Clique? Exclusive club?

[verismissimo]

Recently there have been a number of assertions that this Radio 3 Forum is a clique, an exclusive club. I think this is a rather serious accusation.

The question is: is it true?

Speaking personally, I can see that there are a smallish number of boarders who appear to know each other and several who express themselves vigorously.

But a clique, an exclusive club?

I just don't see it.

[Beef Oven]

Recently there have been a number of assertions that this Radio 3 Forum is a clique, an exclusive club. I think this is a rather serious accusation.

The question is: is it true?

Speaking personally, I can see that there are a smallish number of boarders who appear to know each other and several who express themselves vigorously.

But a clique, an exclusive club?

I just don't see it.

Of course there's a clique. Nothing wrong with that. It's natural. It is impossible for a thing like this forum to exist without one coming about.

I don't share your concern.

[jean]

But how can you tell whether you're part of the clique or not?

[Beef Oven]

But how can you tell whether you're part of the clique or not?

Never mind that, I'm still trying to work out how to join

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

...you can be in my clique if i can be in yours ......

[amateur51]

Of course there's a clique. Nothing wrong with that. It's natural. It is impossible for a thing like this forum to exist without one coming about.

I don't share your concern.

One? ONE???

There are a lot of what I'd call Special Interest Groups and jolly good they can be too. A clique is a group of people that looks inwards and does not admit new members. I see nothing like that here

[Beef Oven]

But how can you tell whether you're part of the clique or not?

To answer your question, you only know if you're not part of the clique. Otherwise the process of peer-reinforcement renders you blind and you won't see it.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

no no no .... one instinctively knows that that so and so is not one of us .....

[verismissimo]

Of course there's a clique. Nothing wrong with that. It's natural. It is impossible for a thing like this forum to exist without one coming about.

I don't share your concern.

I think we are meaning different things by "clique", Beefie. There is indeed a group of like-minded individuals here. In fact there are several, often totally opposed to each other. That's the nature of the beast, it seems to me, and all the better for it.

But an exclusive club? Only in the sense that people who actively don't like classical music might find it harder to participate.

[Beef Oven]

no no no .... one instinctively knows that that so and so is not one of us .....

Q.E.D.

[Pabmusic]

What's all the fuss about? A clique is "a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially: one held together by common interests, views, or purposes" (Webster), which sounds about right to me.

The trouble seems to be that absolutely any departure from the idea that everybody in the world is a 'lad' or 'lass' who would rush to join the R3 Forum if only they weren't so busy partying, discussing Big Brother or toasting the royal baby, is terribly snobbish. Even more so if they use posh words - like 'clique'.

It's as if there's a desire to reduce everything to its lowest common denominator.

Anyway, who's saying this?

[Beef Oven]

Anyway, who's saying this?

Why does that matter?

[Pabmusic]

Why does that matter?

The OP wrote "Recently there have been a number of assertions that this Radio 3 Forum is a clique, an exclusive club". I had not seen any of those assertions and wanted to know some background.

[Beef Oven]

The OP wrote "Recently there have been a number of assertions that this Radio 3 Forum is a clique, an exclusive club". I had not seen any of those assertions and wanted to know some background.

I see.

[umslopogaas]

This forum is not an exclusive club, because anyone can join and will remain a member unless they offend the hosts so much they get banned. And even then, they would probably just re-join under a different name. The whole point of an exclusive club is that it excludes everyone except those it chooses to accept. I dont see any resemblance to that here.

Pabmusic, I think Thropplenoggin, after that unfortunate flare-up in the "Mozart sceptic" thread, said this forum was a clique. I dont know any others. And Throps. if you are reading this, please reconsider your threat to leave: I for one valued your contributions just as much as everyone else's.