fake steps/cheating

[SunsetRunner]

I'm sure I am not the only one sick of the posts/threads/accusations

lets define a step

a step is when you lift the leg up and then put it down

so by that definition, steps done on a exercise bike, cycling, walking, jogging, running even on the spot is a step

a fake step/cheating is when you attach it to say a fan, pet, ride a horse, get someone else to do the steps while you rest etc, those are fake steps/cheating

what about cheating in a challenge?

unless it is stated in the rules that only certain steps are allowed, or certain steps are not allowed, then no one is cheating

for example, if someone was to do their steps in a challenge where no rules were laid down, then they did not cheat, however, if rules were laid down, and they were broken, then yes they have cheated

what about they are fake steps because they are easier?

then what you are saying is that because you did say 10k steps sprinting, then anyone who did 10k steps not sprinting were fake steps/cheating

again, unless it was stated in the rules, then no one is cheating

just because you ran 30k steps, does not mean that the steps done by someone who did not run them were fake/cheating

do you know what it sounds like?

those who run the London/Boston or whatever marathon accusing those who jogged/walked it as cheaters, because the steps they did were easier

so unless I or other people broke the rules in the challenge, then no one did any fake steps or cheated

and I can hand on heart say that neither myself or others in the challenges that I particpate in are doing any fake steps or cheated, or at least I know that I haven't

what about comparing the amount of steps done? just because we did the steps say jogging on the spot, on a exercise bike, and you did them running outside, does not also mean that our steps were fake, yes they might have been easier, but boohoo, life is not fair, get over it, running in say cold weather/country is easier than running in a warm/hot country, does that mean those steps are fake?

not to mention, because you ran them, by your reasoning, someone who sprinted them, they could then call your steps as fake, and you are a cheater, because the steps you did where easier than theirs, how would you feel?

as I said before, I can not leave the house alone, so are you saying that all the people like myself are not allowed to use a fitbit, or join challenges, as our steps are fake steps/cheating?

[GershonSurge]

10 million step challenge

Each month, post the number of steps you walked in all of the previous months for your year and the total.

Are you suggesting you are not cheating in this competion I started?

[SunsetRunner]

I am not putting words into your mouth

a fitbit is a pedometer that counts/registers steps, if it is unfair for me to enter STEP based competitions, they why would I bother entering any? and by your definition, I have no right to join them

all the challenges are step challenges, so if it is unfair, then what you are saying is that it is unfair for me to join them because I am unabled to do 'real' steps

'There are other ways to measure your exercise efforts while using the Fitbit. Calories is one way. Activity time is another. Even the number of motions the Fitbit records as steps is useful for you.'

I already do those, including counting my steps, but challenges are what push me to do more and go further, but if it is unfair for me to join them, why should I bother with a fitbit, when MFP does all that already

again, the challenge allows you set rules etc, I join only the ones that do not have those rules, and again, I only join the ones I get invited

you say it is unfair, that maybe from your point of view because you take it seriously, along with the others that are in the challenges that you are in

like I said before, think of it from our poit of view, if you were disabled and housebound, are you sayinig that would you not join the challenges you are invited to?

[SunsetRunner]

does it state in the rules that jogging in place is not allowed?

tbh, it disappoints me that you are a mod and have this point of view

unless it is stated in the rules, then I have broken no rules, and have not cheated

if the rules state that the steps that I do are not allowed, then I will not join it

a step is a step regardless, by your definition, people using an under the desk stepper are not doing real steps because the motion is not one foot going infront of the other, but just going up and down

then some argue that an exercise bike/cycling is not real steps even tho the motion is one foot going infront of the other

[GershonSurge]

I would not join STEP based challenges and ruin them for others. STEPS do not need a separate definition. Similar motions are not STEPS.  In your situation, I'd start my own activity group and define the rules to allow any genuinely active motion as a step. You could define "genuinely active" as you like.

. 

[GershonSurge]

Jogging in place in my competition is not allowed. The rule clearly states "walking." Riding an exercise bike is not "Walking."

Running is also not allowed. Walking ends and running starts when both feet leave the ground at once. That isn't happening for me yet. 

You are cheating in my competition, which I started with a clearly defined rule. Will you continue?

[SunsetRunner]

then what challenges am I to join?

considering that the amount of people in the same situation as me is going to be low, I'd expect that the majority of the time I will be in the challenge with very few people or alone, in which case, why bother creating that challenge

you say I ruin it for everyone else, that would be true if I were winning them all, but considering that I do not, and I'd say that most of the time I am in the bottom half, I would not say I am ruining it for others

[GershonSurge]

---

@SunsetRunner wrote:

then what challenges am I to join?

considering that the amount of people in the same situation as me is going to be low, I'd expect that the majority of the time I will be in the challenge with very few people or alone, in which case, why bother creating that challenge

you say I ruin it for everyone else, that would be true if I were winning them all, but considering that I do not, and I'd say that most of the time I am in the bottom half, I would not say I am ruining it for others

---

You are in fifth place out of 196 members in the competition I created. I'm in eighth, but would be in seventh if you were not cheating by violating the clearly stated walking rule. Am I to be OK with that?

[SunsetRunner]

Each month, post the number of steps you walked in all of the previous months for your year and the total.

