This isn't a new issue by any means, but here's a nice post by someone who's been contributing occasionally since 2004, about how daunting "wikibullying" can be for newbies and other editors who aren't well-versed in the procedures and processes.
http://travel-industry.uptake.com/blog/2009/09/04/bullypedia-a-wikipedian-wh...
Unfriendliness is built into the system, even when admins and others who enforce the rules are perfectly civil and try to be friendly at an individual level.
-Sage