Muscle & Superiority: Why?

Off Topic
41

[quote]Tex Ag wrote:
MaximusB wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
MaximusB wrote:
I take the view that muscle is better because on the most basic level, it’s hard to build. The dedication and discipline it takes day in and day out, would show in their character and work ethic.

What about genetics? Not everyone has to do the same amount of work for the same results.

As a teacher I know that effort is not always easily apparent in the results. I have worked with many students who struggled with the concepts, who put in more work than other students, and who still got lower grades.

Same applies to the body as well.[/quote

Why worry about something you have no control over? Am I not going to push weight because I have shitty insertion points on my body, I am an endomorph who has to work even harder to drop fat, and may lack any and everything required to have a nice physique?

Your work with your students who have struggled is no different, because through that work, you will learn more about yourself and be on the path to what does work. There are not many things that can teach better than failure, if you let it.

I do not disagree. I just wanted to point out that when looking at someone else’s build it is tenuous to assign how much effort they have made. That is what this thread is about,judgments made of others based on apparent muscularity.

Your example above could be viewed as less dedicated and disciplined than the guy who stays lean puts on muscle easily.
[/quote]

I don’t judge anyone by their build or stature, because what could they do about it? I have just as much respect as the skinny guy who is busting ass as the guy who has a larger structure. Do I have any less respect for someone like Frank Zane because he isn’t “built” like Lou Ferrigno? Of course not.

The guy who stays lean and put on muscle easily still has to work to stay lean or build muscle. More work or less work, don’t sweat the small shit. Do the work.

42

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
swissrugby67 wrote:
Successful people are only truly successful if they are able to analyze and anticipate [what other people think or say in particular] rather than stick with what’s working now.

It’s about being one step ahead.

Yeah sure, but analyzing and anticipating the actions of individuals is not the same thing as being annoyed by those actions. In that respect what these other people say and think is just a means for the successful. And still, I am willing to bet even if someone does as you say to become successful there is only so much room in their mental capacity to give other people outside the scope of their expertise a further thought.[/quote]

I totally agree.

If you thought I was annoyed by those actions I speak of then I kindly correct you for I am not. I suppose interwebz chat doesn’t convey tone very well.

43

[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
MaximusB wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
MaximusB wrote:
I take the view that muscle is better because on the most basic level, it’s hard to build. The dedication and discipline it takes day in and day out, would show in their character and work ethic.

What about genetics? Not everyone has to do the same amount of work for the same results.

As a teacher I know that effort is not always easily apparent in the results. I have worked with many students who struggled with the concepts, who put in more work than other students, and who still got lower grades.

Same applies to the body as well.[/quote]

Why worry about something you have no control over? Am I not going to push weight because I have shitty insertion points on my body, I am an endomorph who has to work even harder to drop fat, and may lack any and everything required to have a nice physique?

Your work with your students who have struggled is no different, because through that work, you will learn more about yourself and be on the path to what does work. There are not many things that can teach better than failure, if you let it.

I do not disagree. I just wanted to point out that when looking at someone else’s build it is tenuous to assign how much effort they have made. That is what this thread is about,judgments made of others based on apparent muscularity.

Your example above could be viewed as less dedicated and disciplined than the guy who stays lean puts on muscle easily.

I don’t judge anyone by their build or stature, because what could they do about it? I have just as much respect as the skinny guy who is busting ass as the guy who has a larger structure. Do I have any less respect for someone like Frank Zane because he isn’t “built” like Lou Ferrigno? Of course not.

The guy who stays lean and put on muscle easily still has to work to stay lean or build muscle. More work or less work, don’t sweat the small shit. Do the work. [/quote]

You’re right you shouldn’t judge, but it shows what kind of person they are. If I see a well dressed, well groomed, in shape guy compared to a weak, round, scuffy guy, I would assume the former takes care of himself more and has respect for himself. If someone can’t respect themselves, they’ll have a hard time respecting others. However, if the guys’ 250+ and looks like a juicer, I wouldn’t think differently of him over an in shape 185 guy that I see bustin’ his butt in the gym everyday.

No Muscle, low muscle, plenty of muscle. It still takes a sh*t load of effort to maintain and build. All because you workout, doesn’t mean it makes it easier.

