BAF Members: To The Board Room Pronto! (Seriously Long)

Vouching for you, Wonka....you had REASON to leave ~smooches~

It's called FAMILY first; you did what you had to do for you and your son! ~~~hugs~~~~~

I think this is a great post. I just want to say honestly and hopefully without upsetting anyone that I personally don't frequent the BAF because as a newer person I find other boards to be a bit more receptive.

I haven't had WLS yet so I am not really seeking support, I frequent boards to read about weight loss and hang on the R&R boards for sheer entertainment and fun. But honestly it isn't always warm over here on the BAF.

So what do you think we can do? What are some of your suggetions on what can be done to help liven up the board?

I don't think the board needs to be livened up. I think it should be more receptive as I said. If you see someone new say Hi. Respond to newbies posts just like you would a friend on BAF that you make sure to respond to. Just try to make everyone feel welcomed.

Let's talk about receptive for a minute. 
I have seen quite a few newbies say they were not received the way they wanted to be.  Everyone on this board was a newbie at one time.  Coming on BAF and introducing yourself is the first step.  But consistent posting needs to be the next step.

Some come in and jump right on in and flow with the rest of us, some may feel insulted because they didn't get 100 or so 'welcome to BAF" posts.  Well, let me tell you, depending on when you put it out there and whatever else happens to be going on on the board, you may not get a bunch of welcomes, but you need to just get in where you fit in. 

I've seen some post an intro, then you don't see them for a week or so, by then, to be honest, I have probably forgotten who the heck you are.

You must realize that , yes, there are bonds here.  You will not automatically become the IT girl/guy, you gotta bring something to the table too..you know?

I'm responding to your post Jamila because you brought up the receptive point, but I'm not totally pointing a finger at you. 
But just for an example of what I'm trying to say, I didn't even know that you hadn't had surgery yet and I'm just now seeing that you are pregnant (congrats).  Maybe I missed it but did you share this news in a post?  Little things like sharing whats going on with you builds those bonds.  No, it won't happen over night, but it takes time. 

Not to say you have to tell all your business or anything.....Lord knows, some do, and that's OK, but to be received, you have to give too.  Feel me?

Please don't feel I'm singling you out, much love to you and my best to you on your bundle of joy!

 

No I didn't share my pregnancy with the board because as I stated I frequent boards where I feel more welcomed. I wasn't posting my post to say that I expected any bond, but like I have said things aren't always warm here. When I post unless I ask a question I don't really expect anyone to respond and surely not 100 responses...lol.

No worries I don't feel singled out because I believe my original posts represented many newbies. With that being said there are folks like Ro-Ro who I feel always makes people feel welcomed when they post and never makes condescending remarks.

I really wasn't trying to come off as condescending....but point taken.

Unfortunately I must have come off being sarcastic. I wasn't. I didn't find your post to be condescending at all. That is just one of the things I mean when I said some members aren't warm or receptive (they can be a bit condescending, maybe even without realizing it). I think that you always offer supportive advice when replying to posts.

I gotcha!

And I guess that is something else that should be kept in mind when it comes to posting on boards like BAF.  Unless you know the person (and in most cases we don't know everyone) posts can easily be interpreted in the wrong way. 

We could have started a cyber fight over this and neither of us meant anything negative to each other.....LOL