I can't believe I'm about to do this, but....... I would like to address the issue of cliques here at BN...
I don't quite understand this concept of cliques!? Aren't cliques what jr. high kids form to
exclude other kids? Isn't that the whole point of developing a clique...that you want to keep others from being in your group? There may be many groups of friends on this board, which I can say I am a part of many. Never would I exclude anyone that was cool and respectful from joining in our fun. In fact, I can quite confidently say it is more than welcomed. And I genuinely believe that if there are any people here that choose to be exclusive, they are an extreme minority and are ostracized themselves because they have negative attitudes, are aggressive or are
belligerant. (hint, hint)
There are so many groups here with wonderful, blended personalities...old, young, married, single, parents, people that have been to dozens of JB shows, people that have been to one JB show, democrats, republicans, white collar, blue collar, hippies, rednecks, slackers, students, alcoholics, funaholics, cheeseheads...and many of these groups are a result of one simple thing, which is the same as in life in general...
1) they have been around here for a while, and
2) they've made concerted efforts to introduce and involve
themselves!!!
Not like people here aren't friendly and welcoming, but there has to be something about a newbie that hooks them into BN. Maybe because Cubbie Bear joined during the baseball playoffs last year confessing his love for the greatest professional sports team ever that got him noticed and accepted. Maybe it was Tommcat running off at the mouth about his love of winter weather in a group of people who worship sun and sand that got him noticed and appreciated. Maybe it was 7Lords generosity of making BN nametags for everybody and their brother, and sister, and cousin, and pet, and palm tree (literally) that got him welcomed and appreciated. Or maybe it was NYCParrothead's pic with JB at the Today Show... no, that kid would get noticed anywhere with his primal behavior, that endeared him to us.
The point is... don't assume that any group here at BN is exclusive. It's natural that people are going to form groups of friends. Some of us attend shows together...some of us get together for phlockings at Hooters around the country... some of us travel to see each other for holiday weekend events... some of us talk on the phone or even date!!! Hell, Phaw, HappyShark, SchoolGirlHeart and BrownEyedGirl crashed the freakin' wedding of Jeepgirl and RedWineMaker!!!!!

And I will speak for many supposed clique members here by saying, all you have to do is make a little teeny effort... I promise!!!
And it helps if you have something relatively freaky about you... the Virtual Tailgate will take you in a second the weirder you are!!!
