Stay out of the fray and stay focused on your goals. If people hear you gossip, they'll wonder whether you gossip about them when they are not around. Watch what you say, and who you say it to, especially when you haven't figured out the power structure. Thoughtless words may come back to haunt you. Be Non-Judgmental Critical words about people or processes are destructive.
Most communities operate within a framework of consensus.
If you think things can be improved, express your ideas about positive change in the appropriate forum. Express yourself in positive terms, noting the benefit of change, not how bad something is. This conveys the notion that you are interested in making things better for everyone. When you take the time to listen, it tells people you care about their concerns, are willing to learn and see things from another perspective. This is all part of living in a community, and you won't be accepted if you aren't a good team player.