Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

A clique is defined as "a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially: one held together by common interests, views, or purposes."

Clique membership is usually exclusive and based on social qualifications. Factors supporting cliques include social standing, similar interests and goals, job title, and friendships. To maintain the clique power structure, bullying, harassment, or exclusion takes place. Nonclique members feel like outsiders. Cliques can lead to a lack of trust, insecurity, lack of respect and appreciation, and the feeling of being left out.

Would you consider this website one? Because we as a whole don't tolerate certain behaviors well.

Hey, we tolerate you.

Did you have a hypothetical example?

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Nah. Everyone here starts out as an outsider, unless you have a relationship with other members outside of the forum. I have never felt like an outsider here. Some may not agree with me or even dislike me because of opinions I've expressed. Okay, they're allowed that right. I'm here because of a common interest.

There are other forums where I felt like I didn't belong. And I kinda dug my own grave on those and just quit participating. I still go to those forums, but only to look. Participating on those forums requires "membership" in their clique.

I like it here, and I like the people I banter with. I'll get to meet a couple of you at the defensive handgun courses in May and June, and am looking forward to that. Also looking forward to being able to make the next meet 'n greet to meet more of you.

By that definition, yes. But only loosely. I haven't noticed any descrimination based exclusion around here. The deciding factor seems to be the "common interests, views, or purposes" and not the "bullying, harassment, or exclusion". One way to look at it is that a "clique" is something everyone tries to get into regardless of if they actually share common interests as the clique members. I would argue by that thought that we aren't a "clique" by definition, since the only people who desire to join, are the ones with common interests which aren't turned away.

I think what I was asking is ... it's the same people here, most of the time, and when someone is new, we kinda guide them that "other forums" tolerate bad manners, we don't, and they usually go away.

More concerned that sometimes we chase off people that might have been a good ally.

Reverenddel wrote:I think what I was asking is ... it's the same people here, most of the time, and when someone is new, we kinda guide them that "other forums" tolerate bad manners, we don't, and they usually go away.

More concerned that sometimes we chase off people that might have been a good ally.

As a newer member, I would have to dissagree. I have not once felt like an outsider.

Well GOOD! In the Firearms community, sometimes it feels "Cliquish" even when you like firerams!

however, like a pick up game of basketball, in a gun shop? We're all the same... EXCITED FOR THE SMELL OF GUN OIL!

AND! on occasion! FEMALES WHO LIKE WEAPONS!

I think the primary difference between this group and a clique is that there is, as far as I know, no active exclusion except by choice of the excluded party. My observation would be that as a group, we welcome all comers and tolerate, on occasion, some fairly abrasive and/or aggravating characters without doing anything more than to unambiguously express our differing opinion to them. And I submit that we have some pretty diverse participants on this forum. The bond is an abiding interest in firearms and related things.

Nope, Rev, clique is definitely not the right word for this outfit, IMHO.

Based on the concerns of the OP, I think he should be set up as forum HR guy. All members should be periodically questioned by OP about bullying and feelings. Yep, I think ol' OP may just be the ONE!

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Clique? No way. I would have never survived here. Instead, if I screw up, you guys let me know, I acknowledge, take corrective action when needed and all is forgiven. There is no way a clique would function that way.

Also, I thing just becaue most of us have a conservative veiw on life/politics, there are a few Dems that love firearms. As long as everyone is respectful of eachother, even in disagreement, all are welcome here. At least that's what I've seen.

I actually would like a few more left wingers here. I think its healthy to give our brothers on the other side of the isle a place to go to get "real" information about firearms and the multiple hobbies involving them. Hearing their political position could be good for everyone too.

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WRW wrote:Based on the concerns of the OP, I think he should be set up as forum HR guy. All members should be periodically questioned by OP about bullying and feelings. Yep, I think ol' OP may just be the ONE!

We can't do that, he'll make us all take sensitivity training classes.

OakRidgeStars wrote:

WRW wrote:Based on the concerns of the OP, I think he should be set up as forum HR guy. All members should be periodically questioned by OP about bullying and feelings. Yep, I think ol' OP may just be the ONE!

We can't do that, he'll make us all take sensitivity training classes.

THAT should be considered to be bullying. I know I think of it that way.

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Revs Sensitivity Training Program:

*SMACK*

"Man up! Get the hell over it! Stop that whimpering! "

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That's almost as bad as the hazing ritual I had to go through to be a moderator.

Hey if yall tolerate my crazy gay ass then yall aren't excluding anyone! Sensitivity? Hmm is that where you ask someone if they're ok after they did something stupid before laughing at them?

Ah the Hi-Point totin', small government loving, lady what you and your doc do about that lump in your belly ain't my bidness, and what kind and how many adults are in your family ain't either, kinda guy, my clique is amazingly small. LOL

But there is plenty of common ground so that I do like it here.

Cheers, friends!

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thekinetic wrote:Hey if yall tolerate my crazy gay ass then yall aren't excluding anyone! Sensitivity? Hmm is that where you ask someone if they're ok after they did something stupid before laughing at them?

Excuse the pun???

I'd be TERRIBLE about it! SHMIV is close to right.

When you start whining about something I will pull a bottle pamprin, and a tampax, and just post them repeatedly till you shut the hell up.

Or post a picture of lumber, and a creek, telling you to "build a bridge, and get over it".

MarcSpaz wrote:

thekinetic wrote:Hey if yall tolerate my crazy gay ass then yall aren't excluding anyone! Sensitivity? Hmm is that where you ask someone if they're ok after they did something stupid before laughing at them?

Excuse the pun???

Yeah sorry, metal images and all!

I literally LOL'ed. That is too funny.