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Trying to find your social niche on Whyville is extremely difficult, and it seems as if people in the same places tend to ignore others who are trying to become friendly. In a recent article called "The Playground People", a fellow writer of mine explained how cliques can not only expand your reputation, but they can leave others feeling isolated and unwanted from the rest of Whyville.
Chatting is a privilege on Whyville, and it takes over five days of visiting this web site in order to have the opportunity to chat. However, everywhere you turn there will be a group of people who seem to hang out in the same places with the same individuals. Personally, I believe that the Playground is one of the areas that accepts more people into their conversations. I have several friends who reside in the Playground and are always generous, friendly, and giving to others. I suppose it depends on the time and the group of people who you decide to approach.
Some may explain that cliques in high school are essential for the social development of a teenager. Commonly, groups of people get defined as jocks, preps, or geeks. It seems as if everyone is part of a clique, with few exceptions. Even a group of three of four friends is noted as a clique, even on Whyville.
In the Webster???s Dictionary, a clique is defined as "A small exclusive group of friends or associates". However, as soon as you are exposed to the word clique, you immediately assume that it brings forth-negative energy or that the individuals involved are pompous and disregard others. In many cases, this is a stereotype. Clique is a general term, and I know a clique on Whyville that probably includes over forty people. What would you say to a clique whose goal is to assist newbies? However, would you outline a clique based upon the area where they choose to rendezvous? Discrimination, segregation, and oppression do not just occur in clique or involve cliques. Most of the people I have witnessed perform such an act are alone, since many people choose not to either put down or hurt another individual.
Trying to abolish cliques will only cause more controversy. Sure, there are the Playground people, but there is also the Pool Party, Sportplatz, and Illusion???s Talk gang. Some may believe that cliques are pointless, and I agree. If Whyville were all about chatting, then it would not provide the other games and activities we enjoy. Of course, some people abuse Whyville in the way that they see it as only a site where you take pleasure in conversations and fashion, whereas the entire purpose of Whyville is to learn something -- and that learning comes in a variety of methods. You can play games, but you can also write articles, learn about different countries, currencies, and time zones.
My realization is that Whyville mimics the real world, and some people take that too seriously. It would be difficult to punish someone based upon a clique, or the exclusion of another being, because the method that they go about doing so is not easily observable, nor punishable. I mean, you cannot discipline an individual for snorting "go away" or "leave us alone". I suppose that should be left up to the moral police. However, if a person or group of people choose to isolate a person based upon appearances or just because they are not part of their posse, then there must be a problem with them.
If worse comes to worse, you can establish your own clique, perhaps called "the clique without a clique" (if that makes any sense), or perhaps "the clique that does not believe in other cliques" which does sound slightly hypocritical. Perhaps those who are a member of an infamous clique do not realize this. Nevertheless, I hope that you will establish your own niche where you feel comfortable with the people around you. If people will not accept you, is that a worthy place to be?
You must use your own discretion to see where you belong. Are cliques really worth it? Does it really matter if a group of people do not accept you anyway? Surely, other people will take the time to get to know you. Explore this wonderful island called Whyville, and good luck finding your own ecological... I mean, social... niche.
Catch me if you can,
-TIKE
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