok.

[dreissig]

97. Name the "Kleeb Gang"

It has to have the word glue in it. ;-)

[mdmc]

111. I'm in the Kleeb Clique

Although I'm in the Dean camp, John seems to remind me of, well, me. I'm much older, and half as articulate. Anywho, I belong to greatest rag tag clique of them all, the Democratic Party!

[hippiechick]

20. Do you really even have to ASK ??

oh HELL yes there are, and they know who they are. :eyes:



:hippie:

[Kanary]

62. yup, asking is necessary

It isn't obvious to those on the "inside"..

:hi: hippiechick!

Kanary

[HEyHEY]

25. yeah....there's us Canadians...and you guys

No seriously yeah, just because certain people have connections with others. (Not romantically) Plus I think I mostly have West Coast Duers as my DU Buds because we are allon the latest.

[JohnKleeb]

26. Well I am sorta with your late night crew

and I am an east coaster, ps much thanks for that song.

[HEyHEY]

27. no prob about the tune

yeah some east coaster do stay up late

[T_i_B]

100. Geographical cliques

Certainly you get national cliques, issue cliques etc but then again on those sorts of threads everyone can jump in and nobody minds! It's not a great issue by any stretch.

[leftofthedial]

29. There are two major cliques here

1. Those who have leftofthedial on "Ignore."

2. Everyone else, that is, the 5 nerds with weird hair who always eat together in the cafeteria.

[scottcsmith]

30. No clique for me

I'm quite happy going solo. It's all part of my introverted personality.

[buddhamama]

32. i've never felt isolated

so if there are cliques it hasn't affected me.

[MaineDem]

102. That's the way I feel too

If cliques are there I haven't noticed.

[populistmom]

33. I've been here long enough to be part of a clique

There's a handful of posters that I almost always answer, a very small handful, but I'm not an oldtimer, so I'm not exactly sitting at the proverbial popular table (not that I ever did as I was a cute, yet somewhat aloof and 'rude and overly opinionated' girl back in the high school anyway :eyes: ).

I'd be in a Magic Rat clique though. You're a cool guy.

[THUNDER HANDS]

38. aww

thank you. *blushes*

[populistmom]

76. You're welcome

:yourock:

[Amaya]

34. Sure there are

and my cliques are the coolest of the cool... I don't wanna be in yours but you can be in mine :evilgrin: ;)

[Kamika]

42. I don't think there are any real cliques..

You might get an impression that there is a clique but that is simply the ppl posting alot.. If you hardly post.. then post something and get 2 answers I'm sure you'll feel like there are some.. but trust me ppl with tons of posts hardly get answers either..


But I won't say there are NO cliques.. yes I'm sure there are but they are really small.

cliques sucks alot, I know since when I used to chat in IRC whole chatrooms would die cause of them.

I'd like to think I'm a single clique though :D

There's the "I have Kamika on ignore cause she is an obnoxious brat" clique.. and then there's me :D

[ProudGerman]

54. Correction

It's the "I have Kamika on ignore cause she is an obnoxious hottie"

/shameless flirting

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

57. YOu're kind of like the Lucy Liu of DU

Specifically recalling her character in Ally McBeal.

[Kamika]

58. heh thanks

I always liked her non BS character

[Piperay]

44. Yes, there certainly are...

I have been here almost from the start but so far have avoided being in any. :shrug: I'm a clique unto myself and it is so cool no one else can get in. :evilgrin:

[HEyHEY]

51. I'd expect to hear that from your crowd

:-)

[Buns_of_Fire]

104. That's ALMOST as exclusive as my clique...

The one-person clique I started is so ubercool that I blackballed MYSELF for not being cool enough! (Which is probably just as well, since I can't afford to pay myself dues right now. :shrug: )

[Nlighten1]

45. Cliques are.

FOR ME TO POOP ON!

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

53. I'm going to tell Will you said that.

And then he'll love me forever!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

82. Yes and then there's the imaginary clique that slams him because

they of course always have something of substance to say...and the high fivers who come along and kiss their oppressed asses.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

47. I think most of that crap is paranoid made up shit

I'll correspond with almost anyone and reply to almost anyone's thread. I think people focus on this to their own detriment thereby resulting in the "feeling" of alienation whether it truly exists or not.

[Kamika]

48. yah I agree

Ppl here haven't seen real cliques.

[Bunny]

49. I will be in the clique(s) of anyone who will have me!

Just let me know what the requirements are :) I'm kinda clumsy, but I swear I'll try to learn the secret handshake!

