I think the feeling like an outsider thing is pretty normal for any group though. You can just keep posting and commenting and eventually you'll either figure out the parts of the site culture you enjoy and lean into those, or create your own place within it that others enjoy too. This just sounds like normal community experience stuff to me.
I think what really does the best job of explaining why this place is forbidding is the attempts to point out the reasons are met with flat out denials. it's like you've used this thread to reassure yourself that there are no disconcerting answers to your OP question
I think the feeling like an outsider thing is pretty normal for any group though. You can just keep posting and commenting and eventually you'll either figure out the parts of the site culture you enjoy and lean into those, or create your own place within it that others enjoy too. This just sounds like normal community experience stuff to me.
I think what really does the best job of explaining why this place is forbidding is the attempts to point out the reasons are met with flat out denials. it's like you've used this thread to reassure yourself that there are no disconcerting answers to your OP question