I have been reading this message board for a few months now. I find the content alot more interesting than some other message boards although I only post occasionally.

However, you are all a bit cliquey aren't you? Everyone seems to know each other, outside of the internet that is, and there are so many private jokes running on here, it is often difficult to understand what is being said.

It's not a criticism though but it makes me wonder if new 'posters' are exactly welcomed.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Answers

Of course they are!! but you're dead right, it's as cliquey as hell...the running jokes are cos a lot of people have met up for matches, socially etc....still it doesn't mean you can't join in!!

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Hi Lynda - your recent arrival has not gone unnoticed and you will shortly be invited to join one of the cliques once you have been vetted by the BBS Thought Police. I shall inspect your credentials myself and if your bona fides are in order then you will be most welcome. :-)

Seriously Lynda, this forum is, as you have noticed, tops. It has a great bunch of friendly people and we've always tried to stamp out excessive bad language, flaming and slanging matches. So how come I got in I hear you cry? Well they humour me out of the kindness of their hearts I guess. We've been together a lot of us for about 5 years now so we do have a shared history that we draw on which will be a mystery to the newcomer. I'm sure anyone will explain a reference to you if you're puzzled at all.

Stick around, you'll pick it up. I don't know where you're based but several of us meet in The Strawberry before and after games (and have our BBS handles on the back of the shirt). There are a lot of London Mags who meet up and several other "cliques" in various parts of the globe. The main thing to remember is you are most welcome. Join in and you'll soon become part of the furniture.

Why don't you start a "Newcomers Clique"? :-)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

You're spot on Lynda, but it's just as Gav says, it's cliquey because we've met the other folk in the clique socially. You need to get yourself to the Strawberry or start meeting up for away games, or live in Oz, etc.

It most definitely isn't anything that has been organised deliberately, I think it's just one of the slight penalties of talking among ourselves in public. Just butt in anytime is probably the best approach.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Divvent forget the "Heaton" clique, and screachers cliquey knee...oh yeah then you have riks clique (party of one only)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

One of the best cliques is the Barcelona clique of 2. Me and Steve T.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

And then there's the Canada clique, and I am the only one in it. I like that.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Lynda - don't believe half of what you hear/read on here - especially if it's about hedges or sheep! And watch out for that Jonno. He's a miserable owd git. So, where are you from and where are you now? I'm sure we'll find a clique for you - even if it's only for folks called Lynda. BTW - your handle? DOB or chest size?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Screacha ye dorty awld man how would 1892 be a chest size???.............what a tit;-0

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

1892? Chest size? No - just a stupid add on number (obviously with some significance)cos aol won't let me have my full name.

Well lots of interesting postings from you all. Geordies here, Geordies there, Geordies .................... how does that song go again?

I suppose I am actually part of a North West clique but none of the rest of us get on here.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

You mean there was a NW clique and I wasn't invited when I was in ManUreland? Humph. Glad I moved back to the NE where men are men and sheep are nervous.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Don't worry Lynda - that's just Screacher's way of launching what's called a "charm offensive" there (with the emphasis on offensive obviously!)

As I say, join in, make yourself at home, and you'll soon become part of the furniture. Pull up a Screacher and sit doon. Only NOT in Pit Bill's chair mind - under any circumstances ....

Actually, you do make an interesting point - it must be a bit more difficult for newcomers to break into a lot of these conversations when we are often referring to things that have happened off line socially.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Isn't Rik in the NW?? Good to have ye on board as it were lynda, are you a misplaced Geordie or originally from the NW? Divvent worry about the cliques, I am 4000 miles from home yet everyone on the bbs has made me feel more than welcome, apart from that miscreant screacher person (nasty piece of work him mind)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

North West Mags, relatively new supporter's association just trying to get started really. Most of us are exiled Geordies living in and around Manchester area.

if anyone wants to join - let me know and I'll point them in the right direction.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Lynda,

You speak with a Durham accent - a bit Consett - Leadgate-ish. I think that you must be from bandit country - the South Durham bad lands. It is therefore only to be expected that you enter any new social scene with apprehension, trepidation and sometimes skid-marks.

Don't worry. Stick to the cliques. There's the London clique ( but you can join only if you've had intercourse with living things (male/female, animal/vegetable, doesn't matter - they're not particular) from at least six continents; the Makem clique (although you must learn NOT to use the shift key); then there's the odds & sods clique whose members have been exiled from the toon because of their dirty habits and pathological inability to say to total strangers least three times each day "we're a fecking gargantuan club, us are". Memebrs of the latter are so desperate to prove their bona fides (that's their CIU Affiliation number) that they can often be seen to lapse into written geordie dialect - the last retort of the flatulent.

But one word of warning. Steer clear of that bunch of people who pretend to be a clique but are really a claque. Hired by NUFC, they proselytise the Board, the club, Aaron Hughes' genitalia and generate self-righteous indignation (the hallmark of a true geordie) about the club and its size which, if my wife is right, has very little to do with satisfaction. The claque meets in the Strawberry before each home game.

