Irony of adding MFP friends with 500+ "friends"

alaliberte
alaliberte Posts: 205
in Motivation and Support
I thought this was supposed to be a motivational site where you make genuine or semi-genuine connections with folks you feel would have the time and energy to motivate you. And, in turn, you motivate them.

I have an issue with some MFP'ers having 500+ contacts yet claim they will "motivate me." How on earth are people motivating this many people? I think they are using MFP to sell their products or services. I'm not sure that is why MFP was created, and I don't like it...and I don't care what the profile pic looks like!

OK. rant. over.
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Replies

  • JamieSK
    JamieSK Posts: 266 Member
    I'm with you!! Can you say delete?!! :happy:
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    I can easily see how someone who has been here a few years might rack up 500+ friends. It's not a big deal to me. Some people are able to use the mere act of friending as motivation and connection. Other people need more. (I need more, but I get that not everyone does.)
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Soooooo....don't add them? Am I missing something here :huh:
  • DP325i
    DP325i Posts: 677 Member
    Soooooo....don't add them? Am I missing something here :huh:

    Amen, I'm noticing a lot of negative threads on here.... MyFitnessRant?
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    So, uh, don't be their friend.



    That being said, I have several friends with extremely high friend counts, and they interact and support me just fine. I have to assume it's because I'm positive, interesting, and supportive back.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    I have a couple of friends who have a large amount of friends on their lists; most of them still find time to write individual responses on my statuses or give me a hello. Not all of them are 'selling things' or friend collectors or any of that stuff. Sometimes you just have a lot of good advice to give to a lot of willing listeners!
  • MissyJessy
    MissyJessy Posts: 1,279 Member
    i dont collect friends lol i delete those who have been innactive for 2 months or more without reason. and i delete those with eating disorders or suffer from severe depression (if they feel that this is a good place for attention those who genuinly want to change and are trying i dont delete)... so i keep a pretty tight knit group of friends so i can help to motivate them
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Usually the complaint is about "why do people demand a message with their friend request. they should just accept any old request... it's all about support. blah blah blah." So thanks for making this one a little different.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    people with over 500 friends are mfp-*kitten*
  • EatClean_WashUrNuts
    EatClean_WashUrNuts Posts: 1,590 Member
    anigif_enhanced-buzz-21567-1355944248-2.gif
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    don't worry, i didn't want to add you as a friend anyway.
  • hellraisedfire
    hellraisedfire Posts: 403 Member
    anigif_enhanced-buzz-21567-1355944248-2.gif

    bumping for later just cause I need to save this gif for when I'm not at work...
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    I have a 'friend' who is at the max of 1000 friends. Why? because she is awesome! Seeing her progress and reading her blogs are very inspirational for me, and she even has time to comment on my posts from time to time. Just seeing her profile pic is motivating to me. I have other friends that I interact with more on a daily basis, and that is a different type of support we give each other. I have friends who never comment, but perhaps seeing my posts and my progress is inspirational for them. We all get different types of supports to fill our needs.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Soooooo....don't add them? Am I missing something here :huh:

    Amen, I'm noticing a lot of negative threads on here.... MyFitnessRant?

    Just now? C'mon, this isn't anything new.
  • Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt
    Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt Posts: 226 Member
    I wouldn't automatically jump to that conclusion. I seldom say no to anyone who wants to friend me (unless they're obviously pro-ana or pushing a product), just because I need all the support I can get, and do my best to respond to everyone's achievements I see with genuine encouragement. Sure, maybe we don't connect to the level where we're coming over to each others houses or sharing our deep-dark secrets or anything, but it's encouraging all the same, as far as I'm concerned. Besides, I don't think it's right to tell other people what they should and shouldn't be motivated by through MFP. People use what tools work for them, and choose what methods work best in reaching the goals they've set for themselves - just because it's not what you personally would do, doesn't mean it's bad for them, or makes them any less motivated to have positive change happen.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Soooooo....don't add them? Am I missing something here :huh:

    This. Don't send them a friend request and decline if they send one to you. Who cares?
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Usually the complaint is about "why do people demand a message with their friend request. they should just accept any old request... it's all about support. blah blah blah." So thanks for making this one a little different.

    Hmmm...maybe these two themes are connected...somehow...I just can't quite put the pieces of the puzzle together...don't rush me...I'm still thinking about it...

