Etiquette in Community Threads

Please post your honest opinion in answer to the following question.

What do you think are some rules of etiquette that should be abided by when posting on threads in the community?

Sat. Feb 23, 9:20pm

I would say . . .

Please stay on topic.

It is okay to disagree with another point of view but just tactfully state your opinion on the subject matter for others to ponder and accept or not.

Don't take it personal and don't make it personal.

Show respect for each other and differing opinions.

You do not have to prove anybody right or wrong.

Saturday, February 23, 2008, 9:37 PM

I think my biggest hope for us is to be mindful that we all have feelings and some of us are more fragile than others. Kindness can take a person a long way toward healing.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 12:11 AM

My biggest gripe when it comes to the ettiquet here is the name calling. It really bothers me that people are on here to get healthy and they or someone else is calling people fat @ss and fatties and telling them to stuff their faces. It is just disturbing because it's name calling and actions like that which have led some of us to be overweight. (i.e. childhood play ground tactics) So disappointing:(

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 3:09 AM

What makes the world such an interesting place is other peoples opinions and ideas. I recommend people read other peoples opinions and if you don't agree than move on, you don't need to comment, disagree, complain, etc. if it doesn't agree with your opinion. All the complaining about other peoples opinions really gets on my nerves.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 8:29 AM

I'm just always surprised by how nasty, negative, and generally unhelpful some of the comments are. I don't think we need to be Pollyanna's, but, really, if someone doesn't have something constructive, helpful, or insightful to add, it would be nice if they could move on.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 10:02 AM

Maybe just thinking twice before saying something and asking yourself if you're just saying something because you're feeling 'extra brave' due to the anonymity, and if you'd ever say that if your name was being "tagged" to it.

And not attacking people for asking things that aren't "directly" weight loss related. This is a health forum as much as a weight loss forum, and most importantly it's a network of people. Asking general questions is a great help from this forum.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 2:18 PM

Don't feed trolls. That would be my biggest pet peave. People who feed trolls.

Second pet peave is people who worry too much about "hurting feelings" instead of "truth telling." I mean, ignrance is bliss, but if someone is asking a question, let others give them an honest answer.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 3:58 PM

Give your input as it relates to the question.

Don't attack with written words the person who asked the question or others whose response you don't like or agree with. Other posters really want to know what you have to say and it doesn't have to be sugar coated but it shouldn't be mean either.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 4:06 PM

Not sure why I felt the need to follow up with this but for what it's worth....

That last post "Sunday, February 24, 2008, 4:06 PM" was just an idea on the subject of etiquette. It is not in response to any other posts in this thread.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 4:09 PM

Let people ask what they want to ask without the obnoxious reference to the Search function. Even if it's been asked 100x already. Some of us are happy to answer those questions over and over and over again.

It would be great if people could remember that 'honesty' and 'tact' and 'being respectful' are not mutually exclusive ideas. Not to mention it's often the best way to get that 'honesty' heard. It's amazing how quickly the the "I'm just being honest" remarks send otherwise decent threads off into the ditch.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 6:14 PM

Better yet, how about looking for your topic before posting the same question for the 10th time? It's not a difficult thing to do. Seriously, how many threads do we need on menstrual cycles, Alli, caffeine, elliptical machines, rewards for losing 5 lbs? The old responses are not archaic and probably provide all the info you're looking for.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 6:22 PM

So . . . 6:22 . . . are you saying . . .

Use the "search" function to find older topics with the information you are looking for first as a point of etiquette?

It might also be a good idea to post at the intro of your thread that you have already used the "search" function and did not find exactly what you were looking for so you are putting the question out there again.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 6:30 PM

If I want to ask a question and someone finds it annoying that I didn't search or go there first, why not just skip it? The person wants to ask the question. I guess I don't understand how it's poor etiquette to ask a repeat question. And if the boards were limited only to 'new' questions there would be about 5 threads dating back to 1992.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 7:07 PM

Yeah, 1992 was a great year for the internet... "inter-what??"
Keep working on your funny, you're not there yet.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 9:57 PM

I think the point is - there are only so many 'topics' when it comes to weight loss - there are going to be repeats. BTW - isn't this a thread about etiquette or, at the very least, being civil?

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 10:02 PM

9:57 - that would be hyperbole, not humor.

But back to the point of this thread...refraining from insults would be a start.

Sunday, February 24, 2008, 10:39 PM

To the "Sunday, February 24, 2008, 9:57 PM" poster

What exactly is your suggestion for a good etiquette rule? Forgive me but I didn't get what you were trying to convey as a suggestion.

Monday, February 25, 2008, 1:39 AM

to the Sunday, February 24, 2008, 8:29 AM poster

I think your post was nice, but I think everyone is entitled to their opinion whether we all agree or disagree. I like the idea of not taking personal shots when someone disagrees. I enjoy seeing the other side's opinion and valid points in the conversation. It helps broaden my horizons. Maybe there's information that I based my opinion on that wasn't accurate. I don't think people should have to move on just because they disagree. it's when they are rude and ungooth they should move on.

I would like to have a good conversation about topics, agreeing or disagreeing, while not taking personal shots or having shots taken at me. I think that's fair and civil.

Monday, February 25, 2008, 11:21 AM

Great input!

There is some really good input here. Any other ideas?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 9:03 PM

Respect the privacy fo others.

Don't name names in the community thread unless it is your own.

Saturday, March 15, 2008, 4:18 PM

I meant "Respect the privacy of others"

My sincere apologies for the typographical error!

Saturday, March 15, 2008, 4:31 PM

I couldn't agree with you more 4:18 post and 4:31 post!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008, 4:34 PM

If someone asks a question, I don't think people should get all bent out of shape if it has been asked before. If you don't want to read it, don't. But maybe others who have joined since the question was asked last might have new experiences or input.

Saturday, March 15, 2008, 5:54 PM

scan the thread first

I'd say, unless the thread is really long try to scan through the posts to see anything important before you put in your two cents, some people don't bother to enter the conversation, just blurt out their idea on the original question w/o actually reading the thread and that seems a bit rude to be honest.

Monday, March 17, 2008, 11:56 AM

Not to mention repetitive.

Monday, March 17, 2008, 12:16 PM

I like reading everyone's opinion. Please blurt out whatever you like to say.

Monday, March 17, 2008, 12:20 PM

dude, case in point!
Did you read what I said? Give your opinion, sure... but it would be nice if your opinion was informed by what other people were saying on the topic, hopefully your opinon would be at least somewhat modified by reading other people's posts, otherwise what is the point??...why do we even have visibility to other people's responses if people don't glance at them? Keep the blurting to a minimum.

Monday, March 17, 2008, 1:34 PM

I like blurting! Blurt away. I'd much rather read blurts than these constant, rude admonishments to use the dang search function. And I'd much rather read the same topic with only 6 responses than an addition to one that's 60 responses long.

Since there's no moderation or oversight on this board, it sounds like we should all get over whatever bugs us and IGNORE a thread or response that we find irksome. The nasty, snarky responses get really old.

Monday, March 17, 2008, 6:24 PM

Guess I should've followed my own advice and just ignored all of that :)

Monday, March 17, 2008, 6:25 PM

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