People who post their fitness stuff on FB, etc, have mental issues

DetroitDarin
DetroitDarin Posts: 955 Member
edited November 13 in Chit-Chat
SO says

http://www.businessinsider.de/people-who-post-their-fitness-routine-to-facebook-have-psychological-problems-study-claims-2016-8?IR=T
People who are always keen on documenting their gym activities (or every time you simply go for a good, old-fashioned run) tend to be narcissists. According to the researchers, the primary goal is to boast about how much time you invest in your looks. Apparently these status updates also earn more Facebook likes than other kinds of posts.

"Narcissists more frequently updated about their achievements, which was motivated by their need for attention and validation from the Facebook community", the study concludes. The high number of likes doesn't necessarily mean everyone loves seeing those bragging posts, though. Dr Tara Marshal goes on saying, that "although our results suggest that narcissists' bragging pays off because they receive more likes and comments to their status updates, it could be that their Facebook friends politely offer support while secretly disliking such egotistical displays."


I get it. And I believe it - but it's more than just fitness stuff. Transcends fitness and covers their political crap, their family stuff etc, and what not. eh?


Thoughts?
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Replies

  • DetroitDarin
    DetroitDarin Posts: 955 Member
    people want popularity because if other people like them, they are worth-liking. :-/

    I've not watched GoT - is it good?
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    DetroitDarin wrote: »
    people want popularity because if other people like them, they are worth-liking. :-/

    I've not watched GoT - is it good?

    It's excellent! The books are great, too - just very, very long.

    I confess that while I was losing weight I posted progress photos on Facebook. These photos actually inspired a bunch of women I know to lose weight and adopt healthier lifestyles. But I also confess that one of the reasons I did it was because I was getting tired of seeing everyone's bragging posts and needed to put something up there to show people that I was doing something positive, too. After years seeing everyone post about their beautiful families, awesome boyfriends, epic tropical vacations and 'checking in' at all these cool places was starting to really get on my nerves.
  • rebel_26
    rebel_26 Posts: 1,826 Member
    I'm too lazy to log my workouts...guess I'm only 50% narcissist. I also find it funny how shows like criminal minds made the word Narcissist a household word.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    I'd say I'm slightly narcissistic...I do value positive feedback, and tend to talk about my workouts and nutrition ad nauseum (at home). But I hate FB, ditched it over a year ago and never looked back (only to get drawn into the dark world of MFP soon after!)...so maybe I'm only 60% narcissist. Dunno, I'll post this on my wall and see if all my gorgeous, fit MFP friends agree with me( they better! )
  • tashantx
    tashantx Posts: 272 Member
    JustMissTracy wrote: »
    I'd say I'm slightly narcissistic...I do value positive feedback, and tend to talk about my workouts and nutrition ad nauseum (at home). But I hate FB, ditched it over a year ago and never looked back (only to get drawn into the dark world of MFP soon after!)...so maybe I'm only 60% narcissist. Dunno, I'll post this on my wall and see if all my gorgeous, fit MFP friends agree with me( they better! )

    I think I love you.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,338 Member
    tashantx wrote: »
    For me personally it is mostly to inspire other people but I'm not going to lie and say I don't enjoy the positive attention . Narcissist is a bit much I do agree attention wh0re is a much better term. I post a lot of pics of myself because I felt disgusting for a really long time and I am Uber proud of my accomplishments. It's gonna get old fast for most people , then I'll just start complaining about all my "haters" and make endless posts about that. Hahaha

    You must make those haters so jealous, you are gorgeous!
  • moonchildisme
    moonchildisme Posts: 83 Member
    I do not post anything about working out on FB. Hell it took me months to post a selfie after I lose over 100 lbs. That's what this site is for....I guess I just like keeping them separate.
  • tashantx
    tashantx Posts: 272 Member
    JustMissTracy wrote: »
    tashantx wrote: »
    For me personally it is mostly to inspire other people but I'm not going to lie and say I don't enjoy the positive attention . Narcissist is a bit much I do agree attention wh0re is a much better term. I post a lot of pics of myself because I felt disgusting for a really long time and I am Uber proud of my accomplishments. It's gonna get old fast for most people , then I'll just start complaining about all my "haters" and make endless posts about that. Hahaha

    You must make those haters so jealous, you are gorgeous!

