&gt; <i>If you&#x27;re in an new area and many people in these groups already know each other, then you&#x27;re going to be responsible for making the effort to get to know them.</i><p>I never understood this mindset. From a sheer work perspective, it&#x27;s easier for ten people in an established group to make a small effort to the new person than it is for that new person to make the same (or even less) effort toward all ten. And from a psychological perspective, they&#x27;re already in an unfamiliar environment and likely without any friends or family. It&#x27;s much more humane for the established folks to reach out to the new people.