Quote Originally Posted by Peptaru View Post
Cliques are anti-LS, or at least what LS's should be. That crap started in other games where the "elite" of the LS couldn't be bothered to help lowly members, and god forbid new members.... that is to say, the members who would benefit most from an experienced group to play with and learn from. It leads to things like (an XI example) people with level 10 mnks posseessing the items for black belts. Did they need them? No, but they'll be damned if anyone who could actually use them would get them before the tenured members.

This is all IF the LS will even accept new players. After accepting them, if they do, the new member is treated like a frat pledge, working their ass off to try to prove themselves to the old-bloods who just use them. Use them with intent to drop them from their shell during their "trial period", etc, etc, etc, mini-rant. Ls's should breed community, they don't in (i'd wager) the majority of cases. They simply breed/foster elitism and seperation from others.
While this is getting off topic, generally I have been lucky enough to have been in and or am still in, LS's that are fairly helpful. I do see the cliques and that is something we'll see everywhere. Although, while you can't eliminate the problem, a really good LS can help lessen the impact. Again, I am fortunate enough to be in a few LS's where everyone is pretty friendly and helpful even if they aren't apart of a specific in-LS clique... Jinko is one of those helpful people. Yay Jinko!