Question about these message boards...

HappyAZWife wrote: »

I do not understand the bingo thing. Can someone explain that to me?

The topic that you posted is so frequently brought up that regulars created a game out of it. If new people used the search function and read up on things instead of posting new threads on topics that are covered on a daily basis, the boards wouldn't be filled with "ugliness" IMO. I know people are going to argue and defend what they believe in no matter what, but do we need 7 "is sugar evil???" threads a day to showcase this?

Serah87 wrote: »

Here is the Bingo card.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29838173/MFP_bingo.pdf

That card *can't* be up to date... there's no 'mean people thread' entry...

What a noob thinks when they ask a question on mfp...

You get out of this site what you put into it. If you approach weight loss in a common-sense, science based way, and are willing to challenge ideas and think outside of the box, you will be just fine. If you cling to miracle pills, snake oil, and drinking potions as your main talking points, you're going to get pushback. Weigh your food. Log it accurately. Pay attention to your body and don't accept every bit of hype you read.

I lurked on these boards for the better part of a year without ever contributing a thing. You have to acclimate to the environment and consider your audience. And, yeah, sometimes you just plain ol' have to have a thick skin. But that's life, there will be people anywhere that have the potential to offend you or just be straight up jerks.

Serah87 wrote: »

Here is the Bingo card.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29838173/MFP_bingo.pdf

The cool kids are more apt to let you in the club if your attempts are less obvious.

People can be rude sometimes, but I do get a lot out of the success stories. I know that not everyone's stories are the same, but I get inspiration from the thought that this is hard for everyone, and to see some people triumph is reassuring. I like to read the advice, but do a lot of my own research outside of here too - because I acknowledge that I do not know enough to weed out good advice versus bad. Sometimes differing perspectives are helpful to look at things in another way, and sometimes petty arguements breakout that are counterproductive. Like someone else said, it is what you make it, and it can be very helpful.

It's inevitable that people will get ugly. Fitness, like religion/politics/etc., people tend to get very passionate. And at times, they will insult each other. That is when it gets reported and I get to have my fun . But overall there is good information that flows on this board. In fact, I am continuously learning daily. A lot of the time, there are people who see disagreement or being corrected as an attack. The majority of long term members here are fairly direct (including me). So we will be seen as confrontational or attacking others. Heck, I can't tell you how many times I have been reported for being mean.

With that said, there tends to be a few hot topic threads that will inevitably turn into a huge dumpster fire, as noted below:

• Sugar threads
• Low carb
• Detox/cleanse
• Any MLM (beachbody products, advocare, plexus, etc..
• Are carbs good or bad
• Why do the mods suck

But for me, even though a lot of those threads have a lot of passionate people, they tend to have a lot of science in them. I will also say, if you go into the more focused areas (aka outside of general weight loss), they tend to have less controversial.

HappyAZWife wrote: »

I have gone through some of the threads and notice there is so much ugliness. Are all of the threads like this? I've only read a few and everyone has people being insulting, berating, and down right vicious.

Do "you" use the boards to ask questions, in general, or is it best to stay out of them?

I was hoping that things would be different here. I was hoping for a place that fostered a supportive, communicative environment, but it seems the same as everywhere else online. Sad. I really hope I just found a few nasty threads, not being the norm.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I think there are certain posters that are quite rude and that tends to mask all the lovely and helpful responses.

I've posted maybe three threads and never again! I posted when I was pregnant asking for advice and got loads of abuse (thank god I found the pregnancy forums which are fab) and after my baby and of course got insults. Clearly I was lying about what I'd eaten in pregnancy and and gained weight because I'd stuffed my face for 9 months, yet when I was pregnant I was terrible because I was continuing to eat at a deficit. You can't win.

I try to be supportive when I reply to threads.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

You've clearly never been on a parenting forum then?

Hell hath no fury like a sanctimommy looking for validation.

Lol. Parenting forums are awful!

wizzybeth wrote: »

I am very thankful for these forums. The threads on here that I've read off and on over the year have helped me understand many important things, including:

[*] There are no really "good" or really "bad" foods. There are foods that have more nutritional value for the amount of calories. But it's not "bad" to eat A brownie as long as I stay within my calorie deficit/goal. (note I said "a" brownie, not eat only brownies.)
[*] Calorie intake is the most important thing for weight loss.
[*] I don't need supplements, special food, or appetite suppressants to succeed.
[*]It is important to track your macros, not just calories, to make sure you are eating a healthy balanced diet.
[*]Our bodies are amazing when we feed them the nutrients they need.
[*]Don't make health claims using sources like Dr. Oz or Dr. Mercola.
[*]Freelee the Banana Girl is ...nuts.
[*]Avoid trigger topics such as: sugar, detox, cleanse, jumpstart, juicing, Herbalife, Plexus.

The whole pan is a brownie, right?

malibu927 wrote: »

wizzybeth wrote: »

I am very thankful for these forums. The threads on here that I've read off and on over the year have helped me understand many important things, including:

[*] There are no really "good" or really "bad" foods. There are foods that have more nutritional value for the amount of calories. But it's not "bad" to eat A brownie as long as I stay within my calorie deficit/goal. (note I said "a" brownie, not eat only brownies.)
[*] Calorie intake is the most important thing for weight loss.
[*] I don't need supplements, special food, or appetite suppressants to succeed.
[*]It is important to track your macros, not just calories, to make sure you are eating a healthy balanced diet.
[*]Our bodies are amazing when we feed them the nutrients they need.
[*]Don't make health claims using sources like Dr. Oz or Dr. Mercola.
[*]Freelee the Banana Girl is ...nuts.
[*]Avoid trigger topics such as: sugar, detox, cleanse, jumpstart, juicing, Herbalife, Plexus.

The whole pan is a brownie, right?

Only if you don't cut it Or Gamma/Nana/Noni made it for you (then, it REALLY doesn't count, cuz it's made with love, not calories).

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

You've clearly never been on a parenting forum then?

Hell hath no fury like a sanctimommy looking for validation.

Right but I was thinking about just . . . not breastfeeding.

And people who do that cosleeping thing are bad parents.

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williams969 wrote: »

malibu927 wrote: »

wizzybeth wrote: »

I am very thankful for these forums. The threads on here that I've read off and on over the year have helped me understand many important things, including:

[*] There are no really "good" or really "bad" foods. There are foods that have more nutritional value for the amount of calories. But it's not "bad" to eat A brownie as long as I stay within my calorie deficit/goal. (note I said "a" brownie, not eat only brownies.)
[*] Calorie intake is the most important thing for weight loss.
[*] I don't need supplements, special food, or appetite suppressants to succeed.
[*]It is important to track your macros, not just calories, to make sure you are eating a healthy balanced diet.
[*]Our bodies are amazing when we feed them the nutrients they need.
[*]Don't make health claims using sources like Dr. Oz or Dr. Mercola.
[*]Freelee the Banana Girl is ...nuts.
[*]Avoid trigger topics such as: sugar, detox, cleanse, jumpstart, juicing, Herbalife, Plexus.

The whole pan is a brownie, right?

Only if you don't cut it Or Gamma/Nana/Noni made it for you (then, it REALLY doesn't count, cuz it's made with love, not calories).

I'm still trying to master this skill. Sadly I fear I'll have to become a grandma first. They probably give out the secret at the super covert grandma initiation meeting.