As much as it is against my better judgement for posting here since I have gone from being a regular poster to a lurker, I'm compelled to make a few comments.
Cliques are either deliberately formed, or the description is imposed on others as a form of stereotyping.
Since the Science forum has cropped up in this discussion let me use it as an example.
Being once a regular contributor in the forum evidently turned me into an elitist, a wanker, an arrogant snob, an ineffective communicator and a host of other goodies. Strange the criticisms seemed to be directly related to the obscurity the subject matter being discussed.
Evidently you are a far worse human being discussing quantum physics than say astronomy.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...t=84318&page=6
We are all familiar with the evils of various "isms" such as racism and sexism, anti intellectualism regretfully is rife and forms the mechanism of accusing others of forming cliques.
Anyway I will go back to lurking.
Regards
Steven