44

Honestly, I have only seen this attitude online, and back in high school. In person, everyone I’ve met or worked out with that is big and muscular has been real cool to me. It probably helps that I don’t tell them their advice is wrong, or act like I know more than they do, etc

45

[quote]Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.[/quote]

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.

46

Interesting thread

Muscle = Dedication Discipline Hard work

47

[quote]Cherrymennos wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.[/quote]

I like this.
I think spiritual growth and Physical condition go hand in hand

48

[quote]StephenD wrote:
Cherrymennos wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.

I like this.
I think spiritual growth and Physical condition go hand in hand[/quote]

The guy in your avatar looks pretty muscular and in good condition. Are you going to argue that HE is a spiritually advanced human being, or even a decent human being?

V

49

[quote]StephenD wrote:
Cherrymennos wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.

I like this.
I think spiritual growth and Physical condition go hand in hand[/quote]

They should, which doesn’t mean that they do. Majority of people do not think that they need to grow spiritually. Most people think that they are perfect the way that they are. They do not need to become more honest, loving, accepting etc. They just need more money, muscles and poon. Spiritual growth is a choice and does not just come in the same package with physical growth. It is the individual’s choice in what they want to focus their lives on. In my case spiritual growth and physical condition are goals in my life, but they they may not be the goals of another.

50

[quote]Vegita wrote:
StephenD wrote:
Cherrymennos wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.

I like this.
I think spiritual growth and Physical condition go hand in hand

The guy in your avatar looks pretty muscular and in good condition. Are you going to argue that HE is a spiritually advanced human being, or even a decent human being?

V[/quote]

ZING!

51

[quote]skaz05 wrote:
Vegita wrote:
StephenD wrote:
Cherrymennos wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
You raise a good point here, Swiss. Some here seem to forget that this website is about developing into a better person not just about who gets the biggest. It is as if the size of one’s arm/chest/thigh equates to their worth as a human being. People make decisions that are not always in line with what will make them bigger. Sometimes time can be better spent than in the gym or eating. It seems some forget or fail to realize this.

I do not think it is an issue of superiority but rather the opposite. It falls in line with the ideas surrounding the ‘body project.’ With a movement away from meta-narratives, i.e. religion, people feel a need to define who and what they are-and they are increasingly turning to their own body as a symbol of value. So now we are all demigods struggling for superiority in a growing pantheon.

Like a sculptor, I see my body as a project, but spiritual growth is my supreme goal in life. People forget what is really important. And this “forgetting” is a universal concern of the human condition.

I like this.
I think spiritual growth and Physical condition go hand in hand

The guy in your avatar looks pretty muscular and in good condition. Are you going to argue that HE is a spiritually advanced human being, or even a decent human being?

V

ZING![/quote]

Yup!

52

yeah you got me their prick.

53

[quote]championp wrote:
Honestly, I have only seen this attitude online, and back in high school. In person, everyone I’ve met or worked out with that is big and muscular has been real cool to me. It probably helps that I don’t tell them their advice is wrong, or act like I know more than they do, etc[/quote]

True. Many posters here have read my profile (I’ll save you the trouble, 5-9 170) and thrown it in my face to ‘prove’ my opinion is not valid.

Not everyone here is working out to get huge. Yes, it’s a bodybuilding site, but many people come here to learn from the big guys, even if their goal is not to become a huge bodybuilder type.

This is an interesting subject you’ve brought up OP, glad you did it. Some of the regulars are conspicuously absent however.

54

haha Swiss I can’t help but think that your first point is directed at me, from my “Women make no sense thread”, am I right? :wink:

There is nothing wrong with being elitist, what is wrong is being an arrogant prick. I stay on my high horse because it provides motivation for me to succeed. The moment I step down and mentally get on everyone else’s level is the moment I stop excelling, and that is unacceptable.

55

A little pride never hurt anyone…

56

[quote]waylanderxx wrote:
haha Swiss I can’t help but think that your first point is directed at me, from my “Women make no sense thread”, am I right? :wink:

There is nothing wrong with being elitist, what is wrong is being an arrogant prick. I stay on my high horse because it provides motivation for me to succeed. The moment I step down and mentally get on everyone else’s level is the moment I stop excelling, and that is unacceptable.[/quote]

Haha no, it wasn’t directed AT you. It was just an example that I thought of. Plus, it wasn’t even you who said it!