I've been reading the boards for a little while now and I have to say I agree with Experienced Punter but it wasn't just in one thread. Being new I have no loyalties to anyone and I tend to avoid the more contentious threads. I have noticed though that there's often a tendency to agree and back up the people you like on whatever particular issue it is, so to me, it is quite clique-ish. This also seems to include people joining into the more bitter debates simply to back their mate up when it really doesn't concern them so in that sense it quite reminds me of a primary school fight where the whole bloody school has to gather around egg on and join in. And yes, the irony of saying this and then posting this where really it is none of my concern isn't lost on me.
Just an impartial observation.