Dominic, I will share something I just learned, having been here just
slightly longer than you. (But I have been working very hard to get the lay of the land, because I want to know if this is a benign place, or not. I am learning!)
You should know that you are not allowed to use the "like" and "dislike" buttons. Only regular (not newcomer) members can use those buttons. They are the (swarm of) judges, and you, the newcomer, are here
to be judged. You
heretic. :heretic:In my first good insider look here at SSPX and SSPX-related groups
(I thought it was "Trad Cath" but now inside, I think unless I am in some ways related to SSPX I am in fact a disdained outsider to a chunk of folk here), I am beginning to get the idea that this is an insiders group that probably judges each other
quite a bit. Members of this group of elites, who are
so much better than us, work to keep each other toeing the line. That certainly works to feel a bit like being constantly battered to many for these elitists, who must work tirelessly to adjust and align their life so they can avoid being judged for doing it wrong. This is all very tiring. But a newbie showing up here is a delightful opportunity to turn it around and enjoy being the smug batterer, rather than the battered! That explains the "sharkbait" feeling I got right off.

If you aren't already an insider, then you just aren't
good enough. And you being "ignorant you" means that you have
nothing to offer. Just a
lot to criticize (and dislike).
(There are nice folks here too, and I am thankful. I would like to know these like-minded, sincere Catholics better, but I am beginning to doubt I can handle exposing myself to the very real element of ugliness and unkindness, whatever size it is, that is deeply rooted and at home here. And I just cannot understand how exposure to such a beautiful Mass would not transform people to be more Christlike. How?)