quoting Alan Terego from above: ". Some people see a party and go and join it. Others see the same party and stay home saying "why wasn't I invited"? A few seem to say "I don't like parties, and I don't want them to exist for anyone else." ...amen!

cliques are usually groups of people who found common interests and regularly talk to each other...sometimes they work to exclude others, but that's not what I see here. If your sense of humor, interests, hobbies and **attitude** fit, and you are willing to say 'hello', you may be part of it before you know it!...

I have been here for 4+ years, and there are conversations I just can't follow easily, or my 'take' on things just isn't the same...so I don't try. But neither do I assume that anyone is 'excluding' me. I say what I have to say, post some songs and autoharp help, and debate some of the issues...and read the Song Challenges that Aine starts and the stories that Peter T starts with awe...'cause I can't write like that!

Yes, there are those who found the range of banter and occasional flame wars to be just too distracting, and they preferred to spend their energies elsewhere....sad, but....

I just know that the upcoming FSGW Getaway has been given new life thru the participation of Mudcatters who heard about it here....and thus, my RT life is better..(I am MUCH more fun to talk to RT..*grin*...and I play music, too!)