Poll: Picture Posting on Lifting Forums

[BendtheBar]

What are your thoughts on lifting forums and the posting of pictures and videos...

-- Do you feel it helps a forum when everyone is encouraged to be forthcoming about their current state, and posts pictures and videos?

-- Do you feel that a lifting forum should stay out of the business of encouraging lifters to post pictures?

What do you think and why? Any personal stories from either side of the fence?

[jslep]

personally i think pics and videos make a huge difference and making the forum a little more personal. i think you can actually feel like you have a friendship with the person when you can put a face(or body) to the name. when you can physically see results and progress in someone's pics it makes things seem real and not just bs across a web page.

i really wanted to vote for the test thread though.........

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by jslep

i really wanted to vote for the test thread though.........

Me too The test thread is my daily escape from swarms of emails.

My thoughts are...handling things in the manner we do at MAB does hinder growth in a certain sense. But we are creating a home for lifters that don't want hidden "Internet Ninjas" who talk and talk and talk but don't do.

No one here has to be a Superman. God knows I used to think I was strong until I met you guys! To me the picture thing is not about chest pounding, or denying someone the right to post advice/opinions because they don't look like such-and-such.

For me, pictures and videos builds trust and respect. We know we aren't hiding. Look at BB.com's Bodyspace...lots of pictures, and it can be an enjoyable community. No one can really hide.

[glwanabe]

What are your thoughts on lifting forums and the posting of pictures and videos...

This is the only forum, that I have experience with that has a rule for such. I personally like the rule, and feel it sets this forum apart, in a good way.

The rule does not say you have to have a picture to be a member, only that you must provide one as a sort of resume to give lifting advice. Again, this is a good policy.

Members should not have an issue with giving there experience level, or particular area of what they consider their expertise area. Responses should be tempered with the thought as to what is opinion, and what is considered fact. Many people confuse their opinion for fact.

-- Do you feel it helps a forum when everyone is encouraged to be forthcoming about their current state, and posts pictures and videos?

Absolutely!

Again, this is what sets this forum apart from others. Frankly, I like it. It keeps the BS chest beating down, and promotes a more real, mature, serious lifting atmoshere for discussion. I'm not against having fun, and making some jokes. However these things can get out of hand and destroy a good forum. The quality of the content is diluted by too much of this type of behavior. There are plenty of places to go act like a fool, go there and do that. Come here to lift, and SFW.

-- Do you feel that a lifting forum should stay out of the business of encouraging lifters to post pictures?

No. Not here at least.

There are already plenty of places like that. The internet is full of E-stat Supermen. I'd rather have 10 serious lifters together, than 100 BS people who only talk like they are the greatest thing since Arnold.

What do you think and why? Any personal stories from either side of the fence?

I think I've pretty much covered my thoughts. MAB, needs to be different. We don't need to do what the other guys do. BB.com is a huge forum with plenty of people. It's also a wasteland because it is allowed to run amuck in so many ways.

BB.com's workout section is a prime example of what can happen when things are allowed to be polluted. That sub-forum is a complete wasteland of BS.

Change your rule to say that anybody can offer any advice without having any idea of who they are, and this place will turn into that.

There is already the seeds of some behavior starting to take shape here that needs to be addressed. It's not out of hand, but better to kill it before it becomes commonplace than to let this place be contaminated by it.

Lets keep our mission in focus, and concentrate on what we are here to do.
Get big, get strong, get ripped!

[nighttrain]

I agree fully with the rule that you should have to post a picture and current stats in order to give advice.

as, i have said before I am not the strongest, biggest, most ripped or even most knowledgeable person on the internet.... Infact im probally far from it, but i do have a vast knowledge of physical fitness, and i like to help out where i can. If that means i have to post a picture resume so to speak then so be it, no big deal.

plus if you post before, during, and after pictures people can see your progress... they can actually see progress that you may not see yourself. think about it for a moment, you look at yourself inthe mirror everyday, chances are you will not notice gradual growth as to you, you look the same as you did yesterday..

ok enough ranting for me... like i said previously, i like the rule and WE here at MaB need to be better in order to make a better place to grow.

[buZZkiLL]

I guess I don't worry about it either way. Not having trolls here is pretty damn cool.

[onetiredkris]

I think it should be mandatory.

But a picture doesn't mean everything, you could have a fit ass guy who is genetically blessed and works hard but really doesn't know ****.
Then have completely out of shape bastard that has a studied really deep into the material (degrees,certs, ect), but just doesn't feel like making the change to him/her self.

[onetiredkris]

it censored my verbage!! haha, nice.

[jslep]

Originally Posted by onetiredkris

I think it should be mandatory.

But a picture doesn't mean everything, you could have a fit ass guy who is genetically blessed and works hard but really doesn't know ****.
Then have completely out of shape bastard that has a studied really deep into the material (degrees,certs, ect), but just doesn't feel like making the change to him/her self.

your right that a picture won't tell the whole story about the person's true knowledge but having 10 different degrees and certificates doesn't make you the smartest either. too many things work for one but not the other. the rest is just advice and if you haven't tested your knowledge in the real world how can you truly know if your advice is accurate.

[onetiredkris]

Originally Posted by jslep

your right that a picture won't tell the whole story about the person's true knowledge but having 10 different degrees and certificates doesn't make you the smartest either. too many things work for one but not the other. the rest is just advice and if you haven't tested your knowledge in the real world how can you truly know if your advice is accurate.

Well, while it being true that any dumbass can scrape by and earn a degree without truly comprehending the subject. I would like to have some faith in formal education and believe someone who is taught heavily researched findings has more knowledge than a fit person spitting bro-science.

So it kind of goes both ways, but I think the gathering and discussing of different views (like on this forum) can really fish out the good information from the nonsense.