Hey Dom...just chiming in to set the fact straight ok?

1) It was me who has been telling folks about The Muse. Have been posting there since @2000...25 years or so.
It is all that Marty says it is. Folks are polite and helpful and there is an active moderating group.
Its founder...a Toronto web developer...handed the reins to members 5 or so years ago.
Has some amazing musicians there

2) Lots of people are at both sites...

3) You misinterpret politeness, the extension of grace, the desire to establish good relationships with people etc as brown nosing

4) If you are on the outside of a clique looking in...repeatedly...is that a problem with cliques or you?
Oh and the cliques here are simply people collaborating...something that has in fact sprung up here again
...you see it happening among people here and new "cliques" come and go with their projects
Had a great experience with Rob and Kay-lynn and got an amazing video out of it
Currently working with another group and have my eyes set on the next

If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop