Do You Think There is Peer Pressure on MyLot?

Hello Debrakcacey, I am a filipino, but unfortunately, I can be sensitive as the rest of my people most of the time. in other forums, such debates turns into insults and down right hate. so, in most of the times, i tried to just ignore it and be neutral from one issue to the true. THE ONLY EVENT THAT I WAS TRUE TO MYSELF WAS WAY BACK 2010 ELECTIONS. I fought for my belief and lost my blue star, which took months for it to come back.. sometimes, i prefer to have a good community rather than seeing the harshness of conversations existing here, i don't like having enemies in mylot.

Mylot to me is another environment with many different people. It is the same as any other discussion forum either virtual or not. My experiences in life have taught me to stay away from certain topics and so I do that wherever I go here or there. I will be myself regardless of what others say or how they rate my discussions. If my ratings are taken away because of someone's vindictiveness, well I hope they feel better for it. Meantime, I will continue discussing those topics I enjoy and avoiding those I determine I should. I personally believe that true friends should agree to disagree and only by seeing all sides of an issue even if they contradict our side, can we truly reach the truth. I believe there are cliques on mylot and as I said before, more power to all.

I think it is very obvious that there are cliques here on myLot. One has only to read some of the discussion posted by self proclaimed clique leaders. The slew of that OP's clique members who rush to support his/her views with slavish devotion. They immediately attack with insults anyone who dares to respond with an opinion not to their, or the clique bosses, liking. I am quite happy to have been subject of these attacks because it make me realize that they must be afraid of the truth of some of my postings when they attack with personal insults.

I've been participating in online discussion forums for probably 15 years now and they are what they are...discussion forums. Yes, friendships are made but for the most part they consist of the non-personal exchange of ideas and opinions. I'd have to say that no online forum has had an impact on how I view myself but they have, from time to time, impacted how I view certain situations. And, ***YES***, cliques exist on mylot! I am definitely in the minority on the political board in many areas of thought and opinion. Back before the election, after I had voted for Romney and then swung my support behind McCain when he won the Primary, I wasn't considered the Devil wearing Prada because I'm a Republican and was acceptable to the conservative majority. When I started to express genuine concerns about Palin I suddenly became a target by a select group. I was no longer a Republican...I was a RINO...I was a liberal...I supported the destruction of this country...yaddda...yadda. As you've seen though, I don't tend to gravitate towards those who agree with me on that board because I don't now, nor have I ever, needed my ego to be reinforced by faceless strangers on the internet. I have opinions and knowledge that I put out there if the topic interests me, usually backed up with facts, and am more than happy to have a civil discussion. Some of the more reasonable and rational members here will agree that I have changed my opinion a time or two and that I have agreed that certain parts of another poster's argument are right even though I disagree with other parts. That's the nature of discussion forums. If everyone agreed with everyone else on all matters, how dull would that be?

There are cliques here, and as someone mentioned above, if you disagree with anyone in the clique, you will be attacked by the rest of the group. Sometimes when you have commented and in no way are trying to be negative, one of the clique will jump down your throat, because they interpreted what you have written in the wrong way. I think it is really silly. But from reading so many discussions, I believe some of the oldies are personal and friends other than just on mylot, and they feel the need to help the group out. Yes, I have also experienced my star being reduced for this reason, and no matter how I try, I haven't been able to get it back up. I think it is sad that others being vidictive want to affect your earnings also. I wish it weren't allowed.

Wow ! Wonderful discussion debra ! I must say, everyone's different. lets compare this to a classroom of people whom you are meeting for the first time. Everyone's different and everyone has their own view of things. We just can't be of the opinion that everyone thinks the way we do. I personally feel that if we let everyone be their own self and not matter much over other's thoughts then we'll live a happy life and maybe even escape the 'peer pressure'. When someone acts unexpected, I just think to myself that its their life, their freedom, why should I interfere... Have a wonderful day !

There is peer pressure here. I was on a discussion where my views were opposite of what the poster and all the others were. And there was an attempt to get me to completely agree with them. I kind of got the idea that they all ganged up on me eveb though I let them know the reason why I disagreed with them. When someone does not agree with me, I may expand a little bit, but I certainly do not force them to agree with me. Oh I am a definite outsider.

I'm quite opinion-less person so I don't know when I get disagreed with. I would like to think my calmness stands still in such situation. Though I did react badly once, not in the sense you mean. I just went self-destructive From my experience lately, I see a peer pressure looming even in quarters known to me. I don't bad-mouth anyone just because I'm supposed to. Better to analyze first. The case I'm referring was unfortunate one, between my friends. I was, however, gagged by my network. Banned from writing anything here (I worked out to be able to read). Could I be able to mediate? I doubt, still I would have liked to be there. All mean to say is a yes to your discussion title and that I'm a third party.