[terrya]

50. I like sex threads also, Magic Rat.

This is a shameless ploy to force myself into your clique. :-)

I'm not in one right now (sniff, sniff)

Terry

[SoCalDem]

52. How about the avatar cliques???

Since they all chose the same one, they MUST have enough in common to be a clique of their very own :)

[ComerPerro]

56. If I change my avatar

Can I be in your clique? I am looking for a clique...

[SiobhanClancy]

65. True...

This puts me in the "clique of the Irish":)

[Panda1]

80. A fine clique indeed....

...mind if I claim you for my own personal cyber-clique?


You won't even know I'm there.

[JohnKleeb]

84. I think I am in it

You all 100% Irish let us Irish Slavs Germans in. BTW the Irish group is great, we got ya, rhiannon, rationalrose, maeve, grandauntoftriplets, padrig who is from the isle himself, amongst others.

[Lizz612]

86. Me too. Somthin like 90% Irish here

Gramma Pat was Pattie Finn when she was little on the south side of Chicago. You don't get much more Irish than that in the US.

[JohnKleeb]

115. Dang you pretty Irish

I am only 25% but hey that makes me like Delavera which is neat. The Irish Brigade as I call em, heh.

[Catshrink]

75. I like your sig line

Is it new? I don't remember seeing it. Way cool.

Nah, I'm not in a clique. Don't wanna be.

[ComerPerro]

55. Are you kidding?

Of course there are. And everyone in every single clique hates me. The cliques all hate each other too, of course, but they are willing to look past that because I am their common enemy. All they do is sit in the lounge and plot ways to exclude and opress me. They are clever though, because they disguise it as banter and discussions about old TV shows and hair bands. But I know what they are up to...

Anyway, yes, I think there are cliques at DU, to a certain extent. I do not feel that I am in any, because I spend most of my time in GD, not in the Lounge.

But, if anyone were interested in starting the "everybody else is jerks" clique with me, just let me know.

[DS1]

59. I disagree with you all equally, some more than others

:hi:

[youngred]

60. yes there are

and I'm in one so to speak. the old guard, even though I'm still a newish member compared to many here

[arwalden]

61. There Are Specific Members And Threads That I Avoid...

... but none that I specifically seek-out for the sake of being cool. (I'm already cool.)

-- Allen

[salin]

63. pssssst

grrrrrrrooooooooooooooow trees... :D

And then there are those who share an interchange somewhere along the way that so tickles the funny bone that one has to revive it - even though it sorta becomes an inside joke. Not meant to be cliqueish... but the joke is so silly that it probably wouldn't mean anything to anyone atall...

[arwalden]

101. How True... LOL.

And whenever I hear someone ELSE's inside-joke, I just laugh along as though I understand (even when I don't). I figure if I'm meant to know, then someone will tell me.

-- Allen

[Plaid Adder]

64. Ooh! Cliquey thing!

I'm starting my own clique right now! Sign here to become part of the Secret Benevolent Order of the Snake!

No, there are no membership benefits, and we don't even have a decent clubhouse, we just crawl into the heating pipes and sit there till someone digs us out.

I guess it's not really a very good clique, now I come to think about it.

Ah well, better forget the whole idea.

To answer your question in a serious way: there's 30,000 people on these boards and everyone isn't going ot be everyone's best friend. I would say any apparent cliquiness is more just a function of being more drawn to the posts of people whose userids you can actually recognize. Or, as the case may be, being repelled by the posts of people whose userids you can actually recognize.

I started an ecommunity five years ago that got totally destroyed by cliquiness and I try to fight it where I can, but the great thing about this board being so big is that if some clique of 10 people is snubbing you, there's 29,990 others you can hang with.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Kanary]

70. Wait jes a dern minit!

You don't go closing the door to the Secret Benevolent Order of the Snake before I even have a chance to get there! I've been in a lot worse than rusty old heating pipes....

As far as cliques... yes, it *does* exist, and I'm glad you've been fighting it. What I keep experiencing, and others have too, is asking for links, asking for sources for something that's said, or other legitimate info, and nobody can be bothered to reply. Then you see other people, who have their following, ask the same sorts of questions, and people trip over themselves to reply. Not only doesn't it feel very good, but it doesn't do a lot to advance the Dem cause.

Kanary......who, now that she thinks about it, might not do well around a lot of snakes.... ~~gulp~~

[MaryBear]

95. I think it has more to do with the source.

Those that can back up their claims, usually do so when asked.

[Kanary]

113. Gee, I feel better.

I guess if I was smart, I'd just automatically know who to ask.

Nope, not buying it.

