I’ve written about this subject as well, and it’s honestly a rather interesting look into psychology. One of the examples I always like is Matt Kroczaleski, who grew up naturally scrawny and was told his whole life that he would never be able to make it big in powerlifting because of his genetics, and then as soon as he became successful, everyone said it was because he was a genetic freak that made it easy for him.
It’s impossible to have role models in lifting because we stigmatize success. If someone is not successful, we do not listen to them because they have not accomplished anything. If someone IS successful, we claim it was because of genetics and steroids. The sheer fact someone has succeeded is usually used as an example AGAINST someone, rather than for them, implying that since said person was successful, they clearly do not understand how to train as someone who isn’t “blessed”. I really do know who we are supposed to look up to with this mentality. The mediocre?
Ultimately, we are all the “hero” in our own lifestory, believing that we are working just as hard and as smart as everyone else, such that, when we view success, we attribute it to villainous rather than heroic attributes.
[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
Mostly for the love of self righteous indignation. Some people love being disillusioned in some strange morbid way.
The people that get on my nerves are the ones who are the self appointed straighteners of the record (the bald guy who’s vids show up a lot here lately comes to mind). That is all he seems to do. I don’t know how successful he may be, but it just seems like an unnecessary case of sour grapes to produce an endless amount of videos calling everybody else liars and cheats while claiming to have the real lowdown on how to get strong. Other S&C coaches that actually are doing well don’t do that. They’re too busy helping people win. They also have the smarts to exercise some discretion instead of popping off like a giddy little 9 year old tattle tale.
[/quote]
Jason Blaha? He’s a self-styled whistle blower who uses himself. Go figure.
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
I’ve written about this subject as well, and it’s honestly a rather interesting look into psychology. One of the examples I always like is Matt Kroczaleski, who grew up naturally scrawny and was told his whole life that he would never be able to make it big in powerlifting because of his genetics, and then as soon as he became successful, everyone said it was because he was a genetic freak that made it easy for him.
It’s impossible to have role models in lifting because we stigmatize success. If someone is not successful, we do not listen to them because they have not accomplished anything. If someone IS successful, we claim it was because of genetics and steroids. The sheer fact someone has succeeded is usually used as an example AGAINST someone, rather than for them, implying that since said person was successful, they clearly do not understand how to train as someone who isn’t “blessed”. I really do know who we are supposed to look up to with this mentality. The mediocre?
Ultimately, we are all the “hero” in our own lifestory, believing that we are working just as hard and as smart as everyone else, such that, when we view success, we attribute it to villainous rather than heroic attributes. [/quote]
That’s the great thing about the strength sports. IS there a quantifiable way to compete against someone else, sure. But ultimately, the competition is with yourself. Can you lift a little more, move it a little faster, get a little leaner, be a little bigger than the last time? It is a never ending rabbit chase to constantly be a better self than the one before and maybe in the process, hold off father time a little longer.
[quote]jbpick86 wrote:
That’s the great thing about the strength sports. IS there a quantifiable way to compete against someone else, sure. But ultimately, the competition is with yourself. Can you lift a little more, move it a little faster, get a little leaner, be a little bigger than the last time? It is a never ending rabbit chase to constantly be a better self than the one before and maybe in the process, hold off father time a little longer. [/quote]
You are raising a great point, especially in the case that many people refuse to do just this, instead seeking to tear down everyone around them while remaining the same, rather than rising to the level of others. It takes far more effort to make yourself better than to make everyone else worse.
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
I’ve written about this subject as well, and it’s honestly a rather interesting look into psychology. One of the examples I always like is Matt Kroczaleski, who grew up naturally scrawny and was told his whole life that he would never be able to make it big in powerlifting because of his genetics, and then as soon as he became successful, everyone said it was because he was a genetic freak that made it easy for him.
It’s impossible to have role models in lifting because we stigmatize success. If someone is not successful, we do not listen to them because they have not accomplished anything. If someone IS successful, we claim it was because of genetics and steroids. The sheer fact someone has succeeded is usually used as an example AGAINST someone, rather than for them, implying that since said person was successful, they clearly do not understand how to train as someone who isn’t “blessed”. I really do know who we are supposed to look up to with this mentality. The mediocre?
Ultimately, we are all the “hero” in our own lifestory, believing that we are working just as hard and as smart as everyone else, such that, when we view success, we attribute it to villainous rather than heroic attributes. [/quote]
That is well written.
I believe this attitude exists towards all types of success.
[quote]DJS wrote:
Times have changed. It’s never going to be the way it was. You are not going to single handedly bring back the glory days. I thought you found better things to do with your time than trying to strong arm mass culture into what you want it to be from a message board.
[/quote]
After 8 months of not posting you come back to write that!? Don’t try to incite an argument pls.[/quote]
After 8 minutes of not posting you come back to write that!? Don’t try to incite an argument pls. [/quote]
The Southeastern United States is the end all be all of college football and all you West Coast pansies can suck it. Argument filled with irrational feeling incited.[/quote]
thems fighting words!!!
