I think the first, most natural human reaction when a list like yours is posted is to want to know, am I on the list? There's actually a lot of research that when groups form the first question that the members wrestle with is inclusion. Am I part of the group? Do I want to be a part of it? Do I want those other people to be a part of it?
This can happen overtly or covertly and while these inclusion questions generally get settled early on in a group's life, they frequently pop back up throughout the life of the group.
One place you can see this is in posts where people dismiss newbies. They are basically saying, you aren't included yet. Maybe you are allowed to be on the site, but you aren't part of the inner circle.
Another place this happened is was when a powerful and respected member of our tribe chose to leave. His statement that he no longer wanted to be included kicked up lots of psychological issues for our group who (a) still wanted to include him and (b) may have felt some internal conflict in which his departure caused us to question our own desire to maintain our inclusion in this group.
All of this has deep routes in evolution as well. Evolutionarily the greatest risk to survival was being cast out of a strong group. So we are predisposed to want to be included and to want to maintain strong boundaries of keeping strong members and making it difficult for weak members to join.
So your list in effect stated - here is a new measure of inclusion - an inner inner circle. Some of us were included. Some of us weren't. From an ego standpoint it likely kicked up (consciously for some, unconsciously for others) pride, hurt, insecurity, happiness. I love group dynamics and find it fascinating to watch those and other emotions play out - in myself and in others.
adam owes me a beer (or two for that game winner) compliments of Super Cookie Burger.
CP_Scouse drinking.
