The decline of MFP

deanadimples

I've been around here since 2011. I loved the information, support and the friends I've made. You'd have the occasional argument about HCG or "starvation" mode but it seem things have decline more than "opinions".

I recently came cross a post from someone looking for support. After so many pages they finally fessed up they just posted to get a rise out of people. But not before making some laughs at the expense of those that genuinely tried to help this person and the advice they have based on their own struggles.

It just appauls me. This site is FULL of people dealing with security issues and struggles and the thought that a few who already have achieved their goals and have six pack and bikini pics are now using others for pure sport. Many people here come here because they DON'T know what's what or have answers. Some people stay motivated by helping others and some want to use that for their own ego boost. Congrats. You've got the abs or you bought the bikini. Doesn't mean you're an attractive person.

salcha76

I agree....I am shocked & disgusted at the spare time people have in their lives to be mean, bash others, criticize....if that energy could only be spent doing things productive.....I was brave enough to post something about the inappropriate cleavage pics on here a few weeks ago, 15 pages of posts later with boob shots....this isn't a singles dating site....

who knows...maybe a grown up mfp site is on there somewhere???

WRXymama

Could not agree more!

grelf

The internet plus anonymity equals rude, nasty people.

Sadly this is true everywhere. Just nod your head, and realize they're lashing out from their own insecurity and small-mindedness.

BigDnSW

The only reason I read your post was the title. The forum sites are becoming drama filled, harsh, know-it-all, cruel, Facebook-ish, maybe I should stop because now I am becoming what I despise. However, my friends here on MFP are the best!

Nice observation as I generally stay off the forums most of the time.

hayles333

I was thinking the exact same thing! I'm fairly new on here, and have been trying to understand all of the TDEE and starvation mode stuff...but I'm terrified to post a question in any of the forums, because I'm sure I'd get bashed and bullied. It's too bad that even adults have to deal with bullying.

GurleyGirl524

well said.

daj150

You just need to be selective about your posts...if it appears to be a topic that gets trolled a lot...don't post...or send a private message to the poster. All sites have forum collapses like this unless they have full time staff to monitor every post...and even then it's not full-proof. Forums are great, but there will forever be trolls. Do as in life as in forums...take everything with a grain of salt, but avoid too much sodium

KANGOOJUMPS

it is what it is,, you have to wean the bad ones out.

Cr01502

I do see some of that.

What I see more of is people sharing information and bouncing ideas off of each other.

These boards have taught me alot and I've also had quite a few laughs on them as well.

I choose to focus on the positive.

jpuderbaugh

I agree too. It seems the same people spend their entire days on here just obsessing and attacking people for their opinions. Is it any wonder bullying is so prevalent in schools, kids learn by watching their parents. Many people are ugly on the inside. And online they have the added protection of nobody knowing their real name and they suddenly have the guts to say stuff to people they probably wouldn't say to their faces.

tbodega

I don't think that it's so bad...then again I only deal with mature and grown people on here and tend to stay away from drama.

trainguy917

And someone will probably try to justify all the snarkiness as "just being honest" or "seeing through people's excuses" or some such crap. As a school teacher, I see this type of bully all the time. They may have gotten the six-pack or bikini body, but they're still fat inside and only feel good by tearing down other people. It's gotten to the point where you don't know whether to take any threads or replies on those thread seriously because they may be some code that the "in people" use to make fun of the people who are genuinely using this site for its intended purpose--fitness and support.

lissaloue

You just need to be selective about your posts...if it appears to be a topic that gets trolled a lot...don't post...or send a private message to the poster. All sites have forum collapses like this unless they have full time staff to monitor every post...and even then it's not full-proof. Forums are great, but there will forever be trolls. Do as in life as in forums...take everything with a grain of salt, but avoid too much sodium

Agreed!

jillybeanpuff

I was thinking the exact same thing! I'm fairly new on here, and have been trying to understand all of the TDEE and starvation mode stuff...but I'm terrified to post a question in any of the forums, because I'm sure I'd get bashed and bullied. It's too bad that even adults have to deal with bullying.

I've only been on here a month so I don't know everything, but I will try to answer your questions if you would like you can PM me

ahviendha

You just need to be selective about your posts...if it appears to be a topic that gets trolled a lot...don't post...or send a private message to the poster. All sites have forum collapses like this unless they have full time staff to monitor every post...and even then it's not full-proof. Forums are great, but there will forever be trolls. Do as in life as in forums...take everything with a grain of salt, but avoid too much sodium

winner winner chicken dinner!

also sometimes it's people flexing their confidence, we all come here with various issues, and some are able to work through them, and test out their skillz on here. i know i was a straight up door mat for most of my life, and once i became "hot" i realized, i don't always need to be sugar sweet nice. i can give advice without sucking up to someone. i like that.

lizlkbg

ANNNND...I'm pretty sure that those are NOT pictures of the actual "mean" posters, in some cases. They just use them to make it seem like they should be listened to because, look, abs.