    Careful you are feeding my narcissism! Lol
  • synchkat
    synchkat Posts: 37,368 Member
    I do think some people post it just to have the accountability but I am sure many post just for the validation. I've commented on a couple of friends posts regarding their runs asking stuff about them because I kind of want to run and I know they do races so I'd be interested in doing some with them but they never really reply so clearly they just want people to say OMG you're awesome.

    FB can be annoying. I just use it for skating recruiting and posting silly things my boy does and of course pictures of adventures. Gotta make people believe I'm an awesome mom instead of sitting on my butt like I am now
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    edited August 2016
    I don't post a lot on FB now, but I used to post more and one reason was when I was getting back in to shape after having a baby. I posted about two things mainly, the cute baby, and kicking *kitten* in the gym. Those were pretty much the center of my life at that time, and isn't that what FB is for? Sharing parts of your life with your friends? After I got to my goal weight and started loosening the slack, I stopped posting as much. Then I started hearing about how others never wanted to see work out posts from their friends because that just means they're bragging. Also I learned people with out children don't want to see posts about people's children. So now I rarely post anything because apparently two of my main life interests are annoying to others.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,974 Member
    Best thing about FB....................I get to jab jokes at family and friends. Oh and watch how everyone is politically involved in their candidate when they really have no idea that neither of them are qualified to run a household, much less a country.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
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  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    My facebook posts are often hilarious and people tend to think I am entertaining. I don't post bragging updates but rather my take on world issues and general things with a touch of humour.

    But I hate people who write novels about how awesome their spouse is. That's the first sign of insecurity if you write 3 paragraphs about how much your "baby" means to you and you throw it out there before 300 people.

    OMG @Cutaway_Collar I couldn't agree more. Especially when the post ends with "share this if you love your husband!" And now most of Facebook consists of people asking you to copy & paste things into your status. Like, why? Just WHY???!!

    see, now I'm getting mad :/
  • synchkat
    synchkat Posts: 37,368 Member
    AskTracyAnnK28 wrote: »
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    My facebook posts are often hilarious and people tend to think I am entertaining. I don't post bragging updates but rather my take on world issues and general things with a touch of humour.

    But I hate people who write novels about how awesome their spouse is. That's the first sign of insecurity if you write 3 paragraphs about how much your "baby" means to you and you throw it out there before 300 people.

    OMG @Cutaway_Collar I couldn't agree more. Especially when the post ends with "share this if you love your husband!" And now most of Facebook consists of people asking you to copy & paste things into your status. Like, why? Just WHY???!!

    see, now I'm getting mad :/

    omg those annoy me too. Share this if you support people with MS or Cancer. Um no I don't need to do that I support my loved ones my way

    ok I'm getting mad too
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I use an app for cycling that I allow to post to FB when I've completed a ride...all it says is that I completed a ride and it was X long and completed in Y amount of time...I used to be fat and lazy and sedentary and I know that my ride posts have inspired other friends and family to get more active.

    Personally, I'm not one of those people that just has a bunch of random FB friends...pretty much everyone on my FB are actual friends and family and it's one of the ways that we share the goings on in our lives...I have a lot of family and friends living abroad and in other states and they love the fact that I regularly post pictures of my kids, etc...it's an easy way to stay in touch and share what's going on.

    The political stuff is annoying and I don't really know anyone on FB who is posting a bunch of personal issues.
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    edited August 2016
    I stopped using Facebook when I graduated college because it had evolved from being a way for me to stay in touch with my friends to a platform where people try to sculpt their lives to look as perfect as possible. Because everyone's friends' lists had started including coworkers, last week's hookup, and that person they met at Coachella 3 years ago and never talked to again, no one was "real" anymore.

