erm.... where'd everybody go?

If they were such great intelligent knowledgeable guys and gals then they wouldn't have been banned from the other site for bullying which some still insist on doing here.   Again not all, but some.

OH's moderation had nothing to do with folks leaving years ago.  The nastiness of the surgery wars and those that felt they were better than anyone else is what drove some away.  I have seen people get very nasty when the vets on here did not hold their hand and tell them it was OK for them to be cheating on their pre-op plan or that they are eating tacos at 2 weeks out. 

The vets that are years out and have stuck around didn't make it to goal and maintain their weight loss by not following their surgeons plan.  They worked their butts off and pay it forward every dam day.

I was here during the so called " surgery wars" and my belief is that the ( literally hundreds) of vets who left and founded their own website did so simply because they really believed in the Long term efficacy of the DS as opposed  tó the other surgeries which end up requiring either lifelong dieting or generally develop horrible complications within eight years ( this is Proven for the lapband.) 

The surgeons who advertise and support this site did not agree with experienced bariatric patients' own assessment for the very obvious reason that most of their patients are not compliant nor do they find their way here. We are basically the one percent who the DS might actually have worked great for .

But for most willfully ignorant unconscious-of their health bariatric patients a DS might have caused serious malnutrition and illness.

There  was a legitimate difference of opinion.  

Regarding " Bullying " I  can say honestly that over ten years I only tangled with a single dangerous troll here ... but she singlehandedly destroyed chat ( which was a great feature especially for healing newbies ) and tried to " doxx" ( publicly out ) several thinner members she was jealous of .

There was no  moderation then . This is why she succeeded and she may have even have contributed to a very sweet pet-loving longtime member having a stroke. 

"....they're great intelligent knowledgeable guys and gals..."

(and we are good looking too). :)

Thanks!

And this is the reason I haven't felt welcomed here from day one. Oh, don't get me wrong. There are a few really cool members here who have answered a couple of questions I had, but overall I've felt people were being standoffish and snarky. Like we've invaded their turf. 

Disappointing, really. 

I've been on both sites for quite awhile (this one a little longer - and I'm much more active on this one than I was on BP).  I, for one, am glad you guys came over.

I'm here and lurking about.  But ya, what the heck where is everyone?  You are all like my caffeine in the morning, you get me going!  

My unasked for thoughts...

I do find it interesting/confusing/bemusing that I was questioned by several people about whether I'd be active on the main boards when I first came here.  When I am active, I definitely feel a bit of hostility by some but welcomed by others.  Perhaps it's in my imagination, maybe it's not, but either way it is what it is and hopefully things will settle in soon.

I'm sure I'm not alone in my feelings, but I also understand that a large influx of people who know each other's quirks invading your space is uncomfortable.  As far as "forum nannies"?  I've been told on several occasions on how to post and to whom to post by the same people who preach against exactly that.  I've been schooled on the fact that I am not a vet at almost four years out.  I've reached out directly to several of the long timers personally and have been ignored.  I've asked appropriate questions and been told that any intelligent person would research instead of asking...  I could go on but that's not necessary.  Please know I'm not complaining, I'm just stating facts.

I'm really sorry that so many have left or are "protesting".  I know it's hard to be displaced from your "home place".  I sincerely hope things get better for all and those who left find their way back sooner rather than later but I also hope if "we" are the reason this happened (and I hope it's not!), we are eventually welcomed, maybe even embraced at some point.  We know y'all have a lot to offer, but "we" do as well.  

I came over with the BP exodus.  

I'd like to give a shout out to the OH VSG Maintenance Group here who have been nice as pie to me.  :)  I've been hanging with them for at least a month now and truly am enjoying the interactions and support given there.  

I haven't ventured out too much beyond that group.  At 2.5 years post-op I don't spend as much time on WLS boards as I once did.  But I'm very happy to pay back / forward / sideways the help I got when I was just a WLS sprout.  

For all you longer-term OH'ers, please know that the folks I know who came over from BP are very supportive of others undergoing WLS or contemplating it.  I'm a fortunate recipient of their support, without which reaching my goal might not have happened.  

I look forward to gaining new WLS friends.  So if you'd like to friend me, please shoot me a request.

Ann

I kind of get why posters get snarky. A lot of us MO folks made our mark with out wits and quick repartee- often with a bit of bite to it like a dry British sense of humor . 

Sometimes Ill be reading a thread and Grim will make a joke and I'll totally burst out laughing .. 

i personally don't care if someone calls me names as long as they don't try to screw up my non-internet life or anonymity on here and at work . 

I personally think there is too much insensitive moderation lately maybe because people are getting paid to do it and there just aren't enough truly dangerous internet trolls to go around ( Thank God ! ) 

I have been on this sight for about a year now and I have found it nothing but helpful.  Do I like what some people have to say....NO but in any group online or in real life I don't like what some people say...lol   People have to thin skin these days!