A lot of those older forums, some gone, some still around had a "core" group, or clique, if you will, and assumed anyone outside of that group as just worth having to keep their numbers up.
About 8 or 9 years ago I was researching and reading every thing I could find on NiB BCG's. I did a google search and a couple of conversations came up on forums. In order to get in on those conversations, I had to register. Of course, then they would give you the snotty (Newb) title under your avatar. I think it was ARF but I'm not sure. So I did the proper thing and did the little introduction thread. Then I posted in the conversation, and I got a bunch of gang rape comments like "don't worry you fkn newb" learn to shoot your rifle first, and it just got worse than that. I replied with something to the effect of "F-U" you bunch of short dicked, self important, no self esteem assholes, Did your boss at McDonalds give you a hard day?" Something like that, close but I don't really remember.

Bam! Got banned immediately. I don't know that if they knew being banned didn't hurt, or require on going treatment with a shrink, I just figured they were assholes and they were doing me a favor.

Turns out a friend of mine, who turned me on to them in the first place PM'd one of the mods, showed them what was done to me, and told them to read the introduction, and that I had slightly over 20 years in the military, and had probably shot a box or two of ammo. I got an email and was told I could come back. Never did, but years later (recently), I tried to log in and it worked. I stayed a while, but it was just a bunch of assholes arguing about whether the sun would come up, so I left. To this day I still don't consider myself an AR guru, especially with new tech coming down the pike all of the time. But in those years folks were pretty brutal to new people on their forums. I used to wonder why their sponsors bothered staying.