Whatever word is used, if a person or group is not actively being excluded but feels as if they are, the feeling engendered, would be pretty much the same as if they were.

Maybe it is not sufficient, just not to exclude, maybe it is necessary to TRY and clearly demonstrate that there is NO exclusion? Or that there is in fact nothing to be excluded from?

The use of words like 'gang', 'inner core' and the production of (short) lists of individuals considered to be worthy of a mention, does not in my opinion, clearly demonstrate this. I feel that this contributes, in no short measure to the alienation that produces some of the strange behaviour that is witnessed on the forum from time to time. It certainly supplies most of the ammunition.