Serious question for everyone

oops

I still think that it's ok to say something. I'd try to word it something like this:

"That's fabulous this is working so well for you. I've had a completely different experience so I hope that it continues to work for you. If it doesn't, I'd recommend not eating half your calories in Twinkies and instead consuming extra veggies, lean proteins and whole grains because ...."

But yeah, toes will likely be stepped on and feelings hurt because a lot of people can't stand to be wrong and don't want a random person on the internet to tell them that they are.

I dont care if someone disagrees with a statement Ive made that they feel to be wrong its when they send me private messages or just turn into rude jerks (which alot of people do) that I get mad

I think it's absolutely fine to correct erroneous information or state a difference of opinion with a poster's statements if you want to. The point of a public forum such as this one is to start a dialog about a given topic. If someone makes statements on a public forum, whether they invite responses or not, they should expect others to respond, and they should expect that sometimes those responses will present contrary opinions/facts. I can’t see any reason to let invalid information stand unchallenged, particularly in a forum where that info might lead someone else to make poor choices that affect their dietary/fitness goals.

That being said, no matter how tactfully you attempt to be in the phrasing of your response, there will be people who take offense. So I’d say that as long as your response is reasoned and respectful, you’re fine; there’s no need to qualify your statements or kowtow to their position. Just courteously make your point and stand by it.

I'm not saying we need to police each message and point out each and every bit of flawed thinking, but if you see something you disagree with and feel even the smallest compulsion to answer, go for it. Prompting open discussion is precisely the point of forums like these.

Haha yeah I got that!! To be honest, I think it's more unethical to let other people read an unchallenged statement and accept it as truth.

The wording of this statement is brilliant, and I totally agree. Even after 4 tiny weeks here on MFP, I cringe sometimes at the statements and suggestions that are made by people on the boards regarding nutrition and exercise, and when someone has the guts to do the right thing and get the correct information up there and visible somehow within these threads, I applaud them and continue to learn.

It has been an very emotional journey for me, these past 4 weeks on MFP. Every day, and I mean EVERY DAY, I learn something new about nutrition and exercise, and alot of the info has come from people who are passionate about their knowledge and have taken the time to really explain the truth to someone who is "eating twinkies" and it is that persuasive, passionate writing that has made things click for me!

Honestly - It really makes me incredibly sad to think of the years I have wasted doing things the wrong way. Making myself sick, gaining and losing the same 50 lbs so many times, I care not to count how many times I've taken on the painful uphill battle with some "new" corrupt way of thinking.

So please - keep the right information out there. Even if its just a quick post (in response to the Twinkie post, for example) that provides a link to another discussion where someone else has been the "bad guy" and taken up the debate at hand. There are people like me who desperately need and want to learn the facts.

Ok, as we can tell by my post count - I'm a responder. :bigsmile:

In a public forum, regardless of the person's intent (whether they're asking a question or not), I think it's fair game. Yes, there have been a couple of times when someone has gotten their feathers ruffled because I corrected them.

One in particular: Someone asked a question about subject A. There are different strategies in approaching this, and I voiced my opinion, based on the research I'd done on the topic (no, it wasn't exercise cals ). Someone else came along and said that they had done "research" on it, and suggested there was a different strategy. They didn't say USE it, but offered it as an alternative. Abundant info contradicts that strategy, and it CAN be dangerous - but it is an accepted strategy for a lot of people. I felt the need to disagree. I did it respectfully (I'm pretty careful about tone on the boards), and even stated I wasn't trying to persecute the person - but the person still got mad and defensive. It was unfortunate, and I dislike that the situation arose. But I would have felt far worse if the OP (or others) had taken the suspect info and not had positive results - not knowing about the potential drawbacks.

On the other side of the coin, I got peeved once that someone corrected me - momentarily. I felt stupid, and a bit embarrassed. But it made me look closely at what I was saying, re-research it, and figure out whether I was wrong or not. (I was.) So I learned something.

There will always be the chance that the person will get defensive or feel persecuted. Some people just don't take what they perceive as criticism well. But I think most people would rather be corrected, or get better info. I think the small percentage who will take offense is an acceptable sacrifice to ensure that the best possible info is out there for everyone.

IMHO. Please don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean to be rude. :flowerforyou: