Join date: Aug 2005
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 750
I've been reading this site since 1998. Although I don't participate in the forums too often, I'm pretty sure I know what Testosterone Nation is "all about."
It's definitely not about making excuses for people tying up the squat racks with petty things like stretching. Lord help me when people don't find this to be a nuissance. If our iron-lifting ancestors knew of this they'd be rolling around in their graves.
Furthermore, you can't help those who don't want to be helped. These days most people think they know it all. They wear headphones so they won't be disturbed. They avoid eye contact. The guy doing quarter-squats next to you with 95 lbs thinks you're an idiot for doing 365 lb full squats. It's not our job to help everyone "see the light." They obviously have different goals. And as long as your goals don't prevent me from reaching my goals, so be it. Just have some common sense and common courtesy when it comes to the freakin' power rack - especially when people are waiting! It ain't rocket science.
As for gyms with only 1-2 power racks, almost all are like that now. Where I live I'd have to drive pretty far away to lift at a "hardcore gym," in which case I'd lose my lifting partners, as they want to lift at the gym right down the street.
While I realize that from time to time power racks will be occupied by "testicularly challenged folks," TNation has always been a place where you can bitch about it. In fact, when I found T-Nation years ago it was like the scene from the video "No Rain" by Blind Melon when the little bee-girl opened the gate and joined all the bee-people. I finally found some like-minded folks with whom I could relate.
TC, I will no longer be visiting your site or writing for you due to the anti-indian sentiment you clearly harbor deep within your black, twisted soul.
Just kidding. I am forced by circumstance to use a 24hour fitness. At least they're friendly to chalk and bands and there are a number of jacked and strong guys there.
Join date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 837
langankyl wrote:
I only "extrapolated" the fact that maybe helping someone would have been the right thing to do rather than being subscribing to the mentality demonstrated in this piece.
Did he ask for help? No. Did he make any effort to not be in peoples way? Oh that's right, he covered his face, blocked his hearing, and laid in the middle of the fucking floor. Fuck him. He is being a douche acting like that rack is an ab mat, being inconsiderate to anyone who shares the gym with him, and I am not his babysitter.
Where exactly on my gym contract did it say that by signing up I am now every random resolution lifter's mentor?
To be honest, I think its a sham that this got posted here on this site because this is certainly NOT the mentality that everyone here subscribes to, yet it is the one that is being portrayed.
New rule;
Articles published must now pertain to 100% of those that may read them. So no more articles about precompetition fat loss, as not everyone here plans to compete. No more articles about specific diet programs, as not everyone likes low carb or low fat. No more articles about women's training as the majority of readers are men. No more articles about men's training because many readers are women. No more articles about powerlifting because some of us are bodybuilders. No more bodybuilder articles because some of us fancy ourselves powerlifters. And definitely no strongman posts because not everyone does that. No more articles about sex because some of us are celibate. Might as well take the site down tbh.
Cool article.
I've been reading T-Nation (and hence, TC's stuff) since 2003.
I kinda agree with what spadesofaces has said, but TC's stuff needs to be put into context. So, I second BobParr and daddio push.
I read a lot of stuff, but the AD is one thing I'm always coming back, to. For years, it used to herald weekend time for me. Besides, TC has a witty, sarky writing vibe and there's always some zest in what he's putting out.
Apart from that, you get the feeling this guy really believes in TN or in the idea of T. Back in 2006, he had a big thread going where he put himself out to be asked about anything. I remember a guy having some rehab issues asking TC for advice - which prompted TC to get Dr. Ryan to join the discussion to help out a bit.
Pretty cool, in my book.
PS: and yeah, TC is also a pretty good hawker. ;) Just read how he advertises the supps TN sells. He's got writing pretty much down pat. I just think that TC's arms and delts are too small, judging from his 2004 vacation piece. Oh, well, you can't have it all, jefe.
Join date: Sep 2009
Location: Manitoba, CAN
Posts: 1
Awesome article! Just one lingering question... where does one find a wallpaper sized version of the photo with the caption "Strap one on for an aerobic workout."?
Join date: Jun 2008
Location: California, USA
Posts: 12
TC,
Have to say you are right on in all that you aticulate and pontificate to the masses of T-Nation! I am a proud member of the great and mighty world of weightlifing with all the blood sweat and tears that come along with exceeding limits and expectations. TC thanks for showing myself and others of T-Nation what it means to be who we are!!!!
andrew_live wrote:
"marinated with Axe Body Wash and suffer from vagina envy." Way to go TC. You looking forward to this years Easter Egg hunt? Lol. God forbid.
Ha! You remember that article, huh?
Luckily, they got rid of the Easter Egg Hunt at my gym.
Nikhil Rao wrote:
TC, I will no longer be visiting your site or writing for you due to the anti-indian sentiment you clearly harbor deep within your black, twisted soul.
Just kidding. I am forced by circumstance to use a 24hour fitness. At least they're friendly to chalk and bands and there are a number of jacked and strong guys there.
