steve v wrote:

The use of clique should not be considered a pejorative, and may refer just as much to a "web of trust" as to a "cabal." I dont make any judgements, but rather chose a term which is neutral, and which critics as well as core members of the "cabal" (you and I ;)) may find agreeable.

God forbid editors should talk to each other and get along and discover each other to be decent people in practice, rather than being eternally at loggerheads on discussion pages.

- d.