DISQUS

I think the problem is partially in what Jay says and partially in what the noobs say.

Noobs don't try hard enough because we're in a profession where people are inherently afraid to ask questions or say what they know (or don't know) and seem like an idiot. After all we're paid to maintain things that we may know absolutely nothing about, but eventually we become experts on. So as a Noob myself, I went forth and investigated the community, its practices, etc. and was able to insert myself and I feel like I've been accepted. But too be honest, if I hadn't investigated all of this in advance it would have been a completely different conference for me.

At the same time I think that the already "in people" need to remember how hard it is to be on the outside. Some are really great about extending themselves, while others aren't so great. And that's ok. By try to remember how much anxiety you have when you go into any situation and you know no one. Go up and say hi to random people, but also try to extend those conversations beyond a simple "where the hell did all the moon pies go?" Ask them where they are from, what they do, what's their sign. Essentially pick up a friend at code4lib.

Just my two cents.

Happy Belated Birthday Steve!