Matthew Johnson30 said:Honestly, you just need to read through Weight Loss and Training Basics—it's a stickied thread right under your nose with a few detailed, informative posts if you actually bother to look. 🤦
True enough... it's a solid starting point before you start digging too deep into the weeds.
analogrider2 said:I saw it, but it’s just too long and messy—honestly, I don't even know where to start reading.
If losing weight actually matters to you, then you should probably put in the work to read through a few dozen pages of this thread and educate yourself. You'll be "smarter" about it after just twenty or thirty pages.—it isn't rocket science.
Then you can move on to the fitness discussions here:
Of course, if you want everything handed to you on a silver platter, go ahead and pay some expensive trainer or nutritionist to hold your hand...
Eric Gray2 said:Honestly, I’d rather just leave things unmoderated than deal with some toxic group of people mass-reporting posts—especially when they're targeting topics that don't even have explicit rules laid out yet. It’s just not worth the headache. Can one of the admins please weigh in on this? In the future, if you're browsing a thread where there aren't any specific rules listed and you spot someone breaking the general community guidelines—even if you know the moderator isn't going to catch it without a formal report—should you still bother reporting it? 🍿 Man, that’s just incredible. 🙂
It’s pretty clear the moderators have zero interest in actually running this place—they aren't even active in the sub—so instead of stepping aside to let someone with actual time or drive make this community better, they just lean into these repressive tactics. It's the same old story.
Jacob Sullivan91 said:Exactly! At his own house. Is that even "forum hanging out"? No. Can he invite people he knows and actually wants over to his place privately? Yeah. Does he want random strangers in his living room? Probably not. So why does it even need to be a forum thread? Honestly, we might as well all start threads every time we invite the crew over or grab coffee with friends.
Does anyone here seriously think we merged the chat just because of a little tension? When adults start acting hysterical, spying on people in a chat where they aren't even posting just to snitch... and when you see enough of that happening long-term, you start wondering if you should spend your energy on something better.
It's not about managing reports. It's about when those reports turn into personal vendettas.
The chat isn't unnecessary, we agree on that, but two chats just can't function right now. There's only going to be one. If things actually shift, maybe we could consider a second chat, but look at what the chat has become. And that's because of the players in it. Not because of "evil" moderators.
Then why bother being a moderator at all? You might as well put that energy toward a better cause—if one even exists.
Just to add—after hanging out at Golden Gate Park one afternoon, mistyhound94 ended up inviting all those Reddit users over to his place to keep the party going. It included everyone from the local regulars to people who hadn't even been seen on the boards before.
Lisa Barrett5 said:I used to think that the USA section needed to be treated with extra care, mostly because it felt like most of the folks hanging out there were dealing with something, whether they were unhappy, feeling slighted, or just generally worked up, so I figured giving them that extra grace was the right, more human thing to do. But nowadays, I feel like any kind of chat in the USA section has sort of lost its original purpose.
It seems pretty logical to me that a chat on a subreddit like this should be about socializing, getting to know people, and maybe even meeting someone for romance, hookups, or something along those lines. If that were actually the focus, I bet there would be way less frustration and all that pseudo-intellectual snarkiness going on. But if that isn't the case, then what's the point of it all? 🤷
Well, people would actually socialize, wouldn't they? But thanks to mindless moderation, we get absurdities—like when Mickey starts a meetup thread right at his own house, only to have it shut down because he didn't "publicly disclose" his address. 🤣
I’d love for Meadow and United Airlines to actually weigh in here—they're nowhere to be found on this sub—but do they honestly believe they’re handling their moderator duties correctly? If they aren't interested or simply don't have the time to moderate, why not just step down? With some fresh blood in the mod team, your job would be a whole lot easier.
Ah, my bad—Nicole mentioned it was unnecessary 😁 I guess she’s just the type to say things like that...
The two Slack channels in the US have been around forever and everything has worked fine. Merging them didn't actually achieve anything—it just created awkwardness and tension. Maybe that was the point all along. 🤷 If the moderators were actually part of the subforum and participated in it, managing two Slack threads wouldn't even be an issue. I know that sounds like Mission Impossible to you, but try to visualize it.
This reminds me of those "visionary" entrepreneurs who always find a way to blame their employees when the company goes under. It’s a classic move—it’s never the CEO’s fault, it’s always the staff. 😁 And if anyone actually points out the glaring issues? They're just labeled as troublemakers or accused of being negative. 😬
The fix is pretty straightforward, honestly. Just remove those two or three moderators who haven't contributed anything to the subforum in ages and bring in people who actually give a damn about this place. Once you have active participants in charge, you'll see the difference immediately. Plus, problematic users would be flagged much faster and removed before they cause real damage.
You want pears, I’ll take apples... I never said there isn't moderation happening—just that some mods aren't actually participating in the community; they just act like cops whenever they feel like it.
