yeah, there IS something wrong with vanity…it’s plain ugly and silly…and,yes you DO have a right to be that. Big guys who walk around seemingly dressed for and CONSTANTLY fixed on and conscious of their big muscles are posterboys of narcissism.
I began as a dissatisfied 155 pounder, worked for years in the gym, now have a defined 215pd. 5’9" body and it’s all cool… it’s not really a big deal anymore. I don’t walk around identified with it cause it’s only a part of who I am…I transcend it and live my life. I don’t NEED to focus on it because a fringe benefit of all my years of work is that OTHER people draw attention to it and compliment it FOR me!
Damn, Cross…that post really showed the emotional maturity of an early adolescent. I really hope you were just drunk when you wrote that, because it embarasses just me to read it. You think you’re special because of your pretty little muscles? And you actually think all those imaginary people watching you are jealous? Maybe people roll their eyes when you flex in store windows because most people someone that obsessed with themselves IS vain and shallow, and someone with that much insecure self-importance probaly doesn’t have that many other capabilities or responsibilities.
Although there are thousands upon thousands of people bigger, stronger, faster, and better
than I am, I do in fact feel special. Not everyone has the dedication that I or other bodybuilders do and that, regardless of the fact it is in no way equal to MDs and police officers, it deserves respect- not the ability to criticize fat people. Where would Arnold be if he had hid his muscles
from the world? Not a famous multi-million dollar actor. And according to your logic every bodybuilding competition is vain and shallow and the participants are not capable
of any other task? Finally, what is a more adolescent comment then asking if I was drunk when I wrote it. The fact that you and others took the time to reply, obviously means it warranted posting.
damn man… that was some rough shit. I know you aren’t fond of vegetarians, but eating bodybuilders is pretty… sick? After those articles on the venice beach stuff, wouldn’t you worry about catching something? Unless Coach Davies has a renegade immune system plan in the works I haven’t heard about yet.
Either way, you’re right though, people should just have their thing and wear it unassumingly. People who try to flaunt what ‘they’ve earned’ haven’t earned anything yet.
I feel that for many, bodybuilding steadily becomes a way of life. Until the entirety of the “system” is integrated as a style of living, it has much appeal as a novelty. Allow me to continue; When any of us began bodybuilding/weight trianing (Staley does not like the phrase and I understand why) we began to grow muscle. The resulting impact (more attention from both sexes, compliments, that occasional look of awe). Any positive reinforcement of this magnitude would certainly motivate the most humble of our brood. There is a point where novelty wears off and the pronouncement of others about our physique has a lessened psychological effect. True, there are a few individuals who will never receive enough compliments, but let these be the outliers for my purposes. Those of us who have been training (correctly) for several years and are lucid enough to realize that we’ve ammounted a halfway decent body can move forward in attempt to fulfill more individualized goals (specialization of small muscle groups, ect.) Then there are those entombed in a sophmoric state wherein they require constant reassurance that they have not atrophied in the last 8 hours. Am I occasionally guilty of this? Absolutely. I’ve been trianing but 4 years and while I’ve built much confidence I do take a glance in the living room mirror regularly. However, I do not feel the overwhelming urge to begin posing in public because I do not need the input of strangers. I began weightlifting to better myself and I continue to do so for the same reason. In the event that after a good amount of time you are still desperate to be gawked at while flexin’ down in front of JC Penny’s then grab your gallon container of posin’ oil and have at it. I do however reccomend you keep in mind I’ll have my M.A. in psychology about a year and a half from now so I will be happy to take on a patient or two. Lata.
MBE: "More fun than a barrel of...wait, no. Since 1333. JADABB founder, 2002."