I do think there are a lot of people on here with very little to live for except trolling...but by far the majority are good people getting and giving help.

So, yeah, I think of the trolls the way I think of panhandlers or cat-callers. Slightly annoying, wish they weren't there, but really no major effect on my day.

_DaniD_

Sounds like a personal problem.

BurtHuttz

I am shocked & disgusted at the spare time people have in their lives to be mean, bash others, criticize [ . . . ]I was brave enough to post something about the inappropriate cleavage pics on here a few weeks ago

EXCUSE ME? Are you serious?

cmriverside

10,000 threads a day, and you choose THAT one to write about? Thanks for adding to the drama.

FeatherBoBeather

:drinker: Cheers to this! Well said, OP.

I also completely agree with this guy:

The internet plus anonymity equals rude, nasty *kitten*.

Sadly this is true everywhere. Just nod your head, and realize they're lashing out from their own insecurity and small-mindedness.

AlongCame_Molly

dadof2boyz

Don't give up entirely. Don't let the few ruin it for the many. I try to stay away from the forums for the most part, and just look for good friends that are looking for support and willing to receive it. And support does not always come in the way of nice things to say. Sometimes it takes a good MFP pal to say it like it is and snap you out of it, sometimes. But 99% of the time it's about supporting each other. I need it. You need it. We all need it. And like I said, don't let the few ruin it for you either. Hang in there. MFP still has some awesome people on here like yourself looking for support not beratement. Cheers!

whierd

Yeah, it is really annoying to be confronted with demands of proof beyond anecdotal when making claims or with peoples attempts at humor via parody or sarcasm. If people want to follow fads, pseudoscience, or broscience, why should others care that the misinformation might lead an unsuspecting reader astray? After all, isnt it up to the individual to investigate the truth for themselves? Or if they injest HGC and permanently damage their metabolism, why should anyone else care? Do they really think that by making a mockery of such practices that they will become tabboo enough for people to realize how silly they are?!

pastryari

Congrats. You've got the abs or you bought the bikini. Doesn't mean you're an attractive person.

And this makes you better?

skinnyinnotime

Just ignore them!

I've had some stupid remarks made to me, who cares, I don't know these people or give 2 sh!ts if all they have to do in their lives is sit and think of some pathetic remark to make to strangers!!

captndalton

well... yeah... the same problem with Facebook, MySpace, Google+, every forum.... is people. MFP is awesome as a tracking tool for your calories... to leverage their database for nutrition information, for free, makes it awesome. To make it into a social networking site is to lump it in with the garbage that everybody else peddles on their other social networking pages. I don't think most people care about other people's abs or other people's bikinis... they want their own. So posts don't have to be so serious. MyFitnessPal is the calculator... not your pals that are trying to get fit. Therefore, it should be a no holds barred forum. If you ask a bad question, you should learn from it. If you ask a good question, don't be surprised if it goes unanswered. Know who you're dealing with and don't get your feelings hurt. In the end, strangers don't matter.

_Witsy_

Thank you! I feel the same way! I'm afraid to post on the community because of that. I mean, I posted a recipe the other day and several people made fun of it.

Really? Where?

Unfortunately you get all sorts of people on the internet.. MFP is no different than any other forum. Take the good, leave the bad, and stop adding to the drama by posting a thread about it. What help did THAT do? Your comment about abs and bikini wearers was no better than what you're complaining about.

taunto

I feel like this thread is similar to our elders saying "Back in my days".

Back in the days, people still stole
Back in the days, there were still rapists, pedophilers and wife beater
Back in the days, stuff was cheap but so were the wages

The only difference is that due to media, things are more open and exposed now vs. the hush kept secret before.

Similarly on MFP, all those things have always been around. However the population is much greater on MFP and so said things are surfacing easier. Its all good. Its part of the culture. The same "mean" people are still around. I know many of them. Many outdate you in terms of joining date.

In short, just ignore something you don't like. Or report it if it really REALLY bothers you (but don't report just because somebody disagrees with you. Report because it was truly cruel or nasty in nature)

SageGoddess320

Nobody likes a whiner.

laarae

Yes I got bashed about something I posted-I was under the impression that is was a serious question being asked-ha was I ever wrong "apparently you didn't see it as a joke question" gee really to me being married to the same person for 26+ years is serious. Now I stroll the posts-but am very-very selective about when and what I post or about what.
As if in this effed up world some people have to be mean/ugly to others that are giving it a shot to improve their personal health-we wonder where children learn to bully or bullies come from-I want to yell "Look in the damn mirror" Ok done ranting have a great day