It escapes me why someone would hold onto a moderator title if they lack the time or the drive to actually moderate. Is the ego attached to the title really that massive? 🤷 I suppose in a place like American, it is. It seems like being a moderator is a lifetime appointment unless you decide to quit. If this were a paid gig, I might understand the attachment, but it isn't. 😵 🤣
To be blunt, I don't think Meadow and Air Canada have any business being moderators for the US section. Jacob Sullivan91 shows up occasionally—rarely, mind you—but at least there's a semblance of presence there.
What I'm seeing across the forums—not just the US subforum—is pretty grim: a bunch of moderators who exist purely for decoration. They aren't active members of the community; they're just enforcers waiting for a report to land on their desks. I imagine the owner couldn't care less about this, much like most other things, so he just lets it slide.
At the end of the day, we're talking about the US subforum. This is where people come when they're frustrated, lonely, or just feeling out of place. It should go without saying that you need a bit of tolerance and subtlety here—real engagement in the "life" of the subforum. I've lost count of how many times I've seen someone get provoked into a heated response, only to end up with a ban. The fact that they were being trolled by the same person for the last ten posts—knowing exactly where it was heading—doesn't seem to matter.
The WhatsApp chats are a vital part of the US subforum; for certain people, they are the ONLY way to experience any kind of normal social interaction. I know at least ten people whose lives were genuinely improved because of these chats, which makes them worth preserving. Claiming the chat doesn't belong in the US subforum just shows a complete lack of thought and empathy on your part. Or maybe it's just laziness because you don't feel like moderating it. I can't say which. You decide.
And it's a mistake to consolidate everything into one single chat when we're dealing with such diverse personalities. You've essentially thrown Mentos and Coca-Cola into the same bucket, and we all know how that ends. Once the chaos hits, you'll just get to smugly declare, "See, I told you the US WhatsApp chat shouldn't exist."
Honestly, this is just a perfect microcosm of how things work here in America. It’s depressing. It’s always easier to lean on repressive tactics just to ensure nobody does any actual work—rather than letting someone step up and take over who actually has the drive to be active.
If we’re calling people out, I don't see why Air Canada and Meadow are even moderators for a subforum they barely participate in. Is it just so they can have the bragging rights? As if holding a moderator position is some kind of status symbol.🤦
Sophia Thomas7 said:Where on earth are you getting the idea that we shouldn't still be doing that?
Looking at how things have been going on this subforum, it’s pretty obvious something is broken.
Maybe swap out two or three moderators for people who—brace yourselves—actually bother to participate around here. I only see you popping up occasionally. Some of them are clearly just there for decoration, showing up only when a report needs a reaction. (Not suggesting myself—don't want any confusion—but I'm sure someone would step up.)
rustydrifter10 said:Well, you guys managed to pick a fight right here yesterday, throwing around all sorts of ad hominem attacks and wild accusations even after my warning above. 🤦 If the WhatsApp groups in the States look even a fifth as chaotic as this, I can totally see why moderating them is such a massive headache. As for the chat threads themselves, they don't really fit the true spirit of the forum, and honestly, no PDF should be required to host one. While I'll admit chat topics can have this beautiful dynamic where people actually get to know each other and bond—someone even mentioned they have "soul"—too often they just end up creating tension that spills over into the rest of the PDF. Because posts pile up so incredibly fast in a short window of time, it’s practically impossible to moderate them consistently and properly; usually, there's way too much freedom, and we mostly just rely on user reports. But sometimes, that simply isn't enough. Precisely because of all these potential headaches, moderators aren't obligated to maintain a chat thread. Not anywhere, not even on WhatsApp. I know firsthand how exhausting it is—how draining it can be and how much time it sucks away that could be spent moderating everything else on the PDF, only to still be left with nothing. Ultimately, whether a chat survives comes down to the crew posting there, how they conduct themselves, and how well they can police themselves without needing constant intervention through reports. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I know the moderators on WhatsApp have been trying for years to keep those chats going, but I neither can nor want to demand they oversee them like any other regular thread. And we aren't going to appoint a moderator just for a chat, either. It’s just not necessary. From what I can see, you still have your chat. One single thread should be more than enough. Just make an effort to keep it civil. Report the nonsense, don't fan the flames, and don't get dragged into the arguments. The ignore button is a beautiful tool that comes in so handy. If things stay chill, the chat might actually thrive.
So what exactly is the "true spirit" of a forum then? Are we saying a massive group of people participating in chat threads aren't actually part of the forum and don't contribute to its spirit?
You just reminded me of an owner I knew from another forum who insisted on allowing only "intellectual" topics and discussions. That forum died pretty quickly.
