You don't own this place

It's almost like a generational thing.
When I first started using this site, there were users who all knew each other, had been around a long time. I'd see their comments and replies to each other and it felt a bit exclusive as a new user. But I reminded myself that I was here to offer a point of view, my own individual one and help others. Through doing that, you do earn the respect of the older users of the site.

Eventually you yourself become an older user and you have to remember that once upon a time you were new yourself and not to be too exclusive and give credit to good input from whomever contributes it.

The older users may come off as snobbish at first and indeed I think that if you use the site daily and see the stories repeating themselves, the trolling, it can get tiresome and you can let sarcasm or impatience creep into your comments. I get that. I had to have a break myself recently just because I felt myself becoming like this and what good am I to help other people if I'm not being level headed?

I don't think any of it is intentional and perhaps you're right that people should be more welcoming. I have seen alot of good users disappear but for at least a few of them, I have a creeping suspicion they've come back under different usernames anyway.

This is a very roundabout comment and I don't feel like I've really come to any conclusions but that's basically just my thoughts on what you've said. I think you have to have a thick skin at all times on the internet, and well, hell, in life in general too.

I try my best to be welcoming, and I think most of the older users do the same because we remember what it was like to be young :P Not that I don't detect bitterness and pessimism in some of the older users here... but at the same time IIN should be a safe space for old users to vent as much as for new users to explore, so it's a difficult balance to make. But the problem remains that when I was a new-ish user I was encouraged by the friendly atmosphere that old and new users shared, and if I was to discover IIN today for the first time I don't know if I'd feel the love the way I did back then.

The chat can be a danger zone :P I almost always stick to the story and poll comments. I've seen people outright bullied in the chat before and it was sickening. Not that it's all bad, but it's less safe than the comments if you want to avoid drama.

New users: please come inside, have a cup of tea and make yourself comfortable. I promise we love you really :)

I am an old user here, but I always kept a low profile. Yet, I recognize most of the seniors and regular users here. I would say that in my opinion, this site seems to make people bitter in some way when you use it too much. It certainly happened to me as well many times.

However, I never felt like people here are that "unwelcoming". Even if you don't get into the little elite circle, I think that if you make useful comments (or funny ones when it is the right moment) people do appreciate you.

Hey, if you're coming back to this site, then doesn't that make you an 'old' user too? I'm curious about who you are. ;P

I've been around for about 4 years, I don't have gold, and I don't frequent the chat---although, I do pop in on occasion.

Once you invest yourself by regularly leaving considerate and constructive comments on posts, people will naturally start to associate your username with a positive image and will likely start interacting with you more. If you come in expecting attention because you had it in the past, you're going to be disappointed. Instead, try to get validation simply by leaving heartfelt and helpful comments.

You sound really disgruntled from your post. I hope the comments here help you. :)

Fuck em! Just insert yourself in a conversation whether they like it or not. That's what I do.

That's very true, the best is for old users to take a break from IIN sometimes, it would prevent them from becoming bitter. I've been here a while and when I feel that I'm becoming nasty I just stop coming here from one or two months and then I'm back.

I'm sorry for hurting your feelings... Seriously it's the Internet? Why do so many people take offence? Just give as much back or or or don't come here if you don't like it?

The old users are the new ones. The nice ones are jerks and the jerks are real nice.

Honestly, I've been here on and off for a couple of years now and I hardly notice this kind of stuff.

Come look at my Butt! I welcome you with open arms. I am Icamewaytoohard's muse.

The same people keep being mean to me. They keep trying to bully me off as well, I don't know why these people won't let anyone in their Club. You and I can be friends. And I'll take you under my wing. And we can Fly!