What Are You Waiting For?

Training Bodybuilding
41

[quote]vroom wrote:
This one is for all the sponges out there. You know who you are. You read everything and soak up knowledge but don’t bother to post any messages of your own.

What are you waiting for?..

…If you are out there reading the site all the time, why not pop in here and say howdy? This thread is for all of you sponges out there…

…If you are one of the many sponges out there, pop in and say hi on this thread…[/quote]

Therefore,

[quote]I wrote:
…I don’t really know where this post would have went if it wasn’t hijacked. The original post was basically just a command to those that have been lurking…[/quote]

And then,

[quote]Kuz wrote:
…There is a command somewhere in his post that sponges/lurkers MUST post? Did I miss that?..[/quote]

Nope. Nothing saying that anyone must post. My point was that the original post was a “command,” in the sense of what “command” means in 4th grade English. An “imperative” statement. This thread was headed for a shift in subject when it was created. There is nothing wrong with that–I think this thread has created a very good debate.

~Terumo

42

Sasquatch,

This might seem strange, but I expected some sponges or lurkers to take the plunge and start participating.

Amazingly, even with all the baloney taking place, this is happening. Is this so hard to believe?

I simply felt, as I had before I started posting, that it can be difficult for sponges to find a way to get involved so I issued an invitation.

I didn’t suggest that people start a bitch fest. If people are so immature that they want to blame me because their itty bitty feelings were hurt by the big bad men on the boards, then I guess I’ll just have to live with it.

Anyhow, two important things. One, I haven’t been trying to apologize. If I wanted to seriously apologize I would have. Two, I’ve received some feedback that may or may not influence my comments in the future.

Anyhow, I’m not slamming you or anything, please don’t be reading that into my comments.

I am however a bit disgruntled that we’ve gone down this particular path instead of using what was a great chance to welcome new users to our community…

As it is, this must be a particularly impressive thread! Oh well, I guess it is funny in its own way.

43

Again, where are you getting this interpretation? Where have I suggested that disagreement is a problem?

I am suggesting that people who cannot stomach hearing an opinion other than their own might want to think twice before posting an opinion.

Obviously, I’m getting some negative opinions from people just recently… and I’m cool with that. Flame away. I earned it, I’ll take it. I might even fire back. Heck, no, lets be honest, the odds are very good I’ll fire back.

:stuck_out_tongue:

44

[quote]Terumo wrote:
This thread was headed for a shift in subject when it was created. There is nothing wrong with that–I think this thread has created a very good debate.
~Terumo[/quote]

Agreed - a good, lively debate is what this site thrives on.

Kuz

45

Eyes open, mouth shut. Say little, see much.

-FC

46

It wasn’t intended for a debate, it was intended for people to introduce themselves.
How many strangers like to walk up to a bunch of people they don’t know and jump into a debate?(rhetorical question)

So lets hear from some new guys and long time lurkers! Thats just a suggestion, not a comand.

47

I was going to say hi, but then I saw all the girly men crying.

Don’t forget to buy my movie, Pumping Iron, I still get royalties.

48

vroom,

Actually, I think too many people post. If you don’t have something intelligent to add to a thread don’t bother.

For example: rather than berating skinny bastards for not being able to eat enough, point them to the skinny bastard diet, massive eating reloaded articles or other posts. Criticism is fine but it should also be paired with constructive information.

In my case I always used to get bloated when I tried to bulk up. I read a few Berardi articles and found that by alternating my protein sources, substituting liquid meals for solid, and gradually increasing my calories I could prevent myself from becoming a small dirigible and being needlessly shot down by a stray sopwith camel.

49

A bit about myself, to give flamers some context: I started out three years ago, despite having 'lifted" for several years prior, at a weak fat 250lbs (watch out for those stray Sopwith Camels indeed). I got down to around 220 using Men’s Health and running. Starvation Atkins took me to a weak 160 (oh did that hurt - I still have flashbacks), with the FFB skin still around my middle (damn).

About 1 year ago I found T-Nation, and began to train serious and eat better. Being an endomorph FFB, I put on fat with the muscle but am now the strongest I have ever been w/cuts where they should be at 195lbs. Do I need to get a bit leaner for summer? Sure. Will I ever have more that a 4-pack (or a 2-pack during the winter months)? I do not know. Will I keep trying? Of course. Do I have a lot more to learn? You bet!

I am a bit with Flawless Cowboy ? I visit, I learn, I buy a bit (much to my family’s displeasure), and I try to improve. I have posted on occasion, but only bits, comments, or reactions. It is not about sponging, from my perspective, but about not having as much to contribute as some.

I suppose I could share my challenges in trying to eat clean despite the influence of a wife who won’t, kids who shouldn’t (where they got those skinny genes I do not know), a tenure-track as well as overall life stress (I am a psychologist, of all things) ? but why? Those are just excuses in many ways, so I soldier on, eat my tuna, hit the iron, and endure the eye-rolls of those around me as they stuff another donut into their head.

I enjoy Vroom’s posts, and those of the esteemed Mr. Shugart (Merry Christmas Bob hangs on my fridge) ? it is after all T as in Testosterone. I do not get my feelings hurt - I know what my weak points are, and what I should do to overcome them. I like it here, and plan to keep coming. Perhaps I will post some more, but in the meantime just keep moving forward trying to get bigger, leaner, and better (although, not all at the same time ? no magic GNC pills here).

