Before I say what I'm going to say I must implore that the member known as "Juice Authority" do not reply to this thread. For those of you who aren't aware of it, JA has been stalking me, disruptig posts, instigating hostilities on every thread I write on and sending me personal e-mails complete with threats and insults. I'm sure he'll come on here acting like an innocent victim, but until then, I'd like to propose a hypothical scenario for those of you with an open mind. I think you'll find it interesting.
One of the problems that seems to be prevelant on bodybuilding boards (and no where else, curiously) is the use of studies and references as the end-all be all of proof. What I've always maintained is, just because something is referenced, does not mean it's concrete evidence. It's just an opinion from somewhere else -- which should be considered on the merit of its logic.
Studies are different. Naturally, studies help us to understand the effects of everything from changes in blood levels from the ingestion of a drug to the results of a particular activity on the various systems of the body. But studies, too, are not irrefutable proof. Many studies are limited, vauge and not conducted in a controlled manner. Many are performed with an end result in mind. A truly intelligent person needs to study the STUDY, to see where it may be misleading. THAT, is where people on bodybuilding forums seem to be astonishingly ignorant. There's a mindless concensous that as long as a study suggests one thing, and there are no studies to suggest the opposing point of view, the first point of view must autoatically be correct, even if logic dictates that it is not. I have a study. You don't. I win.
Still with me? Good. Here is the hypotetcial scenario that I believe puts it into perspective. Follow me:
A study was conducted between 4 people -- two had brown hair, and two had red hair.
A series of 100 questions regarding matmatical equations were presented to each of the participants.
On summery of the test, the group with brown hair answered 82 of the 100 questions correctly, whereas the group with red hair answered 86 of the questions correctly.
It is then concluded that people with red hair are more skilled at mathmatics than people with brown hair.
Ridiculous?
Okay,then. Prove it wrong.
I challange every member here to dig up a study that refutes these findings. Find a study that shows brown haired people are better at math than red haired people. Until then. The conclusions stand. I win.
Get it? I'm sure some of the more intelligent people understand what I'm doing here, while it will fly over others heads.
This is what I try to bring to peoples attention in regard to so many of the sckewed, flawed and incomplete studies that are so often presented to defend an argument. yet, just as the above example defies logical reasoning, so do many of the studies presented here. And it isn't because I just wish to disagree with them. What purpose does that serve? But I also know, people WANT to belive what hey want to believe. And for some peculiar reason, a study of any kind is the last and final word here -- and other BB forums. Maybe it stems from a desire to appear scientic, when if act, the science is as weak as the brown hair/red hair comparison.
I have a saying that appears in "The Bodybuilding Truth"..."Look for logic, and the truth won't be far behind."
Think before responding. otherwise, you're just reacting. A reaction is just a defense of an existing concept. And as long as you only see part of the picture, the truth will never be totally clear, be it pertaining to bodybuilding, or anything else. Don't accept anything at face value. Read. And read between the lines.
That's all I want to say. I'll leave this with you for a while and hopefully it'll stir some debate (Unless JA comes along and shits all over it)
One lat thing; I won't be able to post for a while. I've let too any things slide and I need a break to take care of business. I will still and try to answer PM's though.
See you all later. And...think about it.
One of the problems that seems to be prevelant on bodybuilding boards (and no where else, curiously) is the use of studies and references as the end-all be all of proof. What I've always maintained is, just because something is referenced, does not mean it's concrete evidence. It's just an opinion from somewhere else -- which should be considered on the merit of its logic.
Studies are different. Naturally, studies help us to understand the effects of everything from changes in blood levels from the ingestion of a drug to the results of a particular activity on the various systems of the body. But studies, too, are not irrefutable proof. Many studies are limited, vauge and not conducted in a controlled manner. Many are performed with an end result in mind. A truly intelligent person needs to study the STUDY, to see where it may be misleading. THAT, is where people on bodybuilding forums seem to be astonishingly ignorant. There's a mindless concensous that as long as a study suggests one thing, and there are no studies to suggest the opposing point of view, the first point of view must autoatically be correct, even if logic dictates that it is not. I have a study. You don't. I win.
Still with me? Good. Here is the hypotetcial scenario that I believe puts it into perspective. Follow me:
A study was conducted between 4 people -- two had brown hair, and two had red hair.
A series of 100 questions regarding matmatical equations were presented to each of the participants.
On summery of the test, the group with brown hair answered 82 of the 100 questions correctly, whereas the group with red hair answered 86 of the questions correctly.
It is then concluded that people with red hair are more skilled at mathmatics than people with brown hair.
Ridiculous?
Okay,then. Prove it wrong.
I challange every member here to dig up a study that refutes these findings. Find a study that shows brown haired people are better at math than red haired people. Until then. The conclusions stand. I win.
Get it? I'm sure some of the more intelligent people understand what I'm doing here, while it will fly over others heads.
This is what I try to bring to peoples attention in regard to so many of the sckewed, flawed and incomplete studies that are so often presented to defend an argument. yet, just as the above example defies logical reasoning, so do many of the studies presented here. And it isn't because I just wish to disagree with them. What purpose does that serve? But I also know, people WANT to belive what hey want to believe. And for some peculiar reason, a study of any kind is the last and final word here -- and other BB forums. Maybe it stems from a desire to appear scientic, when if act, the science is as weak as the brown hair/red hair comparison.
I have a saying that appears in "The Bodybuilding Truth"..."Look for logic, and the truth won't be far behind."
Think before responding. otherwise, you're just reacting. A reaction is just a defense of an existing concept. And as long as you only see part of the picture, the truth will never be totally clear, be it pertaining to bodybuilding, or anything else. Don't accept anything at face value. Read. And read between the lines.
That's all I want to say. I'll leave this with you for a while and hopefully it'll stir some debate (Unless JA comes along and shits all over it)
One lat thing; I won't be able to post for a while. I've let too any things slide and I need a break to take care of business. I will still and try to answer PM's though.
See you all later. And...think about it.