BH, I find the "clique" thing to be less of a hurdle or drawback in the last few years.
When I joined, I knew I had to be very careful about what I posted here, because in some ways it was "dangerous" to be inexact (just as it would be on the Steve Hoffman forum), or to argue with some mainstay for fear of having his buddies gang up on you. Stupid unfounded fears. If cliques existed at all, it is because back then there was a real community sense, where most Unitedstatians and Upnorthians members had actually met each other at different gigs or festivals.
This "awe" is further prolonged because you've got "stars of the industry" (read label owners, book authors, site owners, musicians, etc...) that post here regularly.
I dare say that indeed the passing to 3.0 has helped smoothing some of the still-sharp edges of 2.0, in terms of members conduct.
I know it's still not easy for some (sometimes semi-high-profile characters) in their attempts to join the place (though I'm probably not helping either), and I've criticism written elsewhere about the "unfriendliness" of the place, something that I don't experience at all.
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