Dutchmo

Karma: 23

Dutchmo 14 Apr 2015 20:52 UTC
0 points
in reply to: [deleted]’s comment on: How I changed my exercise habits

in the modern world you don’t need the ability to do a pull-up. You won’t use it for work..

I would argue that you would use it for work, in that some of the same fitness indicators are used to evaluate people in the workplace as in the sexual marketplace. Things like posture, BMI, self-confidence, and even the number of sick days you take factor in. Even height is a fitness indicator. It has nothing to do with actual job performance, but statistically is an advantage. It is pretty much undisputed that fitness is related to health.

However, your point is valid and something I have noticed before. People get their motivations for fitness in different ways. I suspect it may have to do with extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivators?

Dutchmo 14 Apr 2015 20:25 UTC
3 points
on: How I changed my exercise habits
Good work.

Two additional techniques that are very powerful:
1. Journaling. This means keep track of your workouts and progress. What I recommend is also recording injuries, health issues, and obstacles. This is tremendously valuable in the long term. It also seems to strengthen habits. Sort of like the maintenance manual for your car. I also recommend using a physical wirebound journal, with a pen/pencil, rather than some type of electronic solution. My journal has sat in my car in 120 degree texas heat, had liquid splashed on it, been dropped .. no issues!
2. Visualization. Very powerful when mastered (I haven’t, but still give it a shot). Anecdotally, a lot of top-level athletes have cited this as being a game changer. Its basically just using your imagination. It can also be used to generate motivation on-the-fly. I sometimes imagine being back in highschool when in the weightroom or running.

Dutchmo 30 Mar 2015 20:02 UTC
−2 points
on: Discussion of Slate Star Codex: “Extremism in Thought Experiments is No Vice”
“there is no God, there’s no right, there’s no wrong,”

Here is the flaw in the logic. Of course this behaviour would still be considered wrong, because: 1) It is illegal. It is a violation of criminal statutes that do not appear to be sourced, either directly or indirectly, from the Bible.

2) It is immoral, in that it violates societal mores.

One of the main problems with providing morals/ethics from God, is that the feedback system is very weak. You only find out whether you have violated God’s rules until after you have died. If you violate the law (which comes from the state) you find out much quicker.

The legal system, despite its flaws, is more effective in enforcing law and order for this reason. With judeo-christianity, you have this Schrodinger’s cat syndrome, where you can’t determine whether actions are “good” or “bad” until after death. Thus you have the bizarre situation where eternal damnation could hinge on reading skills.

Or worse, translation skills. It is possible that millions of people will end up in hell based on the translation difference between “kill” and “murder”.

something to think about.

Dutchmo 25 Mar 2015 18:49 UTC
22 points
on: [POLITICS] Jihadism and a new kind of existential threat
Folks growing up in the ’50s, ’60s, ‘70s, and early ’80s will remember the existential threat of that era: communism.

ISIS has a long way to go before it can capture the fear of total nuclear annihilation. The vietnam war, the korean war, the cold war, domino theory, the day after, red dawn, war games, duck-and-cover drills in school...

Whenever I hear hand-wringing from these youngsters about ISIS, I have to chuckle. Back in my day we had real existential threats, sonny.

Now I’m going back to watch my copy of Rocky iV. On VHS of course.