What was your experience as a newcomer to VF?

[Loretta S.]

Originally Posted by Joanna

There are so many new posts that I tend to skip over ones with subject lines that won't interest me, for example, those about equipment I do not have.

There are so many threads every day now. I also tend to skip over posts about videos or equipment I don't have. I also tend to skip reading ones with vague titles like "Have you ever tried...?". I'd be much more likely to read "Have you ever tried the Slim Series videos?" (I have! )

[Nancy SV]

I was living overseas and developed a back problem. I knew that I needed to work my abs in order to strengthen my back, but I didn't know how. When I went back to the US I picked up Abs of Steel and started doing that. Then I bought a few more abs tapes. One of them (by Gay Gasper) came bundled with a step tape. I figured I would never do the step tape, but I wanted the abs tape, so I bought it anyway.

To make a long story short, I tried the step tape and loved it, so the next time I went to the US I bought a few more tapes. Most of them were HORRIBLE and I threw them away, but a few were keepers. For the next few years I bought EVERY tape I saw in the stores because I was desperate for variety. The vast majority of them were awful - I wasted a LOT of money. I finally got to the point where I had purchased everything I could find in the stores and still only had three tapes I liked. I started searching on the internet. The first few times I didn't find anything because I was typing in the wrong search words. Finally I typed in "aerobics videos" and I got CIA. From there I found Collage Video, and then VF. I was SOOOO happy I had found a place where people knew about all different kinds of exercise videos!!! It was like I had come home at last. That was back in 2000, and I've been here ever since!

[kahnfv]

I guess you can call me a newbie, since this is my first post. I joined on August 8 after I purchased some Joyce Vedral DVDs on E-bay and the young lady told me about VF.

The information I've found here has been very useful. All of my questions have been answered just by doing a search and reading the reviews. I like the Bargin Watch and Vendor Comments/Review forums.

[Jane P.]

I've been around forever, probably not as long as Leela or Barbara P. though.
I think it was 96 or 97 when I started. I can't even remember. How bad is that? VF is a habit that I just can't seem to break. It's worse than my video/dvd buying habit which is bad enough.

When I got internet access at home, the first search I did was exercise videos. The Firm Prime Power workouts had just been released and I was looking for reviews. I found some that really made me laugh. The rest is history. I really should be better about writing reviews, but others seem to say things so much better than I do.

I have a lot of memories from VF. Thanks to all of you for the time and information you've shared, but I don't think you saved me any money

[SharonNYC]

I found VF in 1996 -- I think through a french language site WWWendy had on the web when she was in graduate school. She linked to the very new VF.

I had already been using recorded workouts for over 10 years -- my main source of information was Collage. And then I stumbled on this website that is all about exercise videos, all the time.

I lurked for a long, long time -- trying to figure out who everybody was and how the heck they could find so many things to say about exercise videos. My first thread asked if I was the oldest VFer. And I was, except for one.

Since I jumped in I've met more VFers than you can shake a bodybar at -- even in Paris, with a near miss in Barcelona. Today I'm joining several internet associates (coming from all over the place) at a yoga workshop in Manhattan -- hope to post some photos tonight or tomorrow.

VF is much, much bigger now than it was when I started. In a way I think it's easier for newbies to join in now than when I first clicked on the site. It was so small that I remember worrying I would seem like an intruder with my first couple of posts.

[Debbie M]

I found VF in 1999 through the Collage forum. I had just discovered Collage from the back of a Fit magazine.

I ordered about 50 tapes from Collage and after being referred here by someone at the Collage forum, started spending my time here.

The good:

I loved and still do love all the great information about upcoming releases, new equipment, especiallly other's experiences and opinions. I was overwhelmed at how much home workout stuff there was out there, especially being Canadian (our local stores tend to carry nothing but Kathy Smith, Denise Austin etc.). I was soooo excited!!!! I have not found any other website that has the same "addiction" potential. I seriously do not miss a day unless I am away or I have computer trouble. There is no other fitness website that I have come across with such a variety of workouts talked about etc.

I do not think that I lurked. I started posting pretty much right away. I think I post less now as there seems to be so much more yoga and Pilates which I am not really into, though I have tried.

The bad:

My first feelings (and I cannot say that they have changed that much) is that it IS cliquish here. Most will jump in to defend this, but I notice that the ones who defend the most are the "A crowd" people.

I cannot exactly put my finger on it either (as a couple of others have said). There are certainly examples but I think that is probably rude. There just seem to be a group of VFers that can post about the new colour of their kitchen wall and 75 people will respond. Others ask an actual fitness question and get a couple of replies. The only threads I have ever had decent response on are those that are controversial like Cathe or Medical Mark. I admit that I have never met another VFer in person, never attended a get together and have never belonged to a check in. Perhaps those things are big.

