Making a resolution online - and sticking to it
September 5, 2006 – 9:43 amby Darren
When you visit a website like Featherish, you’ll see a lot of new members join and then “fall off”. In fact, it gets to be a dreary spectacle to watch new people arrive, state their intent to lose weight, and then to watch the sad reality of them not doing a damn thing about it. Why would something like this exist? Because talk is cheap, and internet talk is the cheapest of all. So what can be done to ensure that people stick to their resolutions?
I think it’s very tough to expect oversight on an internet site. Each member is ultimately responsible for their own decisions, and it’s up to them to report honestly about what’s happening. Since there’s nobody coming over and weighing someone, the chances of them doing much aren’t great.
So this I feel is an inherent problem with the online “support group” no matter what. Supporting people online seemingly requires no commitment, so it’s unlikely anyone will benefit in the end. For that reason, I’m inventing a device that will be used to weight yourself, and automatically transmit your weight to the “home office” so we can keep an eye on you. Just kidding 
In any event, I’m in deep trance state thinking about these issues. I haven’t come up with any solutions as to what would make people more accountable for their online resolutions, or whether it’s even valid to make such resolutions at all.
What are your thoughts? Can people taking a pledge to an internet audience mean something?
2 Responses to “Making a resolution online - and sticking to it”
I have to agree with you to a degree. Having to be accountable and weighing in usually does make one do better and try harder to change and to lose the excess weight so many of us have to lose. I have done this in an organized program, and once I quit going I gained most of the weight back. I do think however an on line support group is great motivation, and support which is what it is intended to be. You may not make everyone accountable, but you will help so many who are afraid to take that first step in the public eye but will do it not being seen via the internet!
By Klynn on Sep 5, 2006
That was an insightful post, Klynn.
The internet is a place that people from everywhere can come together to discuss issues like losing weight. For someone that doesn’t have a strong support system it could be something that can help them and make a difference in their life.
By Heather on Sep 5, 2006