Responding on the thread

karmasBFF

I have a question:

Well, let me start with background...

There are some members on here that do not reply or comment on people's success or status updates. That's not the issue. I've also noticed that the more I am on MFP, the more comments I get on my status. Now, I wouldnt call myself an attention junkie, but the comments definitely do help keep me motivated.

When I dont get "Great job!" Or "Yippee!", I definitely feel a change in my mood from when I do get motivating comments.

Because I've noticed the change in my mood, I try to comment on EVERYONE who shows up on my feed, even if I NEVER "see" them. You never know when not commenting or motivating them might give them that PUSH OFF the wagon instead of that PULL back ON.

What's say you? Do you only comment on those that comment on you?

CasperO

I have a couple people that I like to make sure I pay extra attention to. Folks I know have struggled, folks I know IRL. I mostly tend to respond to notes that folks have done something cool.

"Tom completed his diary" - <Yippee-doo,,, who didn't :yawn: >

"Tom burned 90,000 calories wrestling a wildebeest" - < Wow,,, Ok,,, "You rock Tom!!!" Wow again>

Make sense?

bjberry

I like responding to these areas, but only when I have an inkling what they are talking about.
If someone asks a question and no one has responded yet, I look up the answers on the internet and give them that info.
I hate seeing no responses to questions. Does that help?

Johnnyswife

It depends. I respond to everyone at first, but if they don't return the comments, than forget them, and on to people who comment back.
Sometimes I don't have enough time in the day to respond to everyone, so I try to change it up each day and get to talk to everyone on my friends list.

karmasBFF

I have a couple people that I like to make sure I pay extra attention to. Folks I know have struggled, folks I know IRL. I mostly tend to respond to notes that folks have done something cool.

"Tom completed his diary" - <Yippee-doo,,, who didn't :yawn: >

"Tom burned 90,000 calories wrestling a wildebeest" - < Wow,,, Ok,,, "You rock Tom!!!" Wow again>

Make sense?

A wildebeest, huh??? You are hilarious!!

ican♥and♥iwill

I try to comment on people's success and updates when I see them. I like getting comments and motivating tidbits as I'm sure everyone else does too. So I try to return the favor.

I don't comment on everyone's status, but I do make an effort to help people along the way.

SquidInTraining

I have a couple people that I like to make sure I pay extra attention to. Folks I know have struggled, folks I know IRL. I mostly tend to respond to notes that folks have done something cool.

"Tom completed his diary" - <Yippee-doo,,, who didn't :yawn: >

"Tom burned 90,000 calories wrestling a wildebeest" - < Wow,,, Ok,,, "You rock Tom!!!" Wow again>

Make sense?

With numbers like that, you find a wildebeest and I'll wrassle it!! lol - I agree with ya Casper - I think with all of the notifications it gets a little cluttered, anwyay, and it's easy to miss things - that being said, I do my best to interact and to encourage people that express that they're struggling and appreciate the same being done for me- it's a two way street though. I think that if people don't reach out and mention they're having difficulties, they can't expect others to be mind readers and 'sense' that there's something wrong.

sniffles

Heh - Casper you're crazy fun.

But I agree. I normally only comment on things that catch my eye. People log their calories every day - I'll only comment on that if I know someone has been struggling to meet calorie goals, otherwise logging isn't really anything special.

Exercise? That's pretty amazing sometimes but if someone is consistent after awhile what's the point of commenting on every single logged exercise?

Basically I think you (general you, not OP specific) need to learn to be self-motivated and while it's cool to be motivated by people's comments eventually there comes a point where your OWN comments should be enough to push you forward.

That said I do like getting the ocassional comment but I don't rely on them by any means!!! In fact I'm glad I don't get more comments... I'd probably become an internet junkie if I got too much attention. HAHAHAHA.

karmasBFF

Basically I think you (general you, not OP specific) need to learn to be self-motivated and while it's cool to be motivated by people's comments eventually there comes a point where your OWN comments should be enough to push you forward.

You know, this is sooo true! I've often thought about that...because I honestly hope that I dont HAVE to be on MFP for the rest of my life...I'm hoping that I learn things here that become 2nd nature. You're right, about being your OWN motivator because the opposite of that is having no motivation if someone is not motivating you.

RedneckWmn

I have a couple people that I like to make sure I pay extra attention to. Folks I know have struggled, folks I know IRL. I mostly tend to respond to notes that folks have done something cool.

"Tom completed his diary" - <Yippee-doo,,, who didn't :yawn: >

"Tom burned 90,000 calories wrestling a wildebeest" - < Wow,,, Ok,,, "You rock Tom!!!" Wow again>

Make sense?

A wildebeest! That made me giggle!

I try to comment on as many as I can. I don't live on MFP...well at work I do! If I know someone is struggling or had fallen off the wagon and is now exercising again I will make a point to comment or check on them.

HealthyChanges2010

I try to keep a managable number of friends for that reason, so I can get to know them more individually. So I can comment on the new folks that send me friend invites. Lots of new folks everyday that could use encouragement so I try to make a note and do that. But mine are genuine I don't say something merely for the sake of saying something.

We all like to feel the personal touch no matter how long we've been here, I'm more likely to drop a note on a person's newsfeed if they don't typically gets comments than if someones gets 30-40 a day on one issue from others. I don't get too many myself so I know how it feels when I do get one or two, it makes me feel visible!!! It makes me feel like I matter and that my presence here is known and ppl care. So I try and pay attention to how others are doing and pay it forward so to speak so others don't feel they are out there alone.

