A Rant.

[PowerManDL]

Directed to/at no one in particular. Just something I wrote a bit ago that I recently found, and it seemed applicable. It's long, but deal with it.

****

Believe it or not, I'm really not that angry a person in real life. Most people consider me quite mellow and laid back. This is in no small part due to the fact that I've learned to exert a measure of self-control over what can be quite an explosive temper. Simply put, getting angry and upset in real life is almost always a futile process; the cool head almost always prevails in the real world.

One of the ways I've managed to do this is to find other ways to divert this anger. The Internet happens to be quite a convenient place to do this. Despite what a great many people seem to think, the Internet is *not* the real world. The Internet is a medium through which largely anonymous people exchange thoughts, ideas, opinions, and information.

You tend to notice that, left to their own devices, people online will tend to default to a lot of the structures and behaviors that would otherwise exist in the real world. Dominant among these, as in real life, is the idiot.

idiot, -n. A foolish or stupid person.

Now, I tend to regard this word with a broad stroke, however, there are quite specific instances of "idiot" that pop up. The idiot is not to be mistaken for the ignorant. The ignorant simply lacks knowledge. The idiot is a different matter; the idiot is either unable or actively unwilling to possess knowledge. The ignorant can be taught. The idiot will reject your knowledge as he does not possess the ability or desire to have it.

With this in mind, my "Internet persona" has been crafted with something of a hard edge, quick to become sarcastic, blunt, and generally abrasive all the way around. This is not unintentional; what is a prerequisite matter of accepted civility, all but required for simple functioning in the real world, has become virtually a handicap in the realm of thoughts. In a medium where information and idea are king, there is both a purity and a catharsis that arises from abandoning the shackles of convention and speaking one's mind. Considering the dominance of the idiot, this is all the more important, as the voice of the idiot is often a hurricane compared to the gentle breeze of the more enlightened.

Tangental to this, but getting more to the point, I love the topic of strength training. I love the topic as it relates to human performance in general. I love all aspects of strength, and indeed have come to accept that this subject will in one way or another dominate not only my personal life, but professional, as it has for the better part of my adult life.

For a handful of reasons, the field of strength and conditioning has a seemingly disproportionate share of morons. Maybe it's due to the fact that appearance is often the only factor that the masses use to determine someone's knowledge in the field. Maybe it's due to the fact that someone with good genetics and good drugs can create a spectacular appearance while having little to no ability to pass on his (or her) knowledge of the sport, if any. It could be that the traditions and the culture of bodybuilding in particular have become so intertwined with the mere idea of strength, for the above reasons, that separating myth and fact have become all but impossible.

In any event, there are a lot of fools that operate in this field. Even worse, it is incredibly easy for someone to have a modicum of success, read a few articles, and establish him or herself as a guru. In fact, this has become all too common on the web forums of the Internet, thus leading back to my original point.

I want to examine a few points in detail. These apply to no particular forum, but instead are general themes and trends that I've noticed:

1) There is always a program. It doesn't matter what forum you go to, there is always a favorite program. This program (or in some cases a handful of them) will be the answer to any question. The lifter can be a beginner, lifted for 20 years, overweight, underweight, injured, healthy, or any other scenario. Mysteriously, one of these pre-written programs will always be a perfect fit with absolutely no modifications at all.

2) There is always a guru. Correlated to the above, as this guru is generally responsible for at least one, if not all, of the programs touted as gospel. The guru almost always has a selling point, some gimmick that is used to "wow" the masses. The guru will use big words, and may even sound like he knows what the hell is going on. Ironically, the guru's "knowledge" often leads to an amazing short-sightedness, and thus the pre-written programs and hasty assumptions made on inaccurate and incomplete knowledge become the One Best Way to solve any training problem.

3) There are always sycophants. Also called the "me toos" or just "nutswingers". Any guru needs these. These are the people that really have no idea what is going on. They follow the guru around, regurgitating what the guru said, and often fawning over him/her as if having some juvenile crush and constantly seeking the attention and approval of the guru. If the guru's ideas are ever called into question, the sycophant will valiantly defend him/her, even though by defintion the sycophant isn't qualified to debate the matter in any way.

4) The blind lead the blind. Strength training is really elegant in its simplicity. When you get down to it, there are only a few core tenets: progressive overload, management of fatigue/recovery, and consistency. That's it. Three extremely, almost ridiculously simple concepts. Yet for some reason, nobody ever seems to get this, least of all the gurus and the sycophants. The elegance of the body's adaptive process is lost in a stream of mindless bickering over whether barbell curls are better than dumbell curls, whether bicep day should come before or after back day, or any other number of arguments that are the intellectual equivalent of asking if cheddar cheese tastes better than swiss cheese. The entire point is missed, context is lost, and idiocy wins.

5) Internet lifts and Internet results. Yes, that's right, everyone can squat 500 lbs, even though they've been lifting for a cool six months and have gotten up to 150 lbs. In fact, they've gotten so jacked that they're done bulking and it's time for a good cut. They're probably even ready for steroids.

Reality check: If you have been lifting for six months and weigh 150 lbs, you do not need to cut, you are not an advanced lifter, and you are not ready for steroids. Unless I have seen your lifts on video, then your 500 lbs squat and 400 lb bench (and the 180 lb deadlift that is probably true) are bull****. You suck, you are weak, and you are not qualified to tell *anybody* what they should (or shouldn't) be doing in the gym.

This is about the point where all the people fitting this description start whining and moaning. Ok, fair enough. If you can't meet those standards, then show me who you've trained that has. It's a simple enough request; either put up or shut up.

