X Post: Are "vets" condescending?

I have been reading a (very long) thread on the main board with respect to "vets" - how they are viewed, how they are perceived, how they are treated here on OH.  This is one of the most thoughtful, intelligent conversations I have seen here of late.  I encourage you, if you have a little time, to give it a read.  It really does shed some light into us "mean, bullying, loser, old-timers".  Thoughts?

Karen

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4552047/Are-the-old-ti mers-vets-on-OH-Condescending/

YOU MEANIE!!!!  ;)

Good thread...valid points...always remember "lowest common denominator" is a fact on any forum

cheers

Hi Karen,

Not sure about everyone, but for me I respect the "mean, bullying, loser, old-timers" for their experience and advice.  You guys have been through the parts we are going through now.  And the kicks in the butt that are given, are given out of the fact that you care not just because you can.  All this makes the next steps not as scary.

For me, one of my problems pre WLS was information.  Being told you can't eat this, you can't eat that, shouldn't eat this, shouldn't eat that.  I had so much information like that, I didn't know what I could eat that I would want to eat, so I would give up and make poor choices.  Here, I get lots of interesting ideas as to what I can eat, and can do.  It helps me make my lifestyle changes more managable.

And thanks to the vets, I know why I am making the choices that I'm making, not just being told to do it.  Like the difference between Whey and Whey Isolate protein powders.

Vets are amazing!  The information everyone shares is great, you just have much more to share with us.

Cathy

Ditto!

fully agree.. :) vets advice is always welcomed and appreciated. :)

Totally agree, VETS are awesome.

I am a newbie and post op since January 20th. I have found most posts here very helpful. I do not think the vets are condesending and I would certainly be much poorer if they stopped posting. We need them for information and inspiration. Just know they are still doing well after a few years is inspiring and something to aspire to.
We all have bad days and come off a little short. If I don't like your answer I can move on to another post.
Old timers and vets please never stop.

I do not think poorly of any of the vets... sometimes I do think SOME lack a smidge of patience... especially with the very new people... I GET it... the same freaking questions get asked Over and over and over again.

I ALWAYS give the benefit of the doubt to people and it irritates me when others don't so if a newbie asks a newbie question I assume they don't know how to use the site yet and I would gladly answer the question (for the 8 millionth time) and direct them how to search for those kinds of answers.

I used to be a camp leader when I was a teen and one pep talk we always had toward the end of the summer was "For you this is old hat, you have been here, done that, and your tired! But these kids getting off the bus in 2 hours...THEY are SO excited, nervous, scared, happy and they have not done any of it so lets show These new kids the same enthusiasm you showed the first set of Campers at the beginning of the summer."

I treat every situation this way...

 "For you this is old hat, you have been here, done that, and your tired! But these kids getting off the bus in 2 hours...THEY are SO excited, nervous, scared, happy and they have not done any of it so lets show These new kids the same enthusiasm you showed the first set of Campers at the beginning of the summer."

I love this!

I wish whole heartly that there was a "like" button on this forum....

It was a very interesting thread indeed.  Experience is a good teacher.  It's a whole different ballgame out long term.  I cannot stress that enough. 

Quite frankly, if we didn't care, we wouldn't stick around. 

Karen, I don't remember even when we were early out there being many "vets" around.  I always think of Joyce as the long timer around these parts!  Do you remember many long timers "back in the day?". 

I think many vets went on to live merry lives but also that those who were struggling just left out of shame. Your thoughts?

Dawn

P.S. Joyce, you still ROCK!! ;-)