This is exactly what nearly 5,000 members (or should I say “former” members) of the website BeautifulPeople.com were told after packing on the pounds during the holidays, according to a story on CNN.com.
Founder, Robert Hintze states in the article that they “mourn the loss of any member,” but that his community demands a high standard of beauty.
“Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded,” he told CNN.com.
While my initial reaction included a smidgen of outrage, it soon faded because you know what? The community belongs to the members, and if they don’t want so-called “fatties” it is certainly their prerogative.
The good news is, these members will have a chance to redeem themselves once they lose the weight as characterized here:
“We responded to complaints by moving the newly chubby members back to the rating stage. This is the same as having them re-apply.” That comment comes from Greg Hodge, managing director of BeautifulPeople.com.
While I do find this a bit amusing I think there’s a lesson here about online communities. It’s one that I truly believe in. The community will develop its own culture and the members who are vested will work to keep that culture. It was the members after all who flagged these fatties.
Why?
Because like it or not, they care about what their community stands for.
And in this case, its beautiful people who can clearly exercise self-control around the holidays.
(This post originally appeared on the blog, SiliconAngle, where I am a regular contributor)
5 comments
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January 13, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Genellyn
I agree!
It’s shocking at first when you read what was done, but honestly, it’s their freedom and their right to run their community how they want. Which includes screening the types of members they allow. Not say that I agree, there are people that way more than average that look better than the bean poles in the magazines. I don’t think they should be banned just for being overweight, because you can still be very attractive and not at an ideal weight.
But I digress. My main issue was if they were to be “forced” to let members back on. I hate when our freedoms in America are overlooked for trying to be Politically Correct. It’s very dangerous, even in the “name of good”. We could become a country with no freedoms at all if we start to tell people how to run their communities.
January 14, 2010 at 9:02 am
Jill
Well to be honest, I had not heard of that website or community before and so I was intrigued to find out a little about the site.
I agree that a community has to develop their own identity but isn’t there a fine line here about self determination and discrimination? What if there was a community of anglo’s who decided that people from other races should not be able to be included due to a difference in skin colour.
I read the site, and this is a direct quote; “Beauty is subjective and BeautifulPeople Network believes that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. The rating module was born from this very principle. By giving the power back to the members to define their ideal of beauty in a democratic way.”
I guess that this proves that democracy is not fool proof – a whole community of people who cannot recognise the beauty of a person who is regarded as a” fatty” – what that actually means I don’t really know. In a world where eating disorders and emotional troubles relating to self acceptance continue to grow unabated, I guess this is just a symptom.
Am I offended? Well I know that the group isn’t one that I would want to join as it doesn’t celebrate the true gifts of humanity but just what others can see.
I am really wondering if the decision on defining what is a “fatty” was determined by the whole community or whether it was a decision that was determined by a few? I would really like to know the process. I wonder if a similar process applies to those who are considered too thin?? I guess as long as these “rules” were known and clear from the outset then the process of having the members reapply won’t be a surprise to anyone.
Just as long as our commitment to self defining communities is accompanied by a reasonable outlook of maintaining broad social values and upholding the tennets of laws. I would be dreadfully challenged to support elite communities who excluded people on the basis of appearance, gender or any other factor. So maybe I am very earnest about my beliefs and values about equality but we have had enough history of division and struggle which demeans humanity.
Good thought provoker – thanks Angela
January 16, 2010 at 2:16 am
Brinstar
While I agree with you in principle, however I think we have to keep in mind that a community’s standards may not necessarily reflect values or standards that one actually wants in a community. In this case, it might be negative body image or unrealistic beauty ideals perpetuated by the media.
I manage a community devoted to an online videogame. If we allowed our community to set the standards of what a good and acceptable player is, and vote out everyone who did not meet their standards, our game would be in dire trouble. The community would suffer in terms of diversity, and it would suffer in terms of behavioural standards, as the most obnoxious and the ones that get a kick out of grieving would drive the others out, simply because they are more aggressive and will use ways to exploit the system to their advantage.
January 19, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Angela Connor
Oh Brinstar, no argument here. I am with you 100% on that. If I let the community I manage enforce the rules or create its own rules it would be pure havoc. A complete nightmare and a site that no one but trolls would enjoy visiting. I think there is a difference in community “culture” and setting the overall standards of what is acceptable vs. what isn’t? Would you agree with that? The community does control the culture, in my opinion.
January 21, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Brinstar
Ah, I see the distinction. Yes, a community does usually hold a controlling stake in setting cultural behavioural standards and norms, but (maybe I’m optimistic) I do believe that community managers and community moderators can have some influence on it. Of course, if a community rebels or decides not to accept guidance, your point holds.