[quote]jbpick86 wrote:
That’s the great thing about the strength sports. IS there a quantifiable way to compete against someone else, sure. But ultimately, the competition is with yourself. Can you lift a little more, move it a little faster, get a little leaner, be a little bigger than the last time? It is a never ending rabbit chase to constantly be a better self than the one before and maybe in the process, hold off father time a little longer. [/quote]
You are raising a great point, especially in the case that many people refuse to do just this, instead seeking to tear down everyone around them while remaining the same, rather than rising to the level of others. It takes far more effort to make yourself better than to make everyone else worse.[/quote]
It is also infectious apparently. I see “roids” thrown out always before “gee, that guy must work hard”.
It has become the new age way of avoiding giving someone who has achieved a lot any credit for it.
I have to admit this is NOT just a competition with myself.
My effort in the gym is a blatant attempt to avoid being another crab in the bucket.
[quote]orion wrote:
People dont like to be reminded that giants walk among them.
Thats really all it is. [/quote]
I have seen it argued that Kali gives false hopes to kids…which is insane.
Most humans won’t ever look like he did straight out of prison, let alone where he is now.
That is a genetics issues, not a steroids issues…and kids don’t get false hopes because they learn other people have better genetics than they do at certain things.
The Southeastern United States is the end all be all of college football and all you West Coast pansies can suck it. Argument filled with irrational feeling incited.[/quote]
[quote]sardines12 wrote:
Because many of the people you mentioned are or have done roids and give out terrible fitness advice? [/quote]
Terrible advice such as?
I have to say, I have been lifting too long to be looking to any of these guys for basic lifting info.
I look to them for attitude and drive if at all.
I already know how to build muscle.[/quote]
You’re a smart advanced lifter though, a lot of kids see all the bells and whistles and then start thinking they should lift arms everyday and use over training methods like CT and Mike Rashid or awful squat form. And guys like Kali bring it on themselves if you’re going to claim that you’re natural you can’t look like a mini Hulk. Plus Kali was in those planet fitness videos that make weightlifters look like dbags. Going against his own kind for a paycheck is weak imo.
And I agree. What the hell is this obsession with accusing popular bodybuilding internet personas of steroids, like it somehow affects the message they are putting across, which, for the most part, is about kicking ass in the gym and making YOURSELF better.
I’ve not seen anyone of these guys say in their videos “do this and you’ll get a physique like mine.” I mean, it wouldn’t take long even for a 16 year old just getting into this shit to realise he’s not going to become CT any time soon. In fact, I bet a lot people don’t think they can even achieve their own realistic potential (as gauged by physiques they’ve seen in the gym, on the internet, etc), which is like failing even before you try! They make excuses, like steroids, BEFORE putting in quality time and resources.
[quote]jbpick86 wrote:
That’s the great thing about the strength sports. IS there a quantifiable way to compete against someone else, sure. But ultimately, the competition is with yourself. Can you lift a little more, move it a little faster, get a little leaner, be a little bigger than the last time? It is a never ending rabbit chase to constantly be a better self than the one before and maybe in the process, hold off father time a little longer. [/quote]
You are raising a great point, especially in the case that many people refuse to do just this, instead seeking to tear down everyone around them while remaining the same, rather than rising to the level of others. It takes far more effort to make yourself better than to make everyone else worse.[/quote]
It is also infectious apparently. I see “roids” thrown out always before “gee, that guy must work hard”.
It has become the new age way of avoiding giving someone who has achieved a lot any credit for it.
I have to admit this is NOT just a competition with myself.
My effort in the gym is a blatant attempt to avoid being another crab in the bucket.[/quote]
LOL That picture. “If Chief Keef got jack3d”.
You’re a smart advanced lifter though, a lot of kids see all the bells and whistles and then start thinking they should lift arms everyday and use over training methods like CT and Mike Rashid or awful squat form. And guys like Kali bring it on themselves if you’re going to claim that you’re natural you can’t look like a mini Hulk. Plus Kali was in those planet fitness videos that make weightlifters look like dbags. Going against his own kind for a paycheck is weak imo.[/quote]
Truth be told, I find beginners tend to be undertrained and overly concerned about form, and these lessons might actually be pretty valuable. I would rather a beginner be training everyday and busting his ass to the point of form deviation than following a 3x5 with zero additional work and never raising the weight because they keep worrying about their form, the latter of which I see far too often these days.
As for the Planet Fitness commercials, I am afraid that I do not grant them the same degree of significance that you do.
[quote]sardines12 wrote:
Kali was in those planet fitness videos that make weightlifters look like dbags. Going against his own kind for a paycheck is weak imo.[/quote]
Hey, it ain’t easy makin money as a bodybuilder. It’s even harder for an ex-con. If I were Kali I’d gladly take that gig instead of what a lot of bodybuilders turn to…
[quote]sardines12 wrote:
Kali was in those planet fitness videos that make weightlifters look like dbags. Going against his own kind for a paycheck is weak imo.[/quote]
Hey, it ain’t easy makin money as a bodybuilder. It’s even harder for an ex-con. If I were Kali I’d gladly take that gig instead of what a lot of bodybuilders turn to…[/quote]
He also did that lol
