This rant has been building for quite a while in my head. There are things happening on this forum that are driving me insane. First though, I want to point out that this is about no person in particular. If you think I'm talking about you, I probably am but not intentionally, it just means you've been doing one of these things.

1. READ PEOPLE - I have read quite a few threads lately where people are arguing with the OP or the OPs supporters and even name calling for no reason other than they can. They want attention and interrupt intelligent conversations with their belligerent views that are usually entirely irrelevant to the original topic. I firmly believe you can say anything you want, it’s how you say it that matters. Arguing with someone for the sake of argument and then calling out that it’s a free country and you can say what you want only emphasizes the fact that you have no business other than seeking attention. If your point were valid, you wouldn’t need to defend it with “because I can”. If you truly want to argue against the OP’s view point, use intelligent arguments and refrain from taking anything personally. No one is here to bully anyone else and jumping to conclusions only serves to interrupt what otherwise might be useful information.

2. GRAMMAR!!!!!! Seriously! Most people on here are pretty good about using complete sentences and proper punctuation, but there are some that make me cringe like this……

• Can yall tell me what kind of Protein u drink cause my dr said I need protein and I want to lose as much as possible and Ive been slow so far so I think I need more protein and if u could tell me that would be great cause there telling me to get it from Walmart but I dunno what flavor I want

BTW – that was entirely made up as an example and not quoted in any way.

OMG SERIOUSLY!!! I don’t even respond to post like this because I would immediately start venting about the way it’s written.GO BACK TO SCHOOL if you think this is appropriate!I do not claim to be perfect.I am sure I have made grammar mistakes and spelling mistakes but at least I try.I proofread before I post and I make an effort to make sure my posts are readable.If your posting is similar to this, don’t expect a response from me.

3. Not doing your research – This forum has been open for years! The question you have has probably been asked a thousand times. I’m sure I even asked some of the same questions in the beginning. But, it seems like more and more lately we (I see the same group of people responding regularly) are answering the same questions over and over. What kind of protein, how much, exercise, etc. If you would just do a search for the topic you want to discuss before posting a new thread, we could keep everyone active and probably spread some great information. Instead we have 15 different people asking if they should weigh every day and we have the same people answering all 15. I do agree some threads are so old that none of the members are active anymore. However, many of the main topics are being discussed by current members and don’t need to be reiterated in a new post just because you want to be the one asking the question. If you find the thread that has your topic, just follow it and you’ll be able to access for future reference. Or unfollow it if you got what you need! Also, if you do ask a new question, don’t be vague. Don’t ask how much you should weigh if you haven’t provided your gender, height, lifestyle, etc. Google is good at vague, try that if you have no other information.

There’s my rant. Just typical crap that I’m sure every forum suffers through. Thanks for reading.

Edited to correct numbers

Edited April 1, 201511 yr by beachgurl84

I participate in online forums a lot and am used to communities where other members are also experienced online community members.

This joint, on the other hand, attracts a lot of people who appear to have never been in an online community before. They are not only uncomfortable being online with others who aren't from their own cultures or backgrounds, but seem shocked that there are others online who share their need for WLS while having little else in common with them.

So then this culture battle develops when the newbie side has a reaction to others' language or sense of humor or lifestyle or "morality" or "ethics." And threads that started out interestingly enough turn into "You're not polite enough or sincere enough or humble enough or kind enough or empathetic enough or succinct enough or too straightforward or too rude or ... blah, blah, blah."

I'll remind anyone who cares that your style isn't everyone's style. And to those who just want strokes for being lazy, I suggest you go hire someone who'll tell you what you pay them to say. And if you want to pay me to stroke your idiocy, please PM me and I'll tell you where to send my check.

(And now there will be the obligatory posts about how this is a *support* group and we're not supposed to offer any authentic feedback.)

And as for the grammar-thing, I think most people are just in a hurry, and can't be bothered with grammar. So are we to be proper in all areas before we get a response, let alone a kind one? Education, or lack thereof, plays a large role here, as well. Not to mention the fact that this particular site tends to omit letters, punctuation, and sometimes complete WORDS. I can forgive that, who am I to judge? And if I am going to judge something so small, I fear for myself in all the REALLY bad things I do, say and think..... Yes, I deliberately did not put a period there, for emphasis' sake! Onto important things, now, like cat litter-box cleaning..........

I guess I also need to contradict myself.....I have on multiple occasions answered questions written in the form of my example. Only when I can actually tell what is being asked. Most of the posts I'm referring to make it difficult to actually understand what is being asked. That's the point of grammar right? To make it so we can communicate effectively with each other. So to the reference of denying people information based on their grammar, yes according to my original post that would be correct. In reality it is not the case. Nor have I ever called anyone out in a post about the way things were written unless it involved the tone it was written in instead of the form.

I don't believe in coddling people and their ignorance because they never had an opportunity to learn. The world is at their fingertips and if they don't know they're doing something wrong, they can't fix it. Encouraging it to continue because "they don't know better" does more harm than good.

Well then, it seems to me that we will see a lot of you correcting a lot of people on this forum. Otherwise, it would just be coddling them, wouldn't it?