OK...what the hell..to prove a point...I will be a little rude.

Since they don't seem to be here that much anymore, I will admit to cringing when Rainy or Joan Broadway would start an off topic silly thread and 150 people would follow along like they worshipped them. Then Newbies would post an off topic thread (usually not even as off-topic) and a moderator would remind them that it was off-topic!!!!! This really put me off and reminded me of high school.

Since Joanna started this thread, I will state that it bothered me when someone started a gushing Happy Birthday thread about her this year. It was a long thread. I felt sooooo bad for all the others who shared the same birthday, or any other birthday for that matter, and were totally ignored.

I certainly have no personal bad feelings towards any of the people I mentioned. It is the tone that it set for others that upset me. I honestly don't think anyone means to leave people out. I guess it is just human nature to gravitate towards certain people.

On the other hand, although I enjoy this forum better, I have recieved a much warmer welcome at every other forum I have joined. Hmmm....

Oh Oh Oh...I should also mention that I was and still remain shocked that I cannot say BREAST IMPLANTS (just had to sneak it in) without being ganged up on! That is unique to only this forum!!!!!!!

Deb

[Betsy]

I don't post very much, but then I'm a pretty quiet person in "real life" too. I've been here since late 1998 when I found VF while searching for info on Karen Voight. It has changed my life to say the least, and has been great fun too. I used to be able to read every post every day, but it's gotten way too big for that now. Sometimes I feel like I miss a lot because of this. But it's still the best thing on the web.

[Charlene]

Deb, I don't think you need to duck for cover - I read the 'bad' of your post and I see truth in a lot of what you say. Esp. for a newbie here that hasn't 'found' friends, I bet it does seem clique-ish - we have quite a few old-timers (myself included), who already know with whom we have common interests, and/or participate in one or more check-ins - and check-ins are a great way to get to know a smaller sub-section of the forum.

I think, less so now than before, that there is/was uneven treatment on 'off-topic' ness. I would also agree that a lot of things like birthday wishes are better accomplished by PM (or in the check in groups, as we do in MM). As for getting a response on threads, I think a mistake a lot of newbies make that limits the response they get is posting a vague subject heading - VF is pretty big now, I tend to skip threads where I can't immediately identify whether its an interest of mine or if I could help the person with the question.

Ummmm.
Breast implants, Breast Implants, Breast Implants!!!
Charlene

[Lexy]

I joined VF about a year ago. Posted once or twice and didn't feel particularly welcome. I think that most newcomers, especially ones (like myself) who don't introduce themselves somehow, don't get very many responses to their inquiries. And we take it personally. I remember asking a question early on and was referred to a few old threads that answered the questions. That feels harsh to an insecure newbie because they REALLY want someone to talk to them, not just be given a reference. Does that make sense to you old-timers? You "did good" by answering the question, but the newbie wants a little more. They want to know if it's OK if they're "here." You all have a "rep" (I'm not sure from where) that you're a tough crowd to join.

So I went back and stuck to the Cathe forums where most everyone was "Midwest nice." That's my word for people who are just as sweet as one can be without crossing the throw-up line. I made a few friends a gained "on-line" confidence. Then Cathe's forum started losing some regulars that I enjoyed so I came back here and started lurking.

I had to re-join VF because, Miss Poster Child for Adult ADD, couldn't remember her user name and password. Well, I rejoined under a different name that totally escapes me now and emailed to get the "old" info which was given to me promptly. I tried to get the "two me's" straightened out to no avail. So I'll stick with the old me. That's also why I'm almost ALWAYS logged in! Don't want to forget who I am again!

So I started posting, whether it was my opinion, undying humor, or stupid question. Kinda got in your face! And knowing that in real life I am a wonderful, smart, funny person kept me posting. If VFers couldn't see how marvelous I am, then that was their problem. It's all in the attitude.

Now, this is one of the only sites I check daily for info and a good laugh. I love it here. There are some people here who I really, really like (but they don't know it) and that's OK. They make my day. I can only hope that I occasionaly do the same for them. Sloppy kisses to all , Alexis but friends call me Lexy

[Debbie S.]

First, I want to welcome all you newbies.

I discovered VF in 1998. A friend of mine sent me the link after finding VF doing a search on Tae Bo. I stayed and she didn't. My first experience was definitely not pleasant. I was attacked after just posting a couple of times.

I can see how some people feel that there is a cliquish feel to VF. I think it's true of all forums. I feel this way about YaYas and Cathe's website also.

But, overall, VF is a great fitness website. Granted, it has its warts, but I really do love this community.