1984...
rustydrifter10 said:Well, you guys managed to pick a fight right here yesterday, throwing around all sorts of ad hominem attacks and wild accusations even after my warning above. 🤦 If the WhatsApp groups in the States look even a fifth as chaotic as this, I can totally see why moderating them is such a massive headache. As for the chat threads themselves, they don't really fit the true spirit of the forum, and honestly, no PDF should be required to host one. While I'll admit chat topics can have this beautiful dynamic where people actually get to know each other and bond—someone even mentioned they have "soul"—too often they just end up creating tension that spills over into the rest of the PDF. Because posts pile up so incredibly fast in a short window of time, it’s practically impossible to moderate them consistently and properly; usually, there's way too much freedom, and we mostly just rely on user reports. But sometimes, that simply isn't enough. Precisely because of all these potential headaches, moderators aren't obligated to maintain a chat thread. Not anywhere, not even on WhatsApp. I know firsthand how exhausting it is—how draining it can be and how much time it sucks away that could be spent moderating everything else on the PDF, only to still be left with nothing. Ultimately, whether a chat survives comes down to the crew posting there, how they conduct themselves, and how well they can police themselves without needing constant intervention through reports. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I know the moderators on WhatsApp have been trying for years to keep those chats going, but I neither can nor want to demand they oversee them like any other regular thread. And we aren't going to appoint a moderator just for a chat, either. It’s just not necessary. From what I can see, you still have your chat. One single thread should be more than enough. Just make an effort to keep it civil. Report the nonsense, don't fan the flames, and don't get dragged into the arguments. The ignore button is a beautiful tool that comes in so handy. If things stay chill, the chat might actually thrive.
From experience, that's hardly an issue if it's a moderator who actively participates in the life of the sub-forum. But there seem to be very few of those, from what I can tell. I think you should start by revitalizing the moderator structure within the sub-forums. After all, a bad smell always starts at the top.
Back in the day, if a user was being a total nightmare in a specific sub-forum, they’d just get a ban from that section—simple as that. That was how we cleared out the troublemakers from WhatsApp, and honestly, the peace and quiet was worth it. I don't get why we stopped doing that. It shouldn't just be limited to WhatsApp, either; it should apply to all the threads on the US site. If someone is toxic to a specific community, they should just say goodbye. 👋 We shouldn't let everyone else suffer just because of one or two headaches.
The other thing Mickey mentioned is spot on. If you aren't feeling up to moderating anymore, there's the door. Just hand in your resignation so someone with actual time and energy can step up. Is being a moderator supposed to be a lifetime appointment now? Half the people on the moderator list barely lift a finger—they're basically just there for decoration...
Michelle Robinson said:I was strictly thinking about how much a parent can work out without interruption—it’s not like you’re going to put your kid directly under a barbell. 😁 Plus, if you show up when the gym is practically empty, it helps. 🤷 Injuries happen regardless of age—I’m certain my little one would end up hurt eventually. 🤣
True, but from a legal standpoint, there's a massive difference between a kid getting hurt at home versus in a commercial gym that isn't zoned for children.
The gym owner could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines from OSHA or some other regulatory body just because of an injury—or even just the presence 🤔 of your child—and honestly, the owner might be innocent, just trying to be helpful.
What happens if your kid trips over a piece of equipment that wasn't properly bolted down and gets hurt while playing around? Would you tell the gym owner, "It's fine, it's my fault"? Or would it be, "I'm suing you because this wasn't secured properly"? 🤷
If I were running a gym without a dedicated, fenced-off area for kids, I wouldn't allow them on the floor at all.
Amanda Ward80 said:I think he was mostly referring to the fact that adults working out in a gym have signed membership waivers accepting responsibility for using the equipment. However, a baby hasn't signed anything... and if something happens to them... then what? The owner doesn't carry insurance coverage for accidents involving children. 😁
Something like that. But even if we figure out who's at fault, that won't undo a child's injury.
Michelle Robinson said:It isn't much of an issue while they're still tiny and stationary—you just set them down in a bouncer or a bassinet and pick them up when you're done. It’s even better if they actually sleep through the whole thing. 😁
I'm not so sure about that... What happens if someone accidentally hurts a child left in one of those seats? Who carries the blame then? The parent? The gym? The person who caused the accident?
Honestly, if a gym wants to allow kids, they need a dedicated "play zone"—something fenced off from the main floor and kept under constant supervision.
Back at my old local fitness club, a few people used to bring their little ones—maybe 3 to 6 years old—to workouts, and it was incredibly awkward. We were constantly playing bodyguard to make sure nobody got hurt, while parents were just hovering nervously the whole time. It’s an inherently unsafe environment for toddlers. I shudder to think what might have happened if a kid had taken a stray kettlebell or dumbbell to the head. 😲 Plus, there's all that equipment lying around that kids could easily injure themselves on. We had a couple of near-disasters, too. Eventually, the trainer had to ban them from bringing the kids entirely—which should have happened much sooner, frankly, given how close we came to a real accident.
The kids weren't even particularly wild or troublemakers, but let's be real—you can't expect a child to sit perfectly still for an hour.
If I were running a gym without a separate childcare area, I wouldn't permit kids at all. It's just too much of a liability.