I really must thank you for going out of your way to return to this website, go out of the way of the main topics, all the way to rants and raves, to pick up my vent (clearly stated it was a vent) that included multiple topics, just to enlighten us that this is the reason you don't come around anymore. Perhaps you should read my #1 topic first.

Oh I read your first response, remember I'm the one who pointed out the structural mistakes you made while bitching about others?

Now let me help you with something else since you don't like people being ignorant: I didn't have to come back here and go out of the way of the main topics and seek out rants to pick up your quaint complaining. I came to the site and saw your post under "recent topics" and clicked on it.

Now you aren't as ignorant anymore about how people sometimes find posts on this site. I'm sure you're glad I'm helping you and you'll see it as such since your only wish is to help others with their own inadequacies. You're welcome in advance.

Edited April 1, 201511 yr by une nouvelle vie

I guess I also need to contradict myself.....I have on multiple occasions answered questions written in the form of my example. Only when I can actually tell what is being asked. Most of the posts I'm referring to make it difficult to actually understand what is being asked. That's the point of grammar right? To make it so we can communicate effectively with each other. So to the reference of denying people information based on their grammar, yes according to my original post that would be correct. In reality it is not the case. Nor have I ever called anyone out in a post about the way things were written unless it involved the tone it was written in instead of the form.

Want me to point out the glaring grammatical errors in this post?

Nah... I'm just funning you. I would never do that. It's rude.

I don't believe in coddling people and their ignorance because they never had an opportunity to learn. The world is at their fingertips and if they don't know they're doing something wrong, they can't fix it. Encouraging it to continue because "they don't know better" does more harm than good.

Well then, it seems to me that we will see a lot of you correcting a lot of people on this forum. Otherwise, it would just be coddling them, wouldn't it?

eh I dont' think not calling them out is coddling them. Just like someone asking me if a shirt makes them look fat. If it does, I'll say yes. If they don't ask, I won't say anything.

I think everyone is missing the severity of the posts I'm referring to. Honestly, if you have a paragraph with more than 3 periods and a couple commas, I'm not going to pay attention to much else. It's the ones that are blatantly written in ignorance of the English language that make me cringe.

Editing to add that of course there may be a language barrier if English is not your first language. That is usually obvious and not what I am referring to. I applaud anyone that has the discipline to learn more than one language.

Edited April 1, 201511 yr by beachgurl84

@@VSGAnn2014

Very good point about cultural differences that I hadn't considered.

I love how everyone has focused on the least important of my 3 vents

I love how everyone has focused on the least important of my 3 vents

Speaking only for myself, I focused on that one because the other two have merit in my opinion. Neither bother me as much as they appear to bother you, but I find the vent concerning grammar to be "unfair" for lack of a better word.

Perhaps because I was a special education teacher for children with learning disabilities or because my father is dyslexic and has trouble communicating correctly via the written word, I have more empathy.

Not to insult anyone here, it's just not in my nature; but I HAVE to say I am enjoying this SOOOOO much, and am getting such a good laugh (much to my lungs' dismay - cough, cough)! So can I say Happy April Fool's day, everyone, and don't let this make a fool of us all.....

@@une nouvelle vie

Ok Ok calm down... you're partially right. I was wrong to jump on you like that and I am sorry (see I can be pleasant).

However, I don't understand people that go out of their way to post that they don't post here anymore because of what they're reading. If it offends you so much, why would you take the time to respond? I'm not being rhetorical, I would genuinely appreciate input on why people jump into threads just to complain about the person complaining and tell everyone that is the reason they don't frequent this site anymore. This is very relevant to my first topic of jumping in for the sake of attention. That may not be the case but it's how it appears to me.

Yes, I complained about a very unimportant factor in an online community. I was venting because I had read another thread where the OP was being badgered about their opinion because someone was offended even though the original post had nothing to do with what they were offended by. And while I was venting I laid it all out there. Now everyone may think I'm a grammar tyrant but that's not the case. I am seriously only referring to the post that are full of blatant laziness and lack of self respect for the way they are presented in an online community. I believe I have said that a few times in this thread already (or some variation thereof).

I stand by my statement that ignorance is not an excuse. I do mean genuine ignorance by those that have the ability to learn but are too lazy to do so. Disabilities, second language, mental barriers, I'm not referring to any of those. As a matter of fact, that is the reason I would never dare say something to someone outside of a vent in the appropriate section.

Edited April 1, 201511 yr by beachgurl84

@@VSGAnn2014 lol! These 3 words made my whole afternoon better:

" ... blah, blah, blah."

The way you just threw it in there....haha I loved it.

Gee gads batman. Maybe Alex needs to set up an editing staff so that all those people will be edited! And their grammar mistakes would be cleaned up and their words properly placed for your sensitive eyes. Laugh out loud!

No wait a minute I have read grammar errors and spelling errors even after editors are finished with the writings of someone. Oh to be so perfect!

And by the way your thread has been on this site before. Complaining about the same things!

Also there were situations that came up for me personally that there was no answer for. They had to create answers for me to survive. So not every thing can be researched on here or the internet about weight loss surgery.

I only hope that I have made some grammar mistakes as well!