Join date: Jan 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 37
bretc wrote:
Great article TC! Funny story - a skinny younger guy was using the power rack at my gym the other day but he was using it to superset military presses (in the rack) and db shrugs (so he'd walk over to the db rack after each set). I must have waited around twelve minutes (he did around six supersets so far), finally I got enraged, waited for him to go do his shrugs, and I stole the rack from him.
He came up to do a set of military press and saw that I had stripped his weight and said, "Hey I was using that." I shot him the most intimidating look I could muster and just kept on doing my squats. He stood there for around 30 seconds before finally walking away. I'm still undecided as to whether I was a total bad ass or that annoying bully that everyone hates.
Join date: Jan 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 37
BobParr wrote:
OdysseusUnbound wrote:
Just the motivation I needed. Thanks TC. I train early in the A.M. out of necessity, and the most of the other people in my gym at that time are geriatrics with an opinion on everything (think Morty Seinfeld and Frank Costanza). They insist that I will "get hurt" with all that heavy deathlifting (yes I've corrected them, and that's still what they call it) and the cattleball swinging (somewhere Pavel just had a heart attack).
"But look at how red your face gets, and you are sweating and short of breath after your set, that's not good, in fact it's dangerous to work too hard. Moderation is best." Thanks Morty.... Now fuck off....
Cattleball? LMAO
And I once got virtually the same comment made to me - coming from a guy who was just sitting on a leg extension machine checking his cell phone.
And I'm amazed at how often I see older people lifting SLOOOOW, as suggested in Nautilus books from the 1980s. Guess their muscles will be primed to react nice and slooow and safely when they they try to avoid the that hip-breaking fall on the ice. I'll take my chances with lifting explosively, Pops - but thanks anyway for your input.
They train the way they learned when they were younger. People do what feels natural. Atleast they exercise which is more than most people do. I never fault people who come into my gym (and by my gym I mean the gym I run at a college) who work out, but don't do the same kind of hard training I teach my students to do.
Join date: Jan 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 37
TC wrote:
Wow.
I didn't think I'd have to explain this article.
If you've been reading the A-dog column for any length of time, you'd know that I occasionally write a "win one for the Gipper" piece to get people excited about lifting. I might do it in a scholarly way, a funny way, or, in this particular case, a presumably funny, satirical, over-the-top way.
Now I didn't actually say any of those things to the guy on the mat. I actually only had to wait about two minutes, total, before the other rack opened up.
Still, I used the opportunity to psyche myself up, and as fodder for an article that, based on the majority of responses, was well received.
Now 'scuze me while I go mash up some avocados for the game.
TC
I think sadly, satire is lost on many people, particularly in this small population who sometimes take weight training a little too seriously. This is coming from someone who makes their living and has devoted his academic and professional life to sports performance. I love training and teaching others, but I (probably like you) understand it's part of a much bigger picture of who I am.
Join date: Dec 2008
Location: Ontario, CAN
Posts: 610
TC wrote:
Nikhil Rao wrote:
TC, I will no longer be visiting your site or writing for you due to the anti-indian sentiment you clearly harbor deep within your black, twisted soul.
Just kidding. I am forced by circumstance to use a 24hour fitness. At least they're friendly to chalk and bands and there are a number of jacked and strong guys there.
Damn, Nik!
You scared the hell out of me for a minute!
X 2
Dont go running away! We hear good stuff from you. I even keep a wrinkly copy of your creatine article in my gym bag just so that every time some guy starts telling people about how 'creatine is a steroid and bad for you' I just whip it out and say 'Neh creatine naysayer!'.
And whats this about chalk? Dont use that stuff man! Geeze! My gym even banned chalk cause some guy got an eye infection from it. No joke. So clearly the evidence says chalk can kill you and is not meant to be used in the weight room or fitness room for you.
Join date: Dec 2008
Location: Ontario, CAN
Posts: 610
langankyl wrote:
To be honest...I didnt like the article. TC, plainly put, is an egotistical prick who is a lesser man for it. His implication of drug use was pathetic, and rather than bitch and moan about some fat loser in the gym, he should have had the mental fortitude which he clearly lacks, and tapped him on the shoulder and said something.
Maybe he sould have had the brass to help another individual grow rather than contribute nothing to someone who really needs help.
It shows me this man knows NOTHING about challenging himself. Weight lifting comes anturally to him, and so he does it. In his words, he has no control over his cholestrol, finanaces, etc... when in fact he DOES have COMPLETE control over them. I bet he has other people help him though, eh? Imagine his suprise when he discovers if he had only helped that stupid bastard at the power rack that he was actually someone who could have helped him organize his taxes...or challenged him to take on a task that made him go beyond himself.
He may be strong, but without character, and from what I gathered no intelligence beyond the ability to make good comparisons between a dude's head and a veiny cock, he is no better than the weakling hogging the power rack. He's just the polar opposite on the spectrum.
LMFAO! Thanks man! I needed that laugh. Most people are just going to think you are a complete retard fuck for that but no worries. I got it. Just a pointer though: Your sarcasm is lacking in sarcasm. That was golden - "no intelligence" - ahahah. Best 09er post I've seen in a while!
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