I did not have the exercise back then, so the steps done then were not via the exercise bike

Running is also not allowed. Walking ends and running starts when both feet leave the ground at once. That isn't happening for me yet. 

even though I am/was jogging in place, one foot is on the ground

so by your definition I am/was not running

looking at the leaderboard, nor did I win

if you insist that I cheated, then all I can do is apologise

and how certain are you that other people walked all their steps?

until this point, you would have still presumed that I walked them all, they could have also jogged, run, cycled them, and you would be none the wiser

[sunshine923]

Oh wytey just give it up you are never going to get them to understand your point of view. They are set in their ways and find it so much easier to judge others. You keep doing you and unless fitbit decides to change the rules and make jogging in place or other activities which are real steps, count as fake then we can consider them as such. You and I know your steps are real and that is all that matters.

[GershonSurge]

Jogging in place is not walking. Neither is riding an exercise bike. 

You are cheating in a competition I made specifically for walkers. If others are cheating, I don't know about it. 

Answer the question directly: Will you continue cheating?  An apology is meaningless if you continue in the competition.

[SunsetRunner]

where else am I so called cheating? if you think that I should not be participating in step challenges, then by all means kick me from them, ban me from joining them, ban me from the forum, do what you want

if I had said nothing, then you would have not know, at least I am man enough to speak up, and you are welcome to kick me from the competition or disallow me from joining any other challenges you create etc

I don't even remember that challenge/competition, so if it is still active, then by all means kick me from it

the definition of what a step is has been brought up numerous times and have variations, which one is correct? that depends on who you ask, just because you think one variation is correct, does not mean that it is correct

whether I am cheating via the type of steps I am doing is down to personal opinion

like I said the steps that I do are the only type of steps that I can do, if you and others feel that it is cheating then so be it

I am unable to do what you call 'real' steps, so can only continue to do what you call 'fake' steps, thus in your opinion will be continuing to cheat

if you think that because I am doing what I am doing is unfair then so be it, ban me if you want, at this moment in time I could care less, as these threads and posts tell me all I need to know about this community and some of it's users

but the fact is I have no choice, those are the only steps that I can do

and I seriously doubt that if the day were to come and you were disabled for life that you would not join challenges that you are invited to and instead just use your fitbit to count calories etc like you are suggesting

just because you were once disabled and now are able to walk/run, does not mean you know how it feels to be disabled/housebound for life

[GershonSurge]

There is no mechanism to kick you out of the competition. Don't hide behind that.

[SunsetRunner]

likewise, don't put words into my mouth or accuse me of hiding behind that

I am not a forum mod etc, so I have no idea what you can and not do

but you can kick/ban me from the forum, that I know for certain

so by all means ban me from the forum

if the challenge is still active, then I will quite happily leave it

[Gershon]

It's still active. And no, I can't ban people.

[Mukluk4]

The rules are determined by the  person that created the challenge.  If they are not ok with it, move on and create your own challenge with your own rules.

The End, let this horse die 

[SunsetRunner]

although the group is 10 Million step challenge, I serisouly doubt that all the steps done in that group were done walking, even though you said walked

regardless, I have now left the group, so my so called 'fake' steps should no longer be in the group

I know that this is not your typical forum, but I seriously doubt that a forum mod can not ban a user from the forum

because what you are saying is, a user could start being abusing, racist, disruptive etc even start swearing and you can not do anything about it

I highly doubt that

if what you are saying is that you level of mod does not allow you to ban me, then get another who can

heck, here is my permission,  ban me, because I am doing so called fake steps

[RossD]

Wytey , do not listen to them...... Are you happy with what you have done ? are you fitter with what you are doing? Don't take the words of fools get you down...... Be happy and don't listen to idiots......

[MatthewFitbit]

Hey all - I'd ask that you remember the first rule of the Community Guidelines: Be considerate.

I'm confident that we can hold a discussion on this topic without resorting to personal insults or namecalling.

To clarify a couple things discussed here:

• The Community forums are completely separate from Activity Groups. The only reason someone might be banned from posting on these forums is for violating the aforementioned Community Guidelines.
• Activity Groups are privately organized and managed by Fitbit users, and operate on the honor system. If you have concerns about another user's performance, I'd recommend contacting the organizer, or simply joining a different Group/Challenge with different participants.
• We do value the feedback posted in this thread, and will continue to investigate how we might accommodate impartial competition in Groups and Challenges. As has been mentioned by others, the personal benefits of tracking your progress shouldn't be overshadowed by anyone else!

[GershonSurge]

@MatthewFitbit,

As you probably know, these threads aren't the only places people are concerned about step counts and how they are achieved.

The "feel good" idea of only looking at yourself is antithical to the concept of a competition. I had a situation where I worked all month to win a competition and in the last couple days, someone entered with nine million steps for the month. If you have ever done this, you know "just ignoring" this person was impossible. You also know "just joining a different group/challenge" isn't an option because usually there is a cluster of people at the top who compete each month. 

There is really nothing Fitbit can do to control this. However, there is an improvement that can be made. When a person starts an activity group, perhaps they could select if participants compete based on steps, activity time or calories burned. The last two would be fair to people who want to cross train or who cannot take steps.

Usually, I have oatmeal for breakfast. 😛

[MatthewFitbit]

@GershonSurge I definitely hear where you're coming from, and understand that such experiences can affect motivation. I really like your suggestion, and found this relevant request on our Feature Request board. It's already got a good following, so hopefully we will see something like that added in a future release.