I guess whenever we join a new group.. there are those who will have been around a long time and have developed a certain persona of their own. When I first arrived here with my Christian views and attitudes I was attacked/criticised/hounded and could easily have made a fairly swift exit. I felt sort of new but unwanted.. even though I had been offered a welcome by some either by pm or in threads. Can I suggest that there are no 'rules' as such, for this sort of rift but that time and earning of respect in any group situation brings a kind of acceptance and even cohesion. Being new is not easy when joining a group but you either stick it out, learning as you go and accepting people for who they are on the 'cat'. or you make an exit with your tail between your legs.
Welcome to a wonderful site for learning and contributing to threads about about Folk music and a diversity of moods/attitudes/behaviours from the Folkies here and thought provoking text.
Best wishes, Mike.