This is interesting. I'm wondering if there was a particular post that prompted this whole thread, or just the board culture in general? I wonder if it's changed since the time of the OP?

We all need different things. I think most of us are looking for a place to share our triumphs and struggles. Because there are struggles, and I don't see the point of sugar coating it. We all will have occassional setbacks, and it's nice to have a place to vent about them, just as much as it's nice to have place to brag about our triumphs without seeming like an ***.

Personally, I like having someone tell me that a piece of cake isn't the end of the world. It's good to have a reminder that the next step is to move past it and get back on track. That said, I haven't seen "people pat each other on the back for a good binge." Smaller slips, yes, binges, no. But that's not the territory I hang out it much.

However, yesterday I wandered over to the personal binging tales in chicks in control. THAT was dangerous territory for me. I've had my share of binges in life, although I guess it's not as bad as it could have been. It did me no good at all to read about ALL THAT FOOD. I was hungry, and pressed for time, and I honestly think it made it more difficult for me to make a good decision for dinner. (I didn't binge, I just wasn't as healthy as I should/could have been.)

That was the first time I'd looked over there, and I don't think I'll go back.