Am I the only one??

Oh! Where do I find this picture!! lol:)))

Some really good points were made on this post, and I'm glad no one took this to the extreme. I do understand where you are coming from. I have seen some women on here whose main picture is a close up of their cleavage. It's kind of annoying, but I don't think I would ever really say anything about it. Some women are insecure, but common, we're on a site for people trying to lose weight. I would say at one point or another all of us have had insecurities about ourselves. So for the arugment that someone mentioned about people needing the attention, yeah. It probably is nice for someone to comment on how you look (and be positive about it). I have posted pictures in my bikini and pictures in a tank and underwear, however the underwear cover everything and are probably less revealing than the bikini. I'm not ashamed, and I'm not even ashamed of my fat pics! For me, I like posting my progress because sometimes I don't notice things. For instance, when I first posted bikini pictures someone mentioned that the back of my legs looked much smoother. I hadn't realized until someone said something. It's reassurance, not approval. Many people said, don't click on it. With that being said, a lot of people post on the forum, but if you're that afraid of seeing something, then don't go on the forum, or do it in the privacy of your own home. Some people take it too far, and I do agree with you on that. But maybe in the future (or maybe there already is) MFP will let you block certain people so when you are looking through the forums, their posts don't show up. Just because you and others don't feel comfortable showing off in a bikini, does not mean it's wrong for others to. Just as someone mentioned that they didn't like seeing all the tattoos, then don't look. Having tattoos, and a lot of them, when people tell me they don't like one, I say "Good thing it's not on your body then huh?".

I'm all about success stories and sharing progress pictures....but dang! Some of you post some realllyy revealing pictures! I almost feel embarrassed to look at them!

For example, I just clicked on one...guy was completely naked and had cut the picture off right before...well...you know what. And I mean RIGHT BEFORE....all I'm asking for is just a little more clothing!

Virtuosity is a thing of the past just like black and white TV and record albums. With technology being what it is, it just fosters more narcissism. People who are insecure when they don't feel good about their bodies will find ways to cover up but when they shed the weight they sometimes do a complete turnabout in their behavior. It's a form of pathos, really. I'm all for having a healthy self-esteem but a lot of the posts you speak of are from people who are searching for compliments. It's very sad and superficial. If they had true self-esteem then how they felt about their bodies wouldn't matter whether they were overweight or not. The photograph is merely a way of proving they are part of the "cool kids" clique.

Yep... you are right.

Having struggled with self esteem issues since I was twelve, I totally agree with you. For someone who has picked at flaws in herself for so long, there's nothing that feels better than having someone say "wow you look fantastic"... It is much better than being called fat, ugly, stupid, and my personal fav "sasquatch".

As for the cool kids clique... I'll never be a "cool kid" and am not trying to be... that's not why I put up my bikini pic. I do it because I worked hard, and am proud and want it to be noticed.

and... if I am honest... I'd love for one of those kids who called me fat and ugly to eat their words.

Thank you (sincerely) though for the sobering words... sometimes I need those too. :drinker: