Time for a new Potty People Logo?

[Erica P-G]

I really like it!

All the little tweaks fits the page just right

[ManiacalFairy]

Personally, I greatly dislike the person on the toilet and the "potty people" designation. I'm a newcomer and have less invested in this site than many of you but can give a possibly convoluted rationale for my dislike of the logo.

I'm an oncology nurse and I liken the "potty" symbol to the "pink washing" that dominates the world of breast cancer patients that I see. I am blown away by the mentality of the breast cancer "pink awareness" campaign. What I see happening is this transition of people identifying more as their disease than as an individual. My life may be greatly impacted by my ongoing IBD issues but I refuse to look at my life as revolving around the toilet. I appreciate the good support of knowledgeable people and understand the importance of connecting with people who have similar challenges, but I'm not a person with IBD who is also a mother, a wife, a nurse, a friend but a person who fills all of those roles who happens to be dealing with IBD. I don't want my disease to define me because I don't want to lose myself to this disease.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[tex]

Hi Paula,

You have some interesting points. However, consider that the purpose of a symbol (such as the association of pink with breast cancer) is to convey instant recognition (rather than to define anything). You have to admit that when you see the pink ribbon you automatically think of breast cancer. So the association works. Your negative perception may be because of oversaturation due to your occupation — you're constantly exposed to it and sometimes overexposure breeds contempt. But for the general public, the association seems to be effective — when we see the pink ribbons, we think of breast cancer, and of course we think of the goal to defeat it.

Likewise, when we see the stick figure in the bathroom, most of us instantly identify with it and we immediately think of recovering so that it no longer applies to us. The association is valid because living in the bathroom initially dominates our thoughts for many of us. It represents who/where we are when we begin our journey to recovery. And after we attain remission, it represents who/where we used to be. I'm not ashamed that I have MC — it wasn't my choice. At least as a recovered victim of MC, that's how it appears to me. YMMV.

Tex

[jessica329]

FYI, on the earlier graphic, puzzle pieces are generally associated with Autism organizations. I vote to keep the original potty people logo. I think it's an accurate visual representation of this horrid disease.

[Lou Ann]

Until this was pointed out as a negative for some, it never once crossed my mind as being bothersome to look at......after all we ALL use that "apparatus" whether it be once a day or 25 !! I say keep the potty!!

Lou Ann

[HockeyMom]

I also vote for keep the potty person. I like the way it is set up right now. And as someone who is still struggling and who has been up and down with this disease, I think the potty person still means alot to me.

Just my opinion..

Laine

[tex]

Thanks. I appreciate everyone's input.

Tex

[Patricia]

I didn't really care for the potty person in the beginning, when I joined the forum. But over time, the potty person started to become a symbol for the kindness, knowledge, community, safety, hope and healing that I experienced on this forum. It also reminds me how I was able to get my life back, move back out of the bathroom where I sometimes felt chained to the toilet, thanks to all the wonderful people on here who helped me. Whenever I feel depressed, anxious or in despair about this disease and I need to read up on something, I come on this forum. When the potty person was temporarily gone the website felt empty to me, a familiar friend was missing. So I am glad to see the potty person back in the corner!

Love, Patricia