A Rant on the "Holier Than Thou" Phenomenon

I apologize in advance for the language in this post.

Obviously, I’m too chicken-shit to post this on the MDA forums as of now.  Even when I try to post something HELPFUL, people don’t seem to respond well to my ideas, but I always try to respect others and not kick up trouble.

That being said, I took a brief hiatus from the site last week, just because some of the things I read were making me so angry.  I understand, of course, that everyone has the right to express their opinion.  But there are so many posts out there, a pretty good majority, where people are just “talking to hear themselves talk”.  They offer no real information, and often incite bad feelings.  It’s like being on a megaphone saying “I’m better than you, I’m more Paleo than you, I look down on you for missing bread and brownies” ect.

This pisses me off for two reasons:

1)  People seem to forget that at one time, they used to believe conventional wisdom (CW).  Who among us used to think that rolled oats were a healthy way to start a day?  That breakfast was the most important meal, and should NEVER be skipped?  That the majority of your diet should be made of healthy, whole grain carbohydrates?  That we need to graze on 6 mini meals a day?  Give me a break.  Now that you know “the truth”, stop acting like you’re so much better than everyone else.  Get your nose out of the sky and chill out.  And HELP other people…when they ask for it.  When they need it.  Stop preaching.  Would you want a vegan to preach to you?  Or an extreme bodybuilder, who regiments every single thing he puts in his mouth?  Yea, well those people have every right to defend and believe in how they’re eating as well.   So get over feeling like you’re better than everyone else.

2) Just…shut the fuck up.

If there is a post about “Food I miss since I’ve been Primal”, you should do one of the following things

• read the posts about people wishing they could eat a bowl of cereal
• commisserate with these people and say “oh, I miss X, Y, and Z too!”
• disagree (in you head) and get out of that thread

Don’t get on there and say “OMG well I never miss ANY food and you shouldn’t either because you should be developing a stronger willpower and blah blah blah”

Wow, thanks for the lack of pertinent information.

If there is a post about cheat meals or primal baking and you want to get on and write “Man, I can’t/don’t do cheat days anymore – I always felt like crap afterwards!” ok, go for it.  That’s good to know.  Not everyone can pull off a cheat day without feeling nasty afterwards – me included .

But don’t write “OMG I NEVER do cheat days and you shouldn’t either!  How dare anyone let anything like sugar or 1/2 piece of pie or a bite of cookie enter their bodies because it is POISON you are all LESSER THAN PRIMAL if you eat that shit!”

Wow.  Thanks for making everyone else feel like an asshole.  In my opinion that’s not what this community is for.

Life is about joy, and when you develop a healthy relationship with food you should be able to treat yourself to a slice of cheesecake or a cookie every now and then, if that is what brings you joy (and, obviously, if you don’t have a disease/disorder/allergy that will not cause you to become dangerously ill if you eat it).  I love baking, and I will never deprive myself of making something every once in a while.  And Hell, if I want to sit down a couple times a year and eat a whole damn cheesecake in one sitting I’d do it and not feel any less “Paleo”, considering that one meal is stacked up against about 10000 others made up of vegetables, fat, and meat.

If someone writes a detailed post about how they’ve been listening to their body and now, to lose the last 5-10 lbs, feel like they have to count calories, and in the post several times they say that they’ve been eating intuitively for months now and it isn’t working for them, it’s kind of douchey to get on and just write “Oh, I NEVER count calories LOL sux 4 you! !”  Seriously?  That’s all you have to add?  Just throwing it back in someone’s face, without even a shred of encouragement or advice?  Um….ok.

So for fuck’s sake, people, have your own opinions.  And post them, by all means.  I have no problem with people expressing their opinions, even if they’re not what I agree with whatsoever.  Just stop posting useless information, and calling other people out because they’re not “Primal” enough for you.  It’s enough to make me leave these forums, which I used to get some much great information and inspiration from.

Because at the end of the day, I’m a God-fearing woman.  I am hard working.  I try my best to help others.  I give back to the community.  I love passionately with everything in me.

So if you think I’m a lesser person than you because I want or partake in a slice of pizza, than you can go screw yourself .