Interesting topic, hopefully one that makes ppl stop and think about all their motivating buds on the newsfeed. I think when you have over 50 or even 300 friends :ohwell: :laugh: or for me anyhow I couldn't possibly feel I could keep up and be very indivualized let alone deal with the mess of all the newsfeed data all over the place. Thus why for me, it is best to keep a smaller amount of buds so I can get to know them more:flowerforyou: and see how they are doing in life.:drinker:

Becca

aippolito1

When someone is doing over what I think is necessary, I'll comment...or if I check their diary when it says they were under and their foods for the day were VERY good and healthy, THEN I'll comment. Typically, when I see they were under, I think "Hmmm... what did they eat?" and I usually reply to statuses if it pertains to me or I feel I can help in some way.

karmasBFF

Interesting topic, hopefully one that makes ppl stop and think about all their motivating buds on the newsfeed.

Becca

This is the EXACT reason that I posted it...

Ive heard "around the way" people comment about only commenting on those that comment (make sense? LOL), and I just think when you have a great support network it makes it easier...and even the non-commenters can make use of that!

HealthyChanges2010

Interesting topic, hopefully one that makes ppl stop and think about all their motivating buds on the newsfeed.

Becca

This is the EXACT reason that I posted it...

Ive heard "around the way" people comment about only commenting on those that comment (make sense? LOL), and I just think when you have a great support network it makes it easier...and even the non-commenters can make use of that!

It's very unfortunate if that's the only way the newsfeed is being used. If someone comments on something I did or said, I do respond and I may comment on something they did or said. But if they had not said anything, it's very likely I would have commented anyway. lol
Becca

paulaswrld

Interesting thread.....and I like your perspective. I've been a bit of the opposite. Recenyly I find myself reading posts and seeing others's replies and I say WTF?!

One friend finishes under calorie goal every day and gets an average of 3 "good job"'s but the food diary is horrific. We're talking fast food, soda, enough crappy food to make me barf. So I pass that on by.
Another friend is "back on the bandwagon" about twice a week. It's exhausting to keep up and there's only so much motivation one can give before you, yourself , have to take responsibility and have the willpower to stay ON THE DAMN BANDWAGON.

I guess I should clean out my friends list, HAHA!

LilMissAngi

I try to motivate as much as possible.

HealthyChanges2010

Interesting thread.....and I like your perspective. I've been a bit of the opposite. Recenyly I find myself reading posts and seeing others's replies and I say WTF?!

One friend finishes under calorie goal every day and gets an average of 3 "good job"'s but the food diary is horrific. We're talking fast food, soda, enough crappy food to make me barf. So I pass that on by.
Another friend is "back on the bandwagon" about twice a week. It's exhausting to keep up and there's only so much motivation one can give before you, yourself , have to take responsibility and have the willpower to stay ON THE DAMN BANDWAGON.

I guess I should clean out my friends list, HAHA!

Nothing at all wrong with weeding through your friend list, I find if some ppl pull you down or are no longer around anymore, it might be time to clean house. I've done that a bit as have others on here (it's been shared a few times). I think friends work both ways, motivating and encouraging and if you don't feel they do then you can only do so much for them, they may not be ready and if they pull you down, it's likely a person simply might not be ready and also may not be helping your path.

You can though hide the friend by clicking on the box next to the picture so you won't see their feed. It will show if they are friends of other friends though. I've done that a bit, that way you can pop them back if you don't want to drop them completely.

I don't think of this as mean, more of a taking care of myself deal I mostly do it to declutter my newsfeed to folks that are working hard and towards their goals.
Becca

karmasBFF

Interesting thread.....and I like your perspective. I've been a bit of the opposite. Recenyly I find myself reading posts and seeing others's replies and I say WTF?!

One friend finishes under calorie goal every day and gets an average of 3 "good job"'s but the food diary is horrific. We're talking fast food, soda, enough crappy food to make me barf. So I pass that on by.
Another friend is "back on the bandwagon" about twice a week. It's exhausting to keep up and there's only so much motivation one can give before you, yourself , have to take responsibility and have the willpower to stay ON THE DAMN BANDWAGON.

I guess I should clean out my friends list, HAHA!

The diary situation you just mentioned is exactly why I dont post on the completed diary status. There are sooooooo many food diary cheaters (for those that remember the INFAMOUS thread a few months back!) and I dont have time to check eveyone's diary before I congratulate!

toots99

I try to comment often on the people who comment on mine, or if someone has done really well too. There's a few that frequently comment on mine (like you, Karma, and rjadams) so I almost always try to comment back to you guys.

karmasBFF

I try to comment often on the people who comment on mine, or if someone has done really well too. There's a few that frequently comment on mine (like you, Karma, and rjadams) so I almost always try to comment back to you guys.

thanks, toots! Its definitely noted!!! :flowerforyou:

DeathIsMyGift

To be completely honest (as I often am)...I would be doing the work outs, logging food, logging into MFP with or without comments from friends. I did it for two months on my iphone without once coming to the actual website and nothing has changed. I still eat right and exercise. So regardless of the generic "nice job", "awesome", [insert random praise here] that I get...I'd be doing it anyway. I only comment on things that truly impress me. I don't do the same ol' "good job!" that I often see on this site.