As many things, it’s complicated. I am not sure you can ever escape this dynamic, because it’s not absolute that X is a clique and Y is a community. It is more how it feels to people individually and so it’s situational and differentiated.

Insiders often never see nor hear or may even be aware of Outsiders; Outsiders only see and hear and are totally aware of Insiders.

And intentions, as you point out, underlie it all, but also are not codified or even really spoken of. Awareness of the dynamic is the small but key first step, but that ongoing interrogation needs to happen. We do it often but are not likely near perfect in VC, but just looking at the participation in events the last few months seems to show progress; that oeb16 one as a North American I was in the minority.

There is some amount of initiative on the individual as well to join something, again a huge obstacle when you feel like an outsider.

Keep on keep trying. Am rummaging for some experiences to offer