    Meh, maybe I'll figure it out later.
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    What's the big deal if they want that many friends anyway?
    People get bothered by the strangest things...
  • Crankstr
    Crankstr Posts: 3,958 Member
    tomorrow's topic....who do they think they are? why didnt they accept my FR?
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    So, uh, don't be their friend.



    That being said, I have several friends with extremely high friend counts, and they interact and support me just fine. I have to assume it's because I'm positive, interesting, and supportive back.

    what she said :)
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    For the record, I found this post to be neither motivating nor supporting.
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    I wouldn't automatically jump to that conclusion. I seldom say no to anyone who wants to friend me (unless they're obviously pro-ana or pushing a product), just because I need all the support I can get, and do my best to respond to everyone's achievements I see with genuine encouragement. Sure, maybe we don't connect to the level where we're coming over to each others houses or sharing our deep-dark secrets or anything, but it's encouraging all the same, as far as I'm concerned. Besides, I don't think it's right to tell other people what they should and shouldn't be motivated by through MFP. People use what tools work for them, and choose what methods work best in reaching the goals they've set for themselves - just because it's not what you personally would do, doesn't mean it's bad for them, or makes them any less motivated to have positive change happen.

    :flowerforyou:
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    If you're trying to find genuine friends then yes, 500 is too many. If you're writing informative articles like some on here, then no, 500 is not too many. If you're advertising your training services then 10 is too many.
  • LeanerBeef
    LeanerBeef Posts: 1,432 Member
    I thought this was supposed to be a motivational site where you make genuine or semi-genuine connections with folks you feel would have the time and energy to motivate you. And, in turn, you motivate them.

    I have an issue with some MFP'ers having 500+ contacts yet claim they will "motivate me." How on earth are people motivating this many people? I think they are using MFP to sell their products or services. I'm not sure that is why MFP was created, and I don't like it...and I don't care what the profile pic looks like!

    OK. rant. over.

    Don't hate......Richard Simmons motivates millions and he's not even on MFP.

    Whatever floats your boat playa........
  • Emma_Problema
    Emma_Problema Posts: 422 Member
    i dont collect friends lol i delete those who have been innactive for 2 months or more without reason. and i delete those with eating disorders or suffer from severe depression (if they feel that this is a good place for attention those who genuinly want to change and are trying i dont delete)... so i keep a pretty tight knit group of friends so i can help to motivate them

    Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine and acceptance.
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    Really, what do you care how many friends someone else has on here? Why does it bother you that much that you have to post a rant about it? That's the question you should be asking yourself.

    Who cares if someone has 500+ friends? It's just as much a social site as it is a fitness site. If that bothers you, I'm sure you can track calories on your own without this site.

    Rant over.
  • ltl_leah
    ltl_leah Posts: 57 Member
    People with over 100 friends are pretty fkn awesome. I have less than 15, so I'm not that awesome.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    OP I thought the same way when I first started but some of my most motivational friends are the ones that have TONS of friends. I don't need them to look after me, I can take responsibility for getting myself to the gym or eating right because I'm not a child but I do keep an eye on what they do so hopefully I learn more from them and improve even more than I have.
  • loneworg
    loneworg Posts: 342 Member
    Soooooo....don't add them? Am I missing something here :huh:

    Amen, I'm noticing a lot of negative threads on here.... MyFitnessRant?
    the rants go on and on my friend
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    I thought this was supposed to be a motivational site where you make genuine or semi-genuine connections with folks you feel would have the time and energy to motivate you. And, in turn, you motivate them.

    I have an issue with some MFP'ers having 500+ contacts yet claim they will "motivate me." How on earth are people motivating this many people? I think they are using MFP to sell their products or services. I'm not sure that is why MFP was created, and I don't like it...and I don't care what the profile pic looks like!

    OK. rant. over.

    their status posts show up on your feed.

    most people add me because they want my statuses. 75% never bother motivating me. Im a twitter feed, not a real person. I dont think you should worry so much about people who have hundreds of friends because:

    1. they have jack to do with your fitness and weight loss goals
    2. they aren't injuring you
    3. they are probably just more tolerant than you
    4. no one will make you be their friend
    5. you probably have the same number of actual quality motivational friends as they do

    I can handle it because im a social media manager as a living and naturally quick and efficient with multitasking multiple sites at once with thousands of followers, so MFP is nothing. however, i do often feel very exposed when im having a bad day and just want to say something about it to vent and then suddenly 800 people on MFP remember that Im an idiot.

    Some people can handle it.

    It doesnt mean we are trying to pimp out some BS beach body nonsense.

    thanks for the judgment though :drinker:

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