Relax. They, like Alan Shearer, are harmless.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Durhamish? Nah - Tyneside born and bred. North Shields to be precise.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Lynda, it really doesn't matter, just remember that wherever you go, the "clique" there will make you very welcome. I know, I was in London and was met by ITK (RIP), Bobby and Dan, had a great day, I was I guess, part of the London clique for a very memorable day. I have been "with" this group from the old days on the Communicata BBS and everyone has been terrific (most of the time). Nice group, staves off my homesickness and of course gives me my daily Toon fix. Love em all.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Lynda as you have probably guessed sometimes the doorman goes for a leak and then the riffraff come sneaking in through the floorboards. Try and step on as many as you can.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Cynic, your wife's lying to you.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

if my wife is right, has very little to do with satisfaction

What would your wife know about satisfaction?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Tomato,

Always has done. You can take the lass outa Barnsley, but ......

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

But, Lynda, most of all avoid twats who come on anonymously, insert a few insults, then go.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

PS. Largely because they are Mackems off Ready To Go back down.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

According to my edition of Windows 1892, you should right clique on this page, then left clique on "View Source".

Look closely enough and you'll find, buried deep within the HTML, the fact that we're all really members of the same - rather large - clique.

Geordies, adopted Geordies, met up in The Strawbeery, working alone deep inside the Arctic Circle (or South Shields)...the hidden BBS password is: "Haway The Lads!"

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Cynicus, since when has Consett been South Durham - it's North West Durham or it was in the last general election. Lynda, we can maybe be part of a "Lynda Only" clique as I'm a Lynda, too. I'll have to resign from the "claque" since its faults have been so devastatingly exposed by Cynicus.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Is there an Auckland NZ clique?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Mark sonna you're it! start canvessing!

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

You're already one of us Lynda as you've been posting for awhile. In my experience the best lists are the ones where folks really seem to know each other and can chat as easily as being together. It does seem cliquish at first, but just join in and you'll be most welcome. I've made alot of great friends via this bbs and a (sadly departed) U2 one. Hope to see you in the Strawbeery or whatever Manchester's equivalent is when I'm over in Dec/Jan. :-)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

mark - there was an Auckland clique of one but i've moved back ower the proper side of the planet...so you're now the sole defender of the one true faith from the Waitakare's to Waiheke...

Kiwi Toon got bored playing with hisself so he moved to France...

As a 'clique-jumper' i can vouch for EVERYONE on here as the most genuine, warm, friendly and miserable bunch of obsessed Mags you'll find anywhere...

Geordies here, Geordies there...everyone of them a gem. Welcome.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Min, having just moved here from San Francisco do you happen to know which TV stations have the premiership matches on live as everything I have seen so far involves funny shaped balls?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

On this side of the tasman you can get fox sports on a Monday highlights show about 5'ish or SBS at seven thirty ... unsure if you'll be able to get the Oz channels ??? Fox in their generosity also show (in theory) 4 live games each weekend

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Divent forget the Sydney clique. There are about 7-8 of us. You'll know then as...

Me (Nick Raphael)
Tynedale man
Loony Toon
Muzza in Oz
Lady Tynedale
Sting
Andy (not a BBS'er)



-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Nic, wot time is your fantasy football thingo tomorra ??

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Is there a Melbourne Clique? I used to be the sole Canberra Clique on the old Communicata BBS (former sign on Damage) but since moving to the Old Dart for two years and back to Oz I have since moved to Melbourne.

Where is Lancaster Red nowadays?

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

Ken, Abbey et al are meeting in the Hero of Waterloo (Rocks) at about 2:30. And don't get any ideas about signing Barton - He's mine.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

Lynda

I'm in South Manchester (Hale) - I've meant to get across to a NW Mags Meeting but not managed it yet - no excuse Metro goes from Alty to quite near the meetings pub.

Get them to sort a meet out before a NW game - Screach used to be in Cheshire but he's moved back to Gods country as you've probably guessed from his postings.

There's too many on here for a clique - new posters are always welcom if not encouraged.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

mt - hmmm..not so great PL footie in NZ - as the match day thread regulars & Sydney clique will testify...I ended up getting up/staying up after a Sat night on the beers to listen to the webcast - which i wouldn't wish on anyone...

Sky Sports 2 show one game live at 4am on the Sunday morning - and it could be anything but is generally ManUre, L'pool, Arse etc. It's repeated on Sky Sports 1 at 12 ish. However, if NZ cricket, rugby, netball or anything like that is on they scrap the PL game and yer up the Hauraki Gulf without a Fuller's Ferry.

There's a repeat of the live game on Monday night around 9/9.30 on Sky Sports 1. And a highlights programme on Wednesday around 6pm if they feel like showing it. The good news is: If we get to the UEFA, i'd put money on ESPN showing the games - they show Italian, Scottish & UEFA Cup & Champions League games - but beware - the ManUre bias has to be heard to be believed...

All the best - anything else i can help with, just shout...

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

Rooster you should have hung around. There is also lama and Wavey in Cranberry Town now.

Nick you forgot about Looney (AWOL)!

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

Rooster,

LR is still around, but he only makes the occasional appearance during the close season. He will inevitably be back to chastise us when the season get's going.

Unfortunately, Dancing Dave has disappeared, but we've acquired a few mackems recently to liven things up - mostly frightfully decent chaps actually!

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001