OK, haven't ready every reply, so this may have been said. However, I'm just throwing in my $.02.
I was recruiting into my first squad within a week of becoming a paying member of AH. My squad was good to me and through them came to know many people.
I have come and gone and each time I am welcomed back like I never left.
When my son went missing in 2004 (and was found), pretty much the whole AH community was involved and many went way out of their way to provide support and assistance. For that I am forever grateful.
Some people get along and some people don't Some have elitest attitudes and other or more common in their appeal and associations.
What I have never seen is an institutional hatred for newbies or anyone, with the expection of those dubbed as "greifers". Even then, I don't know if I would say hatred as much as frustration.
Regardless, I think this is a great community (even the BKs and Muppets
).
A newbie is going to have a hard time because, let's face it, this is a community and the newbie doesn't know anyone and is not know. That feeling of being hated is because you are on your own until you start building a web of friends here. That takes getting involved in mission, joining a squad, calling 6s, getting involved in conversations, posting on the BBS and attending our super secret "We Hate All Outsiders/Newbies Meetings". Ok, most of that is true except the last part. You have to make an effort to be known.
I really take exception to anyone coming in here and as their first post say, essentially, "you all suck because you treat newbies bad and didn't stroke my ego when I do anything." No hate involved, just incredulity. Again, this is a great community and from my experience, very forgiving and very open. Sure there are cliques <sp?>, but what game community doesn't have that.
To sum up: fly more, get known, make some friends. Two things will happen: you won't be a newb and your opinion of the community will change.
