The decline of MFP

sunsnstatheart

I'm sorry OP, but do you see how posting this type of thread does no good and only contributes to the negativity?

If you find a thread or a post that you don't agree with and causes you to emotionally react, then step away and ignore it. Each of us has the ability to choose how we react to things in life and on MFP. It may be the only thing we really have true control over in life, so I strongly suggest taking advantage of that.

Good luck, and keep working on YOUR goals!

Lt_Starbuck

I think the threads like the OP referenced, where people post patently ridiculous health/diet problems to see who will take them seriously and to let their friends play around, multiplied when innuendo filled, smutty threads started to be modded out of existence. Back then the silliness could be easily spotted. Now posters have to be more more subtle, more posters won't get it, and more of them will get frustrated when they realise their own gullibility. (Plus there are the occasional, late night, real trolls, but they are few and far between.)

my response is not directed at you, but does have a little to do with the threads you mentioned.

All anyone has to do to recognize a troll thread is look at the file path of the thread. If it says Chit-Chat, Fun & Games and is a serious question... guess what.

if it says Fitness & Exercise or Diet & Nutrition, etc - those are legit. If it seems a bit ridiculous and it's in the chat chat forum... just keep walking and don't sweat it if this is not your preferred brand of humor.

You don't just lynch people, or request that the moderators ban them, just because they have a different sense of humor than you do.

You wouldn't do that in the real world, would you? punish someone for having a different funny bone. Punish someone for motivating someone else in a way you don't find motivating.

Would you?

People say everyone is mean and obnoxious because they can sit behind a computer screen in anonymity. The people who say that are no different.

MireyGal76

I think the threads like the OP referenced, where people post patently ridiculous health/diet problems to see who will take them seriously and to let their friends play around

Keywords: patently ridiculous health/diet problem; play around

Context: typically seen under "CHIT CHAT, FUN and GAMES"

Result: has many laughing their *kitten* off (which is a healthy activity), and the occasional Grumpy McGrumperson who missed the punch line

*egad* what is this world coming to.

Lt_Starbuck

I think the threads like the OP referenced, where people post patently ridiculous health/diet problems to see who will take them seriously and to let their friends play around

Yup. Pretty much. Post a problem only to use it to mock the responses.

and it's always posted in Chit-Chat, Fun & Games

.... so?

Oishii

I think the threads like the OP referenced, where people post patently ridiculous health/diet problems to see who will take them seriously and to let their friends play around

Yup. Pretty much. Post a problem only to use it to mock the responses.

And to enjoy posting silly responses. I agree it can be childish, but if you read the rest of my post, I hope you can see, how, historically, this began. There has to be some silliness somewhere and no one is directly picked on by those threads. It is a form of elitism, which can make me squirm at times, but I am surprised people find it so upsetting.

atamrowski

I think many here are missing the main point the OP was trying to make; you have to admit, there have been some irrational responses to threads people post, well-deserved or not. The whole purpose IS to be supportive and offer advice but there's that "gray area" on what constitutes constructive criticism to just pure being an *kitten*.

Now that being said, anything on the internet should be taken as a grain of salt. There will always be confrontational and trolling aspects in any forum. But on the other hand, there are those that offer valid support and advice. It's up to you to digest what you want and take away from it the important pieces of the information in front of you.

Posting something like this might ruffle some feathers just because of the aforementioned.

It'll be a never-ending debate that should just really not continue.

deanadimples

Said thread was under "legit" thread. Motivation & support.

myofibril

I think the threads like the OP referenced, where people post patently ridiculous health/diet problems to see who will take them seriously and to let their friends play around

Yup. Pretty much. Post a problem only to use it to mock the responses.

and it's always posted in Chit-Chat, Fun & Games

.... so?

If that were true it wouldn't be so much of an issue.

They do get posted on other parts of the site as well.

leolin6

free information or entertainment, which ever comes first

_SABOTEUR_

I think it is like any site that becomes popular. You get a mix of the good, the bad and the trolls.

vim_n_vigor

Decline? Guess what I saw on here 2 years ago? People trolling, people having fun, people getting accused of being mean. Guess what I see now? People trolling, people having fun and people getting accused of being mean. The problem now is that the people getting accused of being mean now usually aren't. They are offering helpful advice that someone doesn't want to hear and that is now a ban-worthy offense. Before the 'meanies' were calling people horrible names and truly being cruel. Ah yeah! The good ole days! If you don't really want advice, especially if it is different that what you think it should be, you shouldn't put that question out to the open internet and have hurt feelings from answers you don't like. And yeah, just like in real life, some of the people here are total jerks, even when they try to be supportive and helpful.

Lt_Starbuck

Said thread was under "legit" thread. Motivation & support.

That is the most subjective of all headings available for forum posting here. there are as many kinds of motivation as there are individuals on this planet. It cannot be ruled upon that only one kind of motivation is allowed.

Comforting, friendly, accepting, encouraging motivation makes me feel like a handicapped person being told they cannot compete in something they have always wanted to do.

STFU and get your fat lazy *** out of bed - works for me.

So if you came to a topic that i posted and saw some of the motivation Id receive, you would try to report everyone so quickly your head would spin. and not one of those mean, bullying responses would have been an attack, an insult or divisive.

because it IS motivating to me.

And no one on this website is allowed to tell me what is allowed to motivate me and what is not, because it offends THEM.

same with my humor and the way I speak to my friends.

Stop trying to impose ridiculous conservative standards on a global website for people of both genders and all ages, races and nationalities.

Quit trying to make this an American elementary school where you have the right to never be offended.

It's Earth, survival of the fittest. Thicken your skin or turn off your dial up and go workout so you'll feel amazing and actually be doing something productive other creating a post on the internet insulting an entire demographic of people whom you do NOT know.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I'm sorry OP, but do you see how posting this type of thread does no good and only contributes to the negativity?

If you find a thread or a post that you don't agree with and causes you to emotionally react, then step away and ignore it. Each of us has the ability to choose how we react to things in life and on MFP. It may be the only thing we really have true control over in life, so I strongly suggest taking advantage of that.

Good luck, and keep working on YOUR goals!

Oh, honey, you act as if each of us can design our own experiences and choose what we expose ourselves to who we want on our friends list and control the posts that we read in detail . . . I don't like your common sense at all . . .

19kat55

People should be better, but they're not. True in life, true anywhere. They can only get to you if you allow them to do so.

cmriverside

From the Guidelines:

6. No Intentionally Hurtful Topics

Topics which are started with the intent to belittle others, either directly named or through enough descriptive commentary to be possibly identified, are prohibited. This includes stalking a poster through the forums, posting about past events gone sour, divulging personal information, or spreading gossip or rumors. At our discretion, any post referring to the behavior or posts of other users of the site will be removed.

*edit to say, I'm talkin to you, OP.

1jobean

Everything goes back to the golden rule, treat people the way you want to be treated. I will say there have been some great people on this sight that have answered questions for me. Dont let a few bad apples ruin the whole bushel.

Timshel_

I am seriously getting a bikini when I hit my target weight.

And we will be eagerly awaiting the pictures.

U Sure?

Alex

Dear Posters,

I am locking this topic; I believe it has served its purpose. I appreciate deeply the feedback that has been provided by everyone in this topic. When the community does not allow for objective responses the topic will become as a whole, divisive. When polarization of this kind happens topics will almost always be locked. The original poster has received a significant amount of feedback and the conversations can continue via personal messaging or within a group.

Thank you for your understanding and help in keeping MFP a supportive, friendly community.

Respectfully,
Olivia
MFP Community Manager