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"Some of this junk might actually work, but you’re going to be embarrassed doing it or admitting to your friends that you’re trying it." Truer words, never spo

by 100k 16y ago

"Some of this junk might actually work, but you’re going to be embarrassed doing it or admitting to your friends that you’re trying it." Truer words, never spoken.

SwellJoe 16y ago
One of my New Years resolutions is "Be more ridiculous more of the time." As I get older, I realize that being embarrassed of the things you want to do, or the experiments you want to try, is one of the most damaging aspects of human behavior. There's an interesting idea in, I think, Next: The Future Just Happened by Michael Lewis, that part of the reason the Internet is such a huge phenomenon is because people can try on a new "self" just by creating a new account on some website. So, I thought, "Why can't I do that in real life, too?" There's no reason I can't wake up one day, and decide, "I'm going to be a really healthy person, and if it takes doing some odd things and causing friends and family to be a little baffled by my behavior now and then, that's OK. It's a worthy endeavor and a price worth paying to have the body and overall health I want." In short, yes, my friends think my new diet is odd, and wonder why I'm not having pizza or beer with them (except on Saturday, my chosen "binge day"). And, yeah, some of the exercises look a little strange when I do them at the gym. But, so what? I just explain to my friends what I'm experimenting with, and why, and whether it's working or not (it seems to be, two weeks in). And I'm only at the gym for 20 minutes a couple times a week, following the protocol to the letter, so it's a small price to pay. I'm not touching on any of the extreme stuff that I can't back up with reliable science, but the diet and the muscle building regime are both well-backed and entirely fit with pretty conventional thinking. I could have constructed both from existing research on my own, had I taken the time to do so, the book just made it easy to follow (I have the book with me on my phone whenever I buy groceries or go to the gym, so I know I'm doing the right things).
- justin 16y ago
  Can't agree more. Doing something ridiculous led to us creating the largest live video site. I try to do ridiculous shit all the time for the hell of it, just to practice thinking unconventionally. Last month I ran through a carwash with my clothes on.
  - ryanwaggoner 16y ago
    This month you should run through one with your clothes off.
pamelafox 16y ago
My colleagues and I are actually all trying different tips in the book now, and comparing notes. It's really fun, and gives us something to chat about at lunch. I think it doesn't hurt to tell people what you're experimenting with -- or, put another way, it can help more than it can hurt if they decide to join forces with you.

by 100k 16y ago

"Some of this junk might actually work, but you’re going to be embarrassed doing it or admitting to your friends that you’re trying it." Truer words, never spoken.

SwellJoe 16y ago

One of my New Years resolutions is "Be more ridiculous more of the time." As I get older, I realize that being embarrassed of the things you want to do, or the experiments you want to try, is one of the most damaging aspects of human behavior. There's an interesting idea in, I think, Next: The Future Just Happened by Michael Lewis, that part of the reason the Internet is such a huge phenomenon is because people can try on a new "self" just by creating a new account on some website. So, I thought, "Why can't I do that in real life, too?" There's no reason I can't wake up one day, and decide, "I'm going to be a really healthy person, and if it takes doing some odd things and causing friends and family to be a little baffled by my behavior now and then, that's OK. It's a worthy endeavor and a price worth paying to have the body and overall health I want." In short, yes, my friends think my new diet is odd, and wonder why I'm not having pizza or beer with them (except on Saturday, my chosen "binge day"). And, yeah, some of the exercises look a little strange when I do them at the gym. But, so what? I just explain to my friends what I'm experimenting with, and why, and whether it's working or not (it seems to be, two weeks in). And I'm only at the gym for 20 minutes a couple times a week, following the protocol to the letter, so it's a small price to pay. I'm not touching on any of the extreme stuff that I can't back up with reliable science, but the diet and the muscle building regime are both well-backed and entirely fit with pretty conventional thinking. I could have constructed both from existing research on my own, had I taken the time to do so, the book just made it easy to follow (I have the book with me on my phone whenever I buy groceries or go to the gym, so I know I'm doing the right things).

justin 16y ago
Can't agree more. Doing something ridiculous led to us creating the largest live video site. I try to do ridiculous shit all the time for the hell of it, just to practice thinking unconventionally. Last month I ran through a carwash with my clothes on.
- ryanwaggoner 16y ago
  This month you should run through one with your clothes off.

pamelafox 16y ago

My colleagues and I are actually all trying different tips in the book now, and comparing notes. It's really fun, and gives us something to chat about at lunch. I think it doesn't hurt to tell people what you're experimenting with -- or, put another way, it can help more than it can hurt if they decide to join forces with you.