PLEDGE to make the MFP boards a BETTER PLACE!

Froggeh
Froggeh Posts: 148
in Motivation and Support
This is a bit of a rant, but it is also a pledge to make MFP a better place. Please, if you have the time, read the following and post if you agree to help make the MFP community a safe, happy place for all its users.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to talk about something that I’ve noticed on the MFP forums. There seems to be a LOT of negativity woven in the comments that people make on other peoples posts. That bothers me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that peoples onions will differ, that we all come from different lives with different backgrounds and different values and morals, but is that really any reason to be a troll and bash other users? I’ve read several comments and have been told by several users that they don’t like going on the message boards anymore because people have been outright rude to them. I’ve also had several comments where people have been outright rude to me.

Why does this bug me so much? Because, isn’t MFP supposed to be a safe haven for all of us? We’re all here for the same reasons: To lose weight, be healthy, and feel good about ourselves. So, if you’re being bashed on the boards, it doesn’t help you feel any better. And if you’re the one doing the bashing, shame on you. How dare you act so cruel. I understand that in this technological age, it’s easy to forget that behind that screen name, you are talking to a REAL person with REAL feelings. Would you say these things to their face? I should hope not.

There are two examples I’d like to bring up.

One, when someone makes a post about why doing this or that is good or bad. For example, why we should or shouldn’t drink coffee, why we shouldn’t drink soda… for that matter, why ANY food or exercise is good or bad for us. So someone makes a post and you don’t agree with it, or maybe they don’t post their sources so you tell them they’re wrong, even call them stupid (yes, I’ve seen this). Pardon me, but you don’t have to agree with everything that everybody says, but that’s NO reason to call them names, tell them they’re wrong, or outright bash them. There’s a difference between RESPECTFULLY disagreeing, and just being a jerk.

Nobody posts something about trying to be healthier with bad intent. They post these things to try and encourage and motivate and support their fellow MFP friends in their weight loss journey. So who are you to shame them? Shame on you for trying to discourage someone who is trying to do something good for themselves and others. Don’t agree? That’s fine, but be respectful. It all comes back to a few key phrases we’ve all heard: If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all. And treat others as you would like to be treated.

The second example I’d like to bring up is when somebody posts a topic that has already been discussed before: the HCG diet, whether or not almonds and peanuts are good or bad for you…anything really. I see a lot of “We’ve already gone over this.” That may be true, but for someone who is NEW to MFP, they haven’t. And yes, they could search for that topic, but remember: people’s opinions change all the time. Just because someone may have commented on that topic a year ago doesn’t mean they’ll have a new opinion or new advise. If something’s been discussed before and you don’t want to talk about it again, you don’t have to. But don’t bash someone for bringing up or repeating a topic that may have been discussed earlier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So really, what this all boils down to is this. MFP is supposed to be a safe haven, where people of any age, race, religion, size and weight should feel free to come and find the support they’re looking for. Whether they want to lose 2 pounds or 200 pounds.

Don’t agree with a topic someone posted? Remember, they’re only trying to help. There’s a difference between RESPECTFULLY disagreeing and outright trolling a board. If you don’t have something nice to say, just don’t post. You don’t always have to voice your disagreements, especially if you're going to be rude.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I pledge to make MFP a safer place for everyone by NOT trolling boards, by NOT saying cruel or hurtful things to others, and by trying MY best to support and help my fellow MFP users.

Do you?

Replies

Categories