When Enough Is Enough

When enough is enough

By Wade Johnson

I love social media and I love people. While I know that there is so much that is negative and there is some really bad shit going on in the world and close to home, I still have faith in humanity and I see the positive of our information age we currently live in. That being said, here lately, a few things that I read have finally gotten under my skin and while what draws my ire may not mean shit to you, I am betting more relate than don’t.

I have read from coaches, lifters and regular people, which should draw some barbs, of all the things we do wrong.  We shouldn’t refrigerate our eggs, it’s stupid that we sit on the commode instead of crouching and poop wrong to how the Russians train better than us to if the Republicans win the presidential office, they are moving out of the country.  Can we dispense with the utter nonsensical bullshit already? But, that’s not what finally drew me in. No, no, it goes deeper than that. So, in no particular order and, I’m not going to reference anyone directly as this is not about the person but, to talk about the comments and how inaccurate they are.

Comment #1

A weightlifter commented on a video about drug use. It basically said that the video was convincing enough to not take steroids and that it was part of the reason they chose not be a “serious” powerlifter. Then went on to say that there was no judgement but that “winning” wasn’t that important to them. Now, on the surface, maybe that doesn’t bother you but, it does bother me. In a broad statement this post says “serious” powerlifters are using. I realize that’s not a quote but, you don’t have to be very clever to understand the underlying message being said here. I take acceptation to that and I’ll tell you why. It misrepresents me and more, it misrepresents all the lifters I have, both past and present, worked with that chose to be serious and drug free. It also misrepresents all those out there that chose a drug free pathway and are very serious powerlifters. Now, I don’t care what you do. You want to use drugs, so be it but, I do care what I do and I also care about the lifters I coach. Now the ironic part of all this. I remind you, this came from a weightlifter, oly for you non WL types, that is saying “serious” powerlifters are using. Has anyone read about all the B sample failures of the past 2 Olympic Games in “weightlifting”? Aren’t these guys “serious”? What about the recent world championships and all the failures there? The point to all this, broad stroked statements not based in fact are simply ignorant and eventually someone is going to post a rebuttal…well, here it is. The lesson to learn is when you point a finger so broadly, it is likely to point back at you.

Comment #2

Anyone lifting in a non-tested federation is clearly using.

Seriously? Can you smell the stupidity with this one? That’s like saying everyone that lifts in a tested federation is clearly drug free. If the original statement had been made by a newbie or teenager, I could understand being that naïve but, this wasn’t. While I won’t throw any names out there, this person was completely off base. I have chosen to lift where I lift due to a few reasons that are important to me. 1, proximity…I have spent lots of money flying here and there to compete at all levels and in different sports. Eventually, I was more after numbers than titles and the money spent to travel became the money saved in order to purchase gear to build my gym. So, less travel meant more money for equipment. 2, the equipment at the meet. In my past, you never knew what you were going to get and being able to, not only know but, have consistent equipment was very important to me. 3. Being familiar with the people of the federation. All this said, it’s a personal decision not unlike deciding whether to use drugs or not. That does not however automatically make me, or anyone else, a user because of the venue they choose. Now, by association does that make me guilty? Nope but, does it give the federation the right to test me should they wish based on my numbers? Sure and it has happened and I completely understand that but, a federation leader and someone not in the know are two completely different things.

Comment #3

This person trains at a certain gym so, obviously they use.

Again, this is completely ignorant and if you don’t know for sure, you really shouldn’t speak on it. You can speculate all you want but, in many cases, you are talking about someone’s livelihood and there can be issues created for it even being speculated. And is that fair? What if the same were speculated about you and then pasted all over social media? See, so long as it’s about someone else, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Just common sense and courtesy that unless you know something and it’s been proven, you are again, likely looking foolish and how does the quote go? Better to be thought a fool and remain quiet then to open your mouth and remove all doubt…

Comment #4

The Natty lifter Meme about no one caring about natty lifters.

It’s funny and I even chuckled. However, what I was not humored by were all the corresponding remarks about how natty lifters were annoying. So if I get this straight, it’s ok to be an illegal drug user but being a drug free lifter is somehow annoying and therefore bad? I realize we have some non-user types that would tell you that by using and lifting in non-tested feds and even using anything more than single ply gear is the devil and you suck and that, I agree, is annoying and is as small minded as the above comments. But again with the broad stroke to be inclusive of all natty lifters? See, I just can’t stand that and so, this blog was born. Look, I’m not the moral compass for anything. I do what I do because mainly, it’s what I either want to do or feel compelled to do. But, I also know that just because someone is honest and open about usage, it only makes them honest and open. It doesn’t make it legal, by fed rules in most instances and the law, it doesn’t make it right and it certainly doesn’t make you better. I’m not thumping my chest because I chose the drug free path. My career stands on the results. That may or may not impress you but, I would bet a lot of money that doesn’t even belong to me that most of those posters couldn’t do what I have done and continue to do. I made my choice for me and for my son and that is enough for me.

Last, and this is an observation or two and not about a comment. There are 2 things I see that trouble me.

    1.  I have seen postings and videos about degrading a training method in the attempts to get you, a consumer and trainee type, to buy into their method of training. This is not only bad form, it’s deceiving and simply disrespectful. Can you not allow the results of yourself and the trainees that are in your charge speak for that? Can you not just provide information and science that provides answers to our questions about your training? Or, is it better for FB and IG hits and likes and such if you post something derogatory and controversial? Eventually, and that’s sooner than later in most cases, the truth comes out and, the cream rises to the top or there is proof in the pudding. All this other stuff is simply childish.

2.      
        Last, I see tons of lifters video out there. I simply love it but a trend that concerns me is when coaches make the lifters lifts about them above the merit of the lifter. Yes, I realize how much goes into coaching and the cost, the sacrifice and all the work you put into lifters but, if you are in every video and making you part of the liters lifts, then I question your commitment to the lifter and the lifters success. I recently saw something from Westside Barbell that I love. It is posted below and rings so true. If you are coaching, be about your athletes. If you are worth it, the athletes will sing your praise or more, they will continue working with you and even paying you and for me, that is worth more than any social media outlook like or hit or whatever. Maybe I’m old and don’t get it but, it seems to me that there are things that don’t go out of fashion like respect and keeping your tongue on matters you don’t know anything about.

So, to close. I hope you enjoy this and if I have offended you, I’m around many meets and gyms and am happy to discuss this. I respect your right to disagree with me so long as you respect my right to have the same say and ability to have that say as you do.

So, until I again decide to do this, Lift Heavy, Train Smart & Eat More Pizza!!!