This sounds harsh, and it's supposed to. There is no way that a kid that has been lifting for under a year has any idea of what another person should be doing. A person that can quote theory and books all day, but does not in any way have a clue of how to apply this knowledge is useless. I respect anyone that tries to help out another, but selling snake oil is not "helping".

If you don't understand the topic, don't pretend like you do. Don't set yourself up as a guru, don't deceive people into thinking you know what's going on, don't follow a guru around acting like you understand things when you don't.

Not to be completely negative, here's a little nudge in the right direction to close:

1) Evaluate things for yourself, using common sense. Ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask for it to be explained. Do not ride coat-tails, and take NO ONES word as gospel.

2) Be open minded. If you think you have all the answers, you are wrong. Learn from as many sources as you can.

3) Examine the other side. Every argument has an opposing viewpoint. Learn it, understand it. Be able to explain why it's wrong. Be open to the possibility that maybe it's right.

4) If you argue, don't get emotional. Taking things personally in an argument is about the dumbest thing you can do. An argument debates an issue, not the people arguing. If you get emotionally attached to an argument, you've already lost.

5) Practice what you preach. This is self explanatory. If you espouse a viewpoint, an opinion, or an idea, then be sure you're living by it.

[Slim Schaedle]

Amen.

[zen]

nice rant

Everyone wants to play the role of advice-giver. It makes them feel knowledgable and important. I know I have done it.
It just seems that the people who jump into that role the hardest are the ones who don't have a strong experience and knowledge base, nor do they have many great deeds to speak for them, and typically end up spewing forth things that they have read in magazines.

Having an open mind is a truely useful quality.

[the doc]

true dat - mayttt lays down the straight dope yet again... the question is: will anyone listen? Or will the Paul Delia's continue to rule the world?

[Isaac Wilkins]

Stickied.

[Guido]

Just a suggestion, but I think should be a sticky in the Newbie Forum, too.

[Anthony]

Great post. Unfortunately, the people who should read and understand it simply won't do so.

[BigCorey75]

wow, that was awesome especially the idiot thing vs ignorant and the 150 pounders squatting 500 pounds


id like to add "never argue with idiots, they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience"

[Rock Steady]

I printed that out and it made for one sweet work bathroom read.

[Sensei]

Good read.

I would have enjoyed it and would have believed this:

Directed to/at no one in particular. Just something I wrote a bit ago that I recently found, and it seemed applicable.

...if it weren't for recent posts directed at one particular forum member and their apparent "ass-kissing sycophant" (me - I guess that's what I get for asking for someone to be more polite). Interesting to me that this particular post by PMDL would be stickied so quickly in light of that...

[8.8]

great read

the reality check was my favorite part - you know there are ppl reading this in that situation that were like but i REALLY know what im talking about- yea yea yea

[Detard]

Nice Post. I agree with you that people need to be more open to ideas and not think they know the best way to workout if they've only been lifting for 6 months. People need to understand that there are no substitutes for squat deadlift and bench. Sure there are accessory lifts that will help boost your big 3, but no lifts can imitate the big 3.

Another thing is that (and this is not directed to anyone individually, but in my time being here - about 1 1/2 years - i've noticed this a number of times) there seems to be alot of members that join up and then proceed to ask questions (great, everyone here is willing to help) but when they get an answer that conflicts with what they have learned in person (from parents, fellow gym members, PT's...etc) they get all defensive and start flaming other members. If your going to ask questions, and you get a response that you feel is incorrect or will hinder performance, at least ASK why a certain piece of advice was given instead of going off on someone for giving advice that YOU think is wrong.

Just my $0.2

[Isaac Wilkins]

Good read.

I would have enjoyed it and would have believed this:
...if it weren't for recent posts directed at one particular forum member and their apparent "ass-kissing sycophant" (me - I guess that's what I get for asking for someone to be more polite). Interesting to me that this particular post by PMDL would be stickied so quickly in light of that...

Sensei, he's posted it on four or five different boards. It's not specific to WBB or any one member. If the shoe fits, it gets worn.

[Beast]

Matt, you brought a tear to my eye. It's just so... beautiful.

[getfit]

this was by far the best read.Nice!

[dblockspky]

Heh, I remember when I first joined however many years ago that I was i thought I could squat 405. Pretty much everybody doubted me since I was like 14. Needless to say i argued like a dummy but after looking at my form my but was barely moving 3 inches. **** I was 14 though.. I get excuse though right lol.

[sCaRz*Of*PaiN]

Nice read. Right up there with "What Separates Us From Them".

[bill]

Good read, I don't see anything wrong with telling a beginner to WBB 1 or something of that nature.
Even letting new members, know some good journals to check into.

[PowerManDL]

Good read.

I would have enjoyed it and would have believed this:
...if it weren't for recent posts directed at one particular forum member and their apparent "ass-kissing sycophant" (me - I guess that's what I get for asking for someone to be more polite). Interesting to me that this particular post by PMDL would be stickied so quickly in light of that...

Considering that the text file is dated December of 2005, you tell me.

As Isaac said, if the shoe fits....

[HeavyBomber]

It sounds to me like you need to get a life dude. And yes, I would say that in person just the same.

[Sensei]

Considering that the text file is dated December of 2005, you tell me.

Yeah, I already did.

It's nice to be an outlet for your anger, I guess...

[PowerManDL]

It sounds to me like you need to get a life dude. And yes, I would say that in person just the same.

I'm very proud of you.

What have you proven here except that you can't read?

[Neil]

It sounds to me like you need to get a life dude. And yes, I would say that in person just the same.

I'm starting to understand why all the intelligent posters either stop posting, or leave.

[PowerManDL]

What I find immensely ironic is that it didn't even take a full page for my point to be proven.

[Fuzzy]

Lets lock this thread...