I’ve been getting message lately indicating jealousy or intimidation solely based on the people I talk to and it’s pretty disconcerting, so I hear ya :/

See, I just don’t understand that. We’re all just people. “Upper tier”? There’s no such thing. Instead of squabbling after a group of people that seem cool because everyone says so, why not just enjoy the people around you that you like writing with, right? We’re all here to have fun and write, and that’s it. It makes it really hard for me to want to be around when it feels like that, y'know?  
I’m glad I’m not imagining it, though. I feel you.