Why do people think that 'nobody else is doing it' should be a convincing argument as to why I should not do something? 'You're the only person wearing boots,' 'Do you see anybody else taking a pear from the dining hall?' 'Nobody else is making a cup of tea at this hour.' Look, if there's a valid reason not to do something, tell me the REAL reason. You're concerned my boots don't have enough traction on the icy roads? Tell me that. The dining hall has been having issues with hooligans starting fruit-fights on their front step? Tell me that. The noise of the kettle is keeping you up? Tell me that.

Respond by saying, "I'm starting new trend!"
This sounds like the flipside of the old adolescent cry, "But everybody else is doing it!"

"You're not the boss of meeee!"

Seriously.  If you have such little confidence in the recipe you submitted that you have to rate it 5 stars yourself using a second account, you probably shouldn't submit it in the first place.  I can list people whose every. single. recipe. is 5 stars.

Along those lines, it makes me mad when someone gives a recipe a really low rating, but doesn't give a review to say why - so there are some recipes that have 2 and 3 stars, but all of the reviews are positive?!?!  It confuses me.

And take your damn heavy weights off them too!  I'm a pretty strong broad, but sometimes I don't feel like moving many many 45lb and/or 90lb weights.

yup. our gym has signs ALLL over telling people to take their weights off when they're done.
"Big enough to lift it? Big enough to put it away."
"For health and safety reasons, please put all weights away after use"
"Please be considerate to others and put weights away after use"
and my personal favourite
"Women use this equipment too. Remove all weights after use."

OK, so the last time I had the flu was 10 years ago. And since then I've only been troubled with passing colds (that I tend to get over in 2-3 days thanks to miso and a good, clean life.)

So now I've started having the balance issues and tinnitus. And people act like I'm making it up to get attention. Yes, I've started walking with a cane on the street...because the earth moves under my feet without warning sometimes, particularly if I'm tired or if I've been standing for a long time. A lot of times I don't actually need it but if I do, it's there, and it gives me more confidence because I can sort of "feel" the ground. I don't limp along, I walk, but it's there if I need it, and sometimes I do.

How do we get from "general good health" to "if she says she's sick, she's faking it"? I happen to know a couple of people who do "enjoy poor health" but they are the sort who are too sick to attend a meeting or keep their word, but well enough to go camping for the weekend or travel halfway across the country by car, or spend the day shopping. The same people (mutual friends) who are all over those people with help and sympathy, act like I'm being childish.

Today even my French teacher told me that "it's all in your mind, just stop thinking about it". Like she would know. The one who's always having stomach issues and going to the ER every five minutes. (Last time they sent her home and said, "Do what we told you the last 3 times--change your diet.")

It's not in my mind...though it may be in my head--specifically, in my inner ear. I don't think the ear/nose/throat specialist would have ordered an MRI if he thought I was shining it on.

Can you hear the gears grinding?

Seriously.  If you have such little confidence in the recipe you submitted that you have to rate it 5 stars yourself using a second account, you probably shouldn't submit it in the first place.  I can list people whose every. single. recipe. is 5 stars.

I've always rated my recipe after submission. I mean, I'm a person who tried the recipe..and I give it 5!

I thought you were playing with me, but your recipes really are all rated 5 stars. 

Of course the person submitting the recipe thinks it's great, that's why they're submitting it.  There is an implied five stars by that person.  The voting system is for other people to agree or disagree - five stars for total agreement with you about how great the recipe is and one star for total disagreement.  If everyone rated their own recipe five stars, the rating system would have no value.