I hope made the case that high intensity interval training is good for you, even if you’re not very fit. Why do I think it is dangerous to advise people against endurance training? Because if you accept it, and update on it, and don’t do endurance training because you read on Less Wrong that it is useless, soul-crushing and you shouldn’t even try, you’ve increased your risk of getting sick and dying unnecessarily.
I also think it is dangerously misleading to warn people against certain vaccinations on the grounds that it may cause autism, if this claim is unsupported by evidence. If you tell people to not bother with endurance training they increase their risk of dying by listening to you. If you tell people to not vaccinate their children, they run a risk of getting sick children. Both are unsupported by evidence, and both are dangerous.
I started out writing “this paragraph is dangerously wrong”, and when I expanded my reply into a separate topic on it, I chose an unfortunate title. I believe that the Minimum Viable Workout Routine was made with the best intentions. Calling the whole post dangerously misinformative, was harsh and uncalled for on my part.
But still, unsound information that can actually kill you (if you believe it) is dangerous.
Again, you largely agree with Romeo Stevens on the facts of exercise.
As to the consequences of the advice, I think you are very wrong. The fact that you misread his advice is a bad sign about his advice. It is probably evidence that everyone will misread it, but I am skeptical that they will misread it the same way you do.
As a general rule, giving vague advice attacking specific advice causes people to do nothing. It is your post that is dangerous.
Another issue is that “endurance training” is extremely misleading. The obvious interpretation of it is probably less effective for all purposes than obvious interpretation of “strength training.”
Excellent point. I should have thought of that.
I hope made the case that high intensity interval training is good for you, even if you’re not very fit. Why do I think it is dangerous to advise people against endurance training? Because if you accept it, and update on it, and don’t do endurance training because you read on Less Wrong that it is useless, soul-crushing and you shouldn’t even try, you’ve increased your risk of getting sick and dying unnecessarily.
I also think it is dangerously misleading to warn people against certain vaccinations on the grounds that it may cause autism, if this claim is unsupported by evidence. If you tell people to not bother with endurance training they increase their risk of dying by listening to you. If you tell people to not vaccinate their children, they run a risk of getting sick children. Both are unsupported by evidence, and both are dangerous.
I started out writing “this paragraph is dangerously wrong”, and when I expanded my reply into a separate topic on it, I chose an unfortunate title. I believe that the Minimum Viable Workout Routine was made with the best intentions. Calling the whole post dangerously misinformative, was harsh and uncalled for on my part.
But still, unsound information that can actually kill you (if you believe it) is dangerous.
Again, you largely agree with Romeo Stevens on the facts of exercise.
As to the consequences of the advice, I think you are very wrong. The fact that you misread his advice is a bad sign about his advice. It is probably evidence that everyone will misread it, but I am skeptical that they will misread it the same way you do.
As a general rule, giving vague advice attacking specific advice causes people to do nothing. It is your post that is dangerous.
The crude way I understood these posts:
When you’re not very fit, maximum strength training is most rewarding.
It is better for your health to also directly train endurance.
There is a tension. However:
Maximum strength training also improves endurance.
This increased endurance makes direct endurance training more rewarding.
The call to action this suggest looks like:
If you’re reasonably fit, train maximum strength and endurance.
If you’re not, start with strength alone, it’s more rewarding. Look forward to train your endurance, though.
Would that be sufficiently accurate, precise and non-dangerous?
Another issue is that “endurance training” is extremely misleading. The obvious interpretation of it is probably less effective for all purposes than obvious interpretation of “strength training.”