Given the climate in politics and how many members carry themselves, folks can be leery of those unfamiliar.
Myself, I'm not on any side, I'm all over the place, just tend to emphasize some things when or where it seems it's needed the most, or play Devil's Advocate when that could use a turn, or back those getting hit by a bunch.
Sadly respect has become a bit of a rarity lately, even though that serves no end...