Hope i can help you with this one, as i am still relatively new here. I can remember 'lurking' and looking at the posts thinking - this site is mad. Mad as in 'whacky.' I joined. To be perfectly honest i probably would never have posted anything if it hadn't been for PPK, he pm'd me and was the 'friendly face' of the bunch. So it's all PPK's fault i am here.
When you are a noob, the place looks a bit like a train wreck.
I probably wouldn't have hung around if it hadn't been for PPK.
You are right Sir_Les there is lot's of intelligence here and i noted that and it was part of the appeal. It's not a boastful intelligence. It is hidden. It is like if you care to scratch around in the dirt you will eventually hit 'treasure'. The other analogy is once you are 'in the club' it is like driving around in a unmarked, slightly dented saloon car, but having a big 'fuck off beast under your bonnet'
I did find scrap's welcome a bit intimidating. The bewbs thing. Hyke was friendly, and i think Callaway does a good job of asking noobs questions. and cbc - well how could you not like her. As for the swearing and insults, bickering between members etc well it serves it's purpose as in it keeps away the 'sensitive' ones.