50

[quote]vroom wrote:
This should not imply that we are all going to agree all the time. And quite frankly, thank goodness for that. But that does not mean the person does not belong on T, and should go to pussies-r-us.

Again, where are you getting this interpretation? Where have I suggested that disagreement is a problem?

I am suggesting that people who cannot stomach hearing an opinion other than their own might want to think twice before posting an opinion.

Obviously, I’m getting some negative opinions from people just recently… and I’m cool with that. Flame away. I earned it, I’ll take it. I might even fire back. Heck, no, lets be honest, the odds are very good I’ll fire back.

:p[/quote]

vroom

You may not have intended the thread to go this way, but how many threads could say that. Becuase you were the poster, you have taken some heat, and that may be unfortunate.

It has fostered good debate about what some people find acceptable and what not and I think that’s good. As Kuz and T have said–‘nothing wrong with a good debate.’

My post was not meant as an all out attack on you. Numerous times I acknowleged my own actions as being out of line.

If, however, you use this thread to then retaliate and refute those that have spoke up, then the purpose of the thread, and therefore the debate have been wasted.

It takes a big man to take the hit and then move forward. From what I’ve read from you, I think you can do just that.

Now, get to the gyn and pull 4 wheels. Channel this in a positive way and be a true T-man.
Vroom-this was a positive thread, even with some of the negativity.

51

Heh, I’m going to say “wayyyyyyyy” every now and then. I can’t resist!!!

52

[quote]Soco wrote:
vroom,

Actually, I think too many people post. If you don’t have something intelligent to add to a thread don’t bother.
[/quote]

Hmmmmm… This from the guy who asked for a topless pic from a woman who had the guts to post legit photos of her hard-earned physique? Hmmmmm…

53

First post here as well…

Although I do not have any ground breaking information to bring to the forums, I do have a testimonial.

Around 3 months ago, I got fed up with the desk jockey physique and decided to start a “new me” campaign. At the time, I was 233 pounds and about 27% bf. (5’ 11" tall, 36 years old) I decided to take up martial arts, so I researched a bit and signed up at a local Taekwondo dojang. Whenever I start something, I typically go balls to the wall, which is what I did with this - joined some forums, bought some books, etc. While reading a fitness post on the MA board, I saw a link to T-Nation. I haven’t been the same since.

After a few weeks of reading, I started the T-Dawg diet, picked up some Grow!, Surge, and HOT-ROX. Today, I weigh 212 and have a bf % of 21. I just joined a gym today so I can hit the rack, so we’ll see where that takes me.

Anyway, thanks to all of the contributors to this site. Some great knowledge, some great advice, and some great powerful images. When the chick pix are up, my wife thinks I’m on the porn sites - soon it will be time to whip her ass into shape too!

-R

54

Vroom is very pale. Militant Vegan pale.

55

Peace vroom

56

Hahahaha. Dammit Rainjack, I’ve told you before, this is the summer I investigate the outdoors and see if I can’t find out what all the hullaballoo is about…

I’m going to have to post pics to prove it aren’t I?

57

This thread cracks me up.

Vroom - “I cordially invite any lurkers out there to make their first post if they haven’t done so already”

T-Nation Members - “Fuck you, Vroom. You’re the reason why they don’t post.”

Other T-Nation Members - “Shut-up, man. Vroom rocks!”

Prof X - “You are all small and pasty. You need more quality size.”

LMAO

I actually think that Vroom is one of the more laid back posters on the Nation. I can’t imagine any one feeling threatened or intimidated by him (or his lack of a tan).

58

Vroom,
One of these days change the avatar to look exactly the same but flip the bird with the hand your head rests on…

you’ve got to change up the avatar… it gets freaky…

59

Although I do not read nearly as much as a close friend of mine, I’ll take the plunge also.

I’ve joined this site a little while since I found out about Spike. Now wrap up to today, I have to say, I have to fit one of those that are afraid to post.

I’ve laughed my ass off at how ProfX and other remarks on some of the beginners here, from the “boy on prohormones that could squat 1000” to the “T-Vixen Posts on redheads” but I have to admit that T-Nation is a different calibur to what I’m used to.

I don’t consider myself ignortant, but then again, in a high school society who ever does? However, I do fear the riddicule of asking stupid questions and recieving the infamous “eat more, life more.” Sometimes, it’s just a bit hard for us to cram, what ProfX calls “lunch.” Already I eat 2-3x more than my friends and sadly for some of us, with ectomorph-mesomorph types, we just have one hell of a time to gain.

Although my first few posts shouldn’t be out to battle it off since I’m a Sprinter, not a Powerlifter, sometimes I have to admit that the remarks made to others can be a reply trying to make more laughs at the expense of the orginal poster.

I believe that’s the predominate reason why lurkers are afraid to post. Because after all, we wern’t all given 300+ frames with 600+ Benchpresses. The snowball effect of gaining strength just takes too much time.

60

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Vroom is very pale. Militant Vegan pale.[/quote]

I read this, laughed… went off and browsed around the site… came back, read it again and still kept laughing. Nice work RJ.

Hang tough, vroom. This whole thread was a good idea because it DID get some long-time lurkers to post.

Kuz