I've found myself thinking a lot about this, and I think it's the politics thing. People here want to think they are involved in politics, whether they are or not. So, they link up with those they think will further that ambition. Obviously I'm of no use in that department, so.....

Or, maybe they think I dress like Laura Bush.

Kanary

[JanMichael]

67. Sort of. Or no. Um yes?

I don't know:shrug:

[HEyHEY]

96. oh you know Jan..you know

always making comments about me behind my back. I know that was you who threw shit on my house!

[ikojo]

68. Anytime you get a group of human beings together

cliques will form. What differentiates forward thinking groups from those that are not so forward thinking is when they realize there are cliques and they go out of their way to change that.

Yes, there are DU cliques

No, I am not in one of the DU cliques

Like Groucho Marx, I don't think I could be in any group that would have me as a member.....

Oh there is an old Jewish joke that goes something like this:
If a Jew is stranded on a desert island he will build two synagogues...one for him and one that he wouldn't be caught dead in...

[camero]

69. Not in one, just like high school

It was better that way. Then I could have friends that were in different cliques and get away with it.

[Iverson]

71. There are two cliques, and they are these:

1. the clique that says there are two cliques on DU;

2. the clique that doesn't.

[cally]

72. I thought there were at one point in my DU life

But I don't believe so anymore. I think the cliques, if they exist, are pretty fluid and willing to accept new members. Most of us just want a progressive voice and power.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

73. There are

I guess I'm in one, but never really thought of it that way. I'm in everyone's clique! :D :loveya:

[MusicTVstar]

87. dyouth all the way!

;-)

[JohnKleeb]

90. aint we the best

:D
Yep we are.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

103. but the original 6!...

ohhh yeah ;)

that's what i'm talking about

[goobergunch]

105. /me is confused and feels left out (n/t)

[Darranar]

74. The cliques on DU are not as exclusionary as those in other places...

but they do exist. They also overlap.

[Cleita]

77. I've got news for you, cliques never go away even after

high school. I spent one summer at a resort with mostly retired school teachers and they were all in little cliques, you know who had more money or less money or belonged to this particular club or played golf or couldn't. Many were whispered about and giggled about behind their backs just like in high school. They were worse now that I think about it than the teenagers.

Yes, after spending the last eighteen months on DU, there are definitely little cliques here. Although some think they are part of the in crowd, there really is no crowd that is that in or out, except in the mind of the beholder.

[shamanstar]

78. same thread on another board

someone asked the same question a few days on another board i read- someone asked same question 3 weeks before that- and 5 weeks before that it was asked again.
people need to realize that the clique that they sense is actually their own fear to jump in.

[Kanary]

81. "the clique that they sense is actually their own fear to jump in. "

Good projection, but......... just doesn't make the grade.

There are several people, and I'm one of them, who have pointed out that we ask questions, ask for info, comment on posts, but don't get the responses. So, that could hardly be a lack of participation, could it?

It takes some sensitivity and some awareness to keep cliquishness to a minimum.

Kanary

[latebloomer]

89. Hi Kanary!

I used to have the same sigline! Will you join my clique? (that will make 2 of us!)

[Kanary]

91. Drat, and here I thought I was so original. ~~guffaw~~

Sure, I'll join you. Do you think there's room for both of us? (baaad vaudeville line....)

Your sign line is one of my faves! She told me personally that she's reallly, and I mean, REALLY pissed!

Thanks for the invite!

Kanary, wondering if there's some sort of secret handshake or sumfin.... ^_^

[Capn Sunshine]

79. RAT CLIQUE!

sounds cool to me

[Booberdawg]

83. Sure there are

People naturally tend to have favorites or are drawn to others with similar interests, tastes, opinions. I don't think it necessarily has to be a bad thing.

I wouldn't go so far as to say anyone does anything to intentionally exclude others though, at least not that I am aware of.

I DON'T think DU is anything like the cliques seen in high school, though.

[JohnLocke]

85. Only in I/P

You've got...
the Israel caucus : myself, Pistoff Liberal, Hershel, GabysPoppy, drdon326, Gimel, and MikeGalos.
the Palestinian caucus : Classical_Liberal, Resistance, Scurrilous, ex_Jew, etc.

[ScreamingMeemie]

88. Yes it's me, myself, and I and no one else is allowed....

okay, you're allowed...all of you. No cliques, I think that's a figment of the imagination...One that we can all suffer from time to time. :) Hugs, Laura

[bywho4who]

92. What's New?

Absolutely. I was hoping that would not be the case BUT, It seems to me the party of inclusion has forgotten it's mantra.So sorry i'm not a perfect scholar.Only 2 others have even replied to me in time i have been posting on DU. But i really could care less about these snobbish assholes.I will find somebody with out all those hang-ups around here someday. When you smile:-) I smile:-) be more friendly everybody to everybody.


