I've never looked for another clan. Founding PKM was my start into the clan world. I understand the public appearance of a clan shouldn't be the reason for joining. Explanation: What's the bigger waste of time: joining a clan to try it out and then leaving once you decide you don't like it or staying in a clan as a half-assed, inactive member for some inane sense of 'honor'? I'd rather be labeled a 'clan hopper' than just another inactive face in the crowd. I got a feel of a clan's community by idling in their IRC. I didn't really know anyone, but I liked what their community looked like on the outside. So I joined. A month later, I found out that it really wasn't the clan for me and I couldn't dedicate enough time to it, and I left. I don't see anything wrong with that, nor do I consider it a 'waste of time'. For the time I was in that clan, I gave 100%, loved it heart and soul, and posted as often as I could to get closer to the community. I didn't waste their time, and they didn't waste mine. It was a fair exchange. At first your story first confused me, but I then realized we're both basing our arguments on two different motives for leaving. In my post, my definition of getting to know a clan was idling in their IRC, watching their videos, and reading their topics--essentially everything community. But what I didn't consider was the reason you left: its inner workings--events, rules, and structure. You left because of the clan's fundamentals, not its community, therefore a revised version of my post should be "My mindset in '05 was that most applicants would know a clan's community before joining." In your case, because you got to know the clan beforehand and gave your full effort, I have to agree that you did not waste any time at all.