Mid-20th century myths & lies about weight training still common today

[SmithJLee]

I was born in the 1960s. My dad was born in the 1940s and he believed all of the lies people used to tell about people who train with weights. When I started becoming interested in weight training he flipped his lid. He told me that "weightlifters" (his generic term for bodybuilders, weightlifters, powerlifters, etc.) were all gay, they were all going to die early, they were all going to be racked with arthritis by the time they're 40, etc.

I don't know why people on the internet still stun me but here I am stunned. On another forum (the subject matter of which is not fitness or 'lifting') someone posted a question asking if any of the other forum members are into powerlifting, bodybuilding, etc. About the half the comments were opposed to weight training but the one that really stuck out was this one:

To the OP. You can bench press whatever you like as often as you like, but in a few short years you will be ****ed and wondering what you did with your life beyond bench presses. Not a great legacy.

But have at it. Not my problem if you choose to lead a vacuous life.

First of all, the OP didn't mention bench pressing—the person making this comment is so utterly ignorant that the only exercise he could name was the bench press.

Secondly, by what mechanism will OP be "****ed" within "a few short years"? How did this rule get established?

Third, "what you did with your life beyond bench presses"? "Not a great legacy"? "A vacuous life"? What in the ****ing **** is this ***hole talking about?

[OldFartTom]

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself."
Proverbs 26:4

Don't argue with the guy! It's not just weights, stupidity is everywhere and it respects no topic

[SmithJLee]

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself."
Proverbs 26:4

Don't argue with the guy! It's not just weights, stupidity is everywhere and it respects no topic

My response was to wonder aloud about whether he was a human or a random word generating app. Then I posted a link to Rippetoe reading his article about strength training for older people.

[Oleg1975K]

Yes, in this world there are a lot of “experts” on the harm of strength training, who haven’t lifted anything heavier than the penis in their lives. )))

[OldFartTom]

My response was to wonder aloud about whether he was a human or a random word generating app. Then I posted a link to Rippetoe reading his article about strength training for older people.

I am just a random word generating app

But I'd say from the style of the language your quoted idiot was a real human. Although it's getting so much better, AI conversation has a particular feel to it.

Not sure he'd (guessing it's a he) would read your link, he already "knows" he's right... that training is bad for you.

[ElrondHubbard]

Well, we all know how vacuous Arnold's legacy was due to the harm of bench pressing.

[OldFartTom]

Well, we all know how vacuous Arnold's legacy was due to the harm of bench pressing.

Arnold who??

[DCSpartan]

I have no ideas what you guys are talking about. I still trust in my Victory brand of supplements from Joe Weider. Gonna load up on some of that Mass gainer 6000 before I hit the gym.

[Garage Rat]

Well your dad is partially right.
There are some gays that weight train,some will get arthritis (some will get it even if they don't weight train),some will die early some won't is it because of weight training probably not.
Who cares if your bench pressing or not.
Some choose to because they like it.
Those that don't,don't understand the ones that do and why.
Actually weight training and trying to maintain muscle is beneficial in fighting sarcopenia ( muscle wasting/atrophy)from getting older.
It's been shown older folks with some degree of muscle mass are healthier and stronger than ones who don't weight train.

[Oleg1975K]

Arnold who??

Вот этот )))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo

[OldFartTom]

I'd read a reasonably detailed account of the Martin and Mitchell defection (which occurred in 1960). What struck me was that one of them had been into physique, can't remember which one, and the investigator had discovered he had a photo taken in a pose, with one hand holding a dumbel sitting on a stool with a velvet cover, in a photographic studio. The investigation immediately concluded, no further evidence needed this was total "proof" that he was a communist and a homosexual. Well the guy did defect, but it was the open and shut nature of the NSA investigation. Weights photo = gay commy (period!).

AFAIK, thankfully this is one anti training belief that has almost totally died out.

[SmithJLee]

Well your dad is partially right.

It's not my dad I'm talking about, really. It about how half the people who responded on the forum post I mentioned firmly believe all the same myths and lies about weight training that were common in the mid-20th century. We're in the information age. How on Earth can it be that people still believe that nonsense?

Then again, belief in flat Earth has made a massive comeback, so...

[fairOne777]

You should've informed him that no-one in the bodybuilding world who is serious about growing stronger bench presses, they all do dips and overhead presses.

[HanleyTucks]

half the people who responded on the forum post I mentioned firmly believe all the same myths and lies about weight training that were common in the mid-20th century.

The best lie is one someone wants to believe.
"Sixpack abs in 30 days!"
"Double your investment in 6 months!"
"I'll leave my wife for you."

People want to believe exercise is bad for them because then they have an excuse to sit on the couch.