:smoke: :hippie:

[Cat Atomic]

94. I make 3. :)

There- we have a clique now. All others can be jealous and silently hope for inclusion.

[bywho4who]

112. This is more like it

Thanx BOOM cat you are nice but dont fret i wont,tell anyone:D




:smoke: :hippie:

[Panda1]

107. Heh heh...

...I know what you mean.
Nobody ever answers my posts so you have two more than I do. By my standards you're incredibly popular!

Then again, "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member."

[bywho4who]

114. I am so proud to

Be the first-responder to your post:), Are you for real about the zero response thing? At any rate thanx for yours:hi: :





:smoke: :hippie:

[Panda1]

117. Yay, a response. :)

Thanks bywho4who!! :) I sometimes think of myself as a thread ender. :silly:

[Cat Atomic]

93. Yes, most people are trying to get into my clique.

I suggest you pucker up and start smooching my hiney now, if you want to get a seat before Christmas.

[Guaranteed]

99. Of course there are.

They're all over the place. But, I don't think they're as cliquish as they actually appear. Most people are just bullshitting- trying to MAKE friends/join a clique, as opposed to already being in one.

Of course, I could never be a member of any of the DU cliques. I'm straight, white, moderate, new and obnoxious as hell. What am I even DOING here? ;) j/k

[psychopomp]

106. DU has a little of everything

I have been reading and posting on and off for a year and a half or so and have seen the number of unfamiliar usernames proliferate. Not only that, but the newer names don't just drop off as much as they used to; these are newer posters who are making DU a "home" for themselves.

In a time of growth and constant change it is natural to latch on to those who seem most closely identified with what DU was for you when you joined. As DU expands it will take on a different tone and quality from that which existed when you decided to stay in the first place. To make it consistant you encourage the ones who please you or with whom you resonate with most closely.

Surprisingly, some of the most well-recognized posters have contrarian views that make them both the bane and joy of a slew of others who dogpile on. I don't want to be in a clique; I am most happy if somebody reads what I have to say and gets a "hit" off of it.

[sistersofmercy]

108. For the most part, I'd have to say "No", I think there are just a number

of Duers who have gotten to know one another pretty well. However IMO there are a certain few who would like to perpetuate a clique, one culprit in particular just got the honor of being the first Duer on my ignore list.

[Deja Q]

109. Dunno about other folk, but I look at...

...what I think are interesting messages in the GD forum or most posts in the Lounge. I've even read and responded to posts from people who others would likely put on ignore out of petty concerns.

I will avoid posts based on certain topics though... (I won't drop names or hints because I'm not going to hijack this thread!)

I'm sure there are cliques and, much as in real life, I'm not in any of them. But what do I know? :D

[TrogL]

110. There's some cliques/factions in the "topic" lounges

But a great deal of this has to do with the nature of the topic itself. I don't particularly see it as a bad thing.

Economics

• The Gold Bugs
  
• The Keynesians (like me)
  
• The Supply-siders (mostly Freepers who don't last long)
  
• Stocks and bonds (see also the daily Stock Market thread in LBN)
  

Civil Rights etc.

• People who discuss the drug wars (like me)
  
• People who discuss abortion
  
• The LGBT community (like me)
  
• various religious factions esp. the anti-fundies (like me)
  
• people who discuss privacy issues
  

The Meeting Room

• The Astrologers
  
• The "other" spiritual communities - Buddhists, Wiccans etc.
  

And then there are the conspiracy theorists - pro and con (me) battling it out in LBN and GD.

• Wellstone crash (con)
  
• LIHOP (pro)
  
• MIHOP (dunno)
  
• Great Game/Oil Wars (pro)
  
• JFK/RFK/MLK (dunno->con)
  
• New World Order/Illuminati/Jewish Banking (con)
  
• BFEE (pro)
  
• VRWC (pro)
  
• RRR/theocracy (pro)
  
• WTC/Pentagon (extra bombs, no/different airplanes) (con)
  
• MK/ULTRA etc. (con)
  

However, to be a member of any clique/faction, all you have to do is start posting so it's nothing like high school. But then again,

I don't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member - Groucho Marx

[bywho4who]

116. NO WAY NEVER NOPE NOT AT ALL

Not around here. Y/R


:kick:


:smoke: :hippie:

[VermontDem2004]

118. stfu-the Pacers are still in first place

:P