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An interesting study was done in Britain, claiming there is a connection between young men taking gym selfies and fewer economic opportunities for young men.

From the article:

* "There is a correlation between the rise of young men fashioning muscular bodies and sharing them online, and the austerity measures experienced by their generation," Hakim said. "These economic tactics are widening inequality, especially for those born after 1980, with prohibitively high house prices, the loss of secure long-term contracts, tuition fees and other hurdles to economic security."

Here's the link to the article: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... he-economy

gnosis wrote:An interesting study was done in Britain, claiming there is a connection between young men taking gym selfies and fewer economic opportunities for young men.

From the article:

* "There is a correlation between the rise of young men fashioning muscular bodies and sharing them online, and the austerity measures experienced by their generation," Hakim said. "These economic tactics are widening inequality, especially for those born after 1980, with prohibitively high house prices, the loss of secure long-term contracts, tuition fees and other hurdles to economic security."

Here's the link to the article: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... he-economy

I will be going back to the gym once I get the special pricing deal. Right now I'm just exercising outdoors and with weights I own. My abs keep getting better and better, but I have lost some arm strength I'll need to gain back.

This is what happens when:
1. You popularize the likes of Pauly D on television and other media.
2. American food and way of life is fattening.

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

Adama wrote:This is what happens when:
1. You popularize the likes of Pauly D on television and other media.
2. American food and way of life is fattening.

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

Did you even read the article? It's about Brits.

Its hard out here for a pimp

The_Adventurer wrote:

Adama wrote:This is what happens when:
1. You popularize the likes of Pauly D on television and other media.
2. American food and way of life is fattening.

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

Did you even read the article? It's about Brits.

Good catch, mate. It should say British.

Actually mostly agree with the article and premise, and am a young man who goes to the gym. It is rather simple, in basically all categories of life, especially dating, but even in finding employment, looking better gives you an edge. And... you can't buy it. You can't just buy a nice looking body and health. The main thing with the gym, is it's almost free. That and of course, obviously food is all messed up, the healthcare system sucks, so to be fit in USA takes actual effort and work, and you can't be like everyone else and be fit, considering half the population is overweight statistically.

But I think the other big thing, it's an activity that for the most part, you get what you put into it out as the result. Compared to working, everyone used to say if you "worked hard" you'd get ahead, and this is not the case anymore for working for money. It's about luck, connections, and a really, really good strategy. usually. But sheer hard work won't get you too far anymore, just to the hospital without health insurance and in debt. So going to the gym is one of the last activities where sheer hard work will get you results, so that's another reason it's very popular.

I guess the other reason for it is more grim, it's like the mice utopia study, and "The Beautiful Ones." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Calhoun

After day 600, the social breakdown continued and the population declined toward extinction. During this period females ceased to reproduce. Their male counterparts withdrew completely, never engaging in courtship or fighting. They ate, drank, slept, and groomed themselves – all solitary pursuits. Sleek, healthy coats and an absence of scars characterized these males. They were dubbed "the beautiful ones." Breeding never resumed and behavior patterns were permanently changed.

And to me, a lot of the current gym phenomena with young men especially reminds me of this. That and going with the social isolation thing, most people at the gym are by themselves, and just have their music or their phone and barely talk to one another anymore.

As far as selfies, it's really more just sheer narcissism and social isolation becoming epidemic, selfies because there's no friends to take pictures anymore, and because everyone wants to admire the self, the I.

onethousandknives wrote:But I think the other big thing, it's an activity that for the most part, you get what you put into it out as the result. Compared to working, everyone used to say if you "worked hard" you'd get ahead, and this is not the case anymore for working for money. It's about luck, connections, and a really, really good strategy. usually. But sheer hard work won't get you too far anymore, just to the hospital without health insurance and in debt. So going to the gym is one of the last activities where sheer hard work will get you results, so that's another reason it's very popular.

Yeah, earlier in life, I had no idea how important connections were.

What do you do for work?

gnosis wrote:

onethousandknives wrote:But I think the other big thing, it's an activity that for the most part, you get what you put into it out as the result. Compared to working, everyone used to say if you "worked hard" you'd get ahead, and this is not the case anymore for working for money. It's about luck, connections, and a really, really good strategy. usually. But sheer hard work won't get you too far anymore, just to the hospital without health insurance and in debt. So going to the gym is one of the last activities where sheer hard work will get you results, so that's another reason it's very popular.

Yeah, earlier in life, I had no idea how important connections were.

What do you do for work?

Have my own contracting business. It's not going as well as I'd hoped, but hey.