    Still, I don't think it's always narcissistic to enjoy being praised, and social media makes it really easy to get compliments. And I gotta admit, I started posting on MFP a lot more when the Like/Awesome buttons appeared. Internet validation can really make you feel better some days.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    mskessler89 wrote: »
    I stopped using Facebook when I graduated college because it had evolved from being a way for me to stay in touch with my friends to a platform where people try to sculpt their lives to look as perfect as possible. [/b]Because everyone's friends' lists had started including coworkers, last week's hookup, and that person they met at Coachella 3 years ago and never talked to again, no one was "real" anymore.

    Still, I don't think it's always narcissistic to enjoy being praised, and social media makes it really easy to get compliments. And I gotta admit, I started posting on MFP a lot more when the Like/Awesome buttons appeared. Internet validation can really make you feel better some days.

    OMG this, too!! I started using Facebook when I moved back to my hometown in hopes of re-connecting with old friends, etc. Now I find it tedious because people are trying to convince themselves and the world that their lives are just so perfect

    @Cutaway_Collar - I know a man who's Facebook was loaded with pics of "date night with the wife" and all the while he's was having a long-term affair with someone.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    It's almost like people think that their life isn't real if it's not posted on Facebook.
  • rebel_26
    rebel_26 Posts: 1,826 Member
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    My facebook posts are often hilarious and people tend to think I am entertaining. I don't post bragging updates but rather my take on world issues and general things with a touch of humour.

    Having watched you here on this site I can absolutely see that being true. You are also entertaining here.
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
    AskTracyAnnK28 wrote: »
    mskessler89 wrote: »
    I stopped using Facebook when I graduated college because it had evolved from being a way for me to stay in touch with my friends to a platform where people try to sculpt their lives to look as perfect as possible. [/b]Because everyone's friends' lists had started including coworkers, last week's hookup, and that person they met at Coachella 3 years ago and never talked to again, no one was "real" anymore.

    Still, I don't think it's always narcissistic to enjoy being praised, and social media makes it really easy to get compliments. And I gotta admit, I started posting on MFP a lot more when the Like/Awesome buttons appeared. Internet validation can really make you feel better some days.

    OMG this, too!! I started using Facebook when I moved back to my hometown in hopes of re-connecting with old friends, etc. Now I find it tedious because people are trying to convince themselves and the world that their lives are just so perfect

    @Cutaway_Collar - I know a man who's Facebook was loaded with pics of "date night with the wife" and all the while he's was having a long-term affair with someone.
    That's terrific. It only proves the theory then. I also like how kessler said they are scripting their life. Completely agreed. They only say positive things. But I actually have to say some couples also fight publicly which provides good entertainment.

    The real drawback of all this is it creates peer pressure. My wife has asked me a few times why my engagement was so low key compared to that coworker's. I showed up at her apartment with a ring at around 9:30pm. No cameras flashed, no videos, no fanfare. That guy... He assembled friends and family in a restaurant and before 50 people and other strangers... He pops the question and video went up on FB within an hour. My wife watched it a few times and got jealous.

    My wife didn't make a big deal but she has fretted in the past that I didn't do enough. I snapped her out of the thought. But the very fact that such guys cause issues for others is unfortunate. Some mothers make other mothers feel lacking. Rich guys make poor guys feel like *kitten* when they post bills on the date night. Yes, some guys do that. It's the state of the world and the only comfort we can feel is that the braggers actually feel "hollow" inside and they know it and they also know and fear others may know it too.

    UGH Facebook engagements. T and I got engaged while we were laying on the couch talking about the future. He asked me to marry him, I said yes. There was no ring, no hidden photographer, no group of people waiting to celebrate with us. Logically, I realize this was perfect - two adults making a decision about wanting to share their lives together without any emotional pressure from other people. But when people started asking me how he asked and I couldn't give them some big story or direct them to Facebook for the photos, it felt crappy. I know some brides-to-be on my wedding forum felt like they were disappointments or failures for not being able to afford a big, elaborate wedding. I think Facebook has made all the engagement/wedding competition and expectations waaaaaay worse.
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