OK things are a little unbalanced in this callout so let me lead in on Lutra's side a bit.
Let's be a bit introspective here. Are we "cliquey"?
Do we target people that we don't like collectively or do we all target them individually out of loathing "together" and at the same time?
Do we dislike the same people or do foster a need to dislike the same people and reciprocate?
Do we not fight between ourselves because we have a pact not to do so or because we genuinely agree with each other?
I honestly thing that these questions are coming to the fore in both this thread and in other threads.
Penty, Richard, General Razorbeard, Sol and a plethora of other casualties throughout I2 history, were they targeted systematically and driven out by a cliquey bullying mob?
I will answer for me and this is all I can answer for. A lot of the people that I like are liked by a lot of the people I like and they like me. They same applies in reverse. A lot of the values I hold dear and opinions I hold true are similarly (it seems) held by the people I like here (to degrees).
I rally against opinions I don't like and behaviours I don't like. I am reactive and it is my nature.
To get an idea of how "I" feel a look at the callout with Odeon and my defence of Penty's actions and railing against Richard's is an example.
Paraphrased, I say to Odeon that were Part's to post an avatar of a giant arsehole or Callaway was to post an avatar of a giant vagina, you can bet I would be just as pissed off and expressive about it. The fact that it was Richard doing this was not so much the reason for targeting this or many of his actions or behaviours. But the actions and behaviours themselves.
I don't rail against people who don't provide reason for me to rail against them. Part's and Callaway would not likely be the type of people to post such things. Nor would they be the type of people to suggest pedophilic relationships with my and my kids. Were they to, they would earn my disgust and my ire.
I can't answer for others but taking this into account, this is how I see things. Similar people with similar intelligence and maturity and values getting similarly offended or disapproving of similar shit and reacting in ways that make it known what they think and not in a way that is cliquey or a united from but many one on ones and agreeing where someone makes what they concede is a good point. That in my book is not cliquey or mobbish.
I am personally not afraid to let anyone know how I feel about anything and many karma points have been thrown both Richards and Penty's way for things I agreed with. I think in the entire time I have been here I have distributed 4 gheys (average of 1/year). I sure as hell don't have a problem praising for what I consider praiseworthy with someone I don't like or in turn finding a point of contention with someone I like.
That is just me answering for me and I don't know how other's feel.
Am I right in saying that just maybe what Lutra sees or feels is not a bad interpretation regardless of whether he is right or wrong in this.
Semicolon, where are you? We miss you!