Basically what happened in your group is what happens in every single group. A micrography of the outside world.
I avoid groups for all reasons you mentioned plus some more. The formation of the "group" rather indicates a problem with those forming it.
ha! ha! That's hilarious! I tend to avoid groups for the main reason that after I'm in it, i begin to feel fake. I have an aversion to FAKERY! I can't look at myself in the mirror if I've been fake, so I try my best not to do it! Great answer.