I think myLot is like a microcosm of "real life" so of course there's peer pressure, or at least I suspect there is. I have a feeling all of us who post regularly in some of the more "controversial" interests feel we're being "bullied" or ganged up on from time to time and we probably suspect that some of those taking part are more "followers" than "leaders". I also believe it's very easy, TOO easy to misunderstand or misinterpret what someone online really means or what kind of person they really are. Plus there's the huge difference between speaking with someone face to face or just writing back and forth; when we're just posting on a forum like myLot others can't hear the inflection in our voices or see our expressions so it's quite easy to mistake something meant to be tongue-in-cheek or satire for insults or condescension. Another thing is sometimes if we're discussing a particular topic we may tend to forget there is a lot more to all of us than our views on that topic. We come from many different backgrounds here so it's natural our world views would vary greatly but that doesn't mean we don't have more in common than we have differences. I know I'm always trying to be a better person and to not take things personally if I'm disagreed with. I'm far from perfect but I always TRY to keep it respectful and to add a little humor and lightness now and then! Annie

There may well be 'cliques' on here but isn't that the same as offline too? Don't some people want to be part of the 'in' crowd at some point in their lives, online or off? I observe some who are always with certain users here and agree with them no matter what and that is their choice. I also notice the others who just 'do their own thing' and seem to getting the best out of myLot. It should be fun here and that is the only way of allowing fun to happen IMO.

I posted a discussion about something that happened on a chat site. The other person who was involved also posted a discussion about it. Interestingly enough, most of the people who responded to my discussion agreed with my point of view, and most of the ones who responded to hers agreed with her. Make of that what you will.

Hi. debrakcarey. I know that I don't feel pressured to be what others want me to be. Nor do I feel any kind of pressure when it comes to being on myLot, period. I am fine with just being me. I do believe that there are certain cliques that are on myLot. But it does not phase me. I carry on as if there is nothing going on right now. I always be who I am, I don't try to change to fit in with certain cliques or groups. I will state my opinion and I am not too concerned with how someone feels. I will tell the person the truth but I will be honest and respectable at the same time too.

yep. cliques form in any situation where a large group of unrelated people come together on a regular basis. work, school, online forums. having a group of 'friends' is fine. how much you let yourself be influenced by them is kind of up to you. i can see a couple of people in this discussion who i doubt are overly influenced by anybody, although they take on board and think about other ideas. i think it is about confidence.

Hi Debra, I've only been a member here for a short while, but I've already been affected to a certain degree by peer pressure here. I'm by no means saying that everyone here, or indeed people in general have to agree with everything I say, but on at least two occasions, I have felt attacked on mylot for my opinions. One of these happened just today. Also, I had wanted to post a bit about my life here, but now I feel unsure about doing it due to some responses that made me feel uncomfortable.

I do not know that I would call it peer pressure, but I do know there are cliques. I think we all find a certain circle that we are comfortable interacting with. I try to broaden my experience, deliberately, but if others do not that is all right. MyLot is recreation, we need to be able to relax while we discuss things and have fun when we visit here. Some people can be a negative influence on the Lot, even without a peer group. I have a friend from another site who was trying to get back in here as she has been a member for four years without ever reaching payout. She developed a routine here, and one other user came and criticized what she was doing, and basically turned her off to the site. I told her that user always puts every one down, and that there was nothing wrong with the posts she made, but she just does not feel comfortable and accepted on MyLot. So yes, we have cliques and peer pressure.

In life I do sometimes feel peer pressure but I dont usually let it bother me. I'm pretty strong in how I feel and the way I am so I dont give into the way others expect me to be. Bullying me isnt going to make me change the way I think or act. I think there are a few people on mylot that I have come across who get really nasty if you dont agree with what they think but oh well I'm not going to let them bother me. I love mylot and all these people who think being nasty is going to change someones opinion and force them to see things their way are wrong. I dont know any of these people personally why would I let it effect me in real life. You shouldnt feel peer pressure here if you do just ignore the people who are bothering you and enjoy mylot :)

I think that we have all experianced this as some point on many forums more often then not i find its the long time users that can object but ifeel that they become fustrated when many people dont read the terms of sites and post things that will end up deleted and these people that put us right are trying to help site by keeping to terms we must also remember that all people have a opinion and a right to express it

I think that you're right. I'm here. And I usually think how to gravitate others. And I feel happy when I can see very many response below my discussions. If I can't see them, I fee sad and bored. So, I sometimes feel pressures when I write discussions.

Everybody is entitled to have their own perception on things. On one matter you might agree but on 10 others you won't. Respecting other's opinion or views is very important. You can't ask everybody to agree with all your opinions. That will never happen. And I guess peer pressure has always an effect to a person but it depends on yourself if you want to absorb it or not.