when the welcome centre was first opened it was in response to a heavy influx of non-English speaking people who often didn't like taking no for an answer. We're not equipped to handle different languages and it is pretty much impossible to help someone improve their writing with a language barrier.
So the way the first encounters were handled at that point is way different than now. There are a lot of really nice, down to earth folks in the block. Drop back over and chat in General occasionally :)