An open letter to all Bodybuilding.com members
I have been following (at times with bemusement; at other times with dismay) the vitrolic threads that have sprung up as a result of the Top 6 Inspirational Members. I’m willing to bet my bottom dollar that the powers that be at Bodybuilding.com had no idea that this new feature would engender such rancorous debate.
Now I may catch hell for this and I’m pretty certain that I’ll be subject to a veritable slew of email and comments for what I’m about to say, but that’s part of speaking one’s mind. So - (deep breath) - here I go.
One of the definitions of the word debate is to "consider the pros and cons of an issue". No where in that definition does it say that one side should resort to invective, slander, or hate-mongering. I’m not sure which of the participants pointed it out, but as adults, we should be able to logically and succinctly articulate our stand for, or our opposition against, a particular issue or principle. We, of course, want to sway our opposition to our way of thinking, but that will not always be the case. Your opponent may feel just as strongly (perhaps more so) than you do about the topic at hand. THAT DOES NOT MAKE HIM OR HER A BAD PERSON. That does not make that person an "idiot", "a moron" or "stupid". That kind of name calling does nothing but inflame passions and cloud the true issue. If you have debated a point with someone and have failed to persuade them to your point of view, you can always win the argument by saying, "Perhaps you’re right." No other phrase is guaranteed to defuse a potentially volatile situation as quickly and as easily as that one. It immediately disarms the other person. Without abandoning your principles and beliefs, you have instantly created harmony. What could be better than that?
In my opinion, the Top 6 Inspirational People is a flawed idea. I intend to make my feelings known to the Bodybuilding.com admins. I will present my case in a cool, calm and logical manner. My audience may choose to ignore my comments. They may adopt some of my suggestions. Either way, I will not resort to name calling. Nor will I abandon this site. It has too many other benefits that outweigh this one feature.
We are all members of a community. That means that we should - to the greatest degree possible - respect one another as human beings. We are all God’s children.
June 21, 2009 at 3:56 pm
So I am missing your point here, or maybe just the meat behind your point. I understand you don’t think much of the Top 6 inspirational, but what exactly is it that you don’t like?
June 21, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I dislike the hateful rhetoric going on between members. It has descended into personal attack and invective. This issue is too trivial a matter over which to wage war (verbal or otherwise).
June 21, 2009 at 5:55 pm
PenteKing I fully agree there is no need to do this, let’s stay positive and supportive.
June 23, 2009 at 6:13 pm
:) Well i don’t like to speak on things I am not familiar with but I will say this…. I joined .. I looked at the most popular and thought that was what this site was about .. i wasnt interested in being back in high school so i didnt visit much .. got some friend invites and got into the "meat and potato" and I just kinda bypassed the first page .. I still do .. i concentrate on what my inner circle of 400 plus
is up to and get my own most popular and most inspirational to me .. I don’t pay attention to anyone else’s but my opinion lol but really, is it that serious to resort to grade school name calling to get upset over ? 
i guess for some it is .. 
June 23, 2009 at 6:14 pm
by the way will be in San Diego July 3-5th soo maybe coffee ?? let me know