Bodybuilding?

[Simon C]

Originally Posted by ninja

as an outsider to this part of the discussion, I can see how one would interpret you as a figure of authority based on your avatar

Wow, good pick-up.

Now that you mention it, I think that would have an effect on how people see her and read her posts.

[Aoife]

It's a manner of speech and writing. Someone carries themselves with a certain posture, usually unconsciously, and people tend to believe a certain set of things about them.

Karla speaks as herself, presumably as a 40something woman with lots of experience in life and has a certain writing style.
It gets interpreted by some to seem rather authoritative because it's not prefaced with comments about opinions, thoughts, etc. She's not a diffident lady who feels the need to say "I think" every time she has a thought.

It's not that you're saying you're an expert, Karla, it's just that you have a tone that makes others believe such.

It's a pain in the ass to "correct" so that others better understand that yes, sometimes you might just be talking out your ass. You're just naturally a certain kind of communicator.

But unfortunately sometimes you get read as more expert than you might be, and that could sometimes be a problem, especially to someone who doesn't take the time to read about who and where you are. Someone asks a question and you offer up your opinion on a solution. To some, they understand that this is your opinion, based on your current knowledge set. To others, they see a definitive answer to their question.

You're past the stage of a twenty-something lady who needs to struggle to assert herself and be taken seriously in her area of expertise... you're kinda the opposite of that.

Coming from someone who has had that issue herself, I'm just relating what I see.
/standard disclaimer that I might just be talking out my ass...

[Pug]

Originally Posted by ninja

as an outsider to this part of the discussion, I can see how one would interpret you as a figure of authority based on your avatar

The title "Senior Member" also confers some gravitas, although I think it's merely a function of someone's post count (?). FWIW, I've been actively lifting weights for 4 years and the more I learn about the sport, the more I appreciate how little I really know.

[Aoife]

Originally Posted by Pug

The title "Senior Member" also confers some gravitas, although I think it's merely a function of someone's post count (?).

it is post count, although now it's changeable to anything one wants.

Better than another board I used to frequent... over 200 posts made someone a "fitness guru."

[K-Court]

Karla, I don't have anything to add of substance; however, I'm hopeful that you will take the comments made by a number of folks about your "aura" to heart and try to adapt your writing style somewhat to accommodate their concerns. Be a little more humble and less strident, and all will be well. A minor adjustment is needed here.

[Lost Dog]

Karla, I didn't mean that the guys who'd been conversing in this thread were newbies, I meant the newbies around the forum. The NROL4W book brought a lot of people totally new to fitness and nutrition, for instance. Many of them look up to you because you've made tremendous progress in a short period of time.

While you're free to put whatever you want in your log, when I see someone else (who's new) respond that they're going to change their behavior based on what you're doing, I shake my head because those things won't necessarily work for them, nor are they always working for you the way you think they might be.

I don't have a problem with you changing your mind about something, your philosophy in regards to fitness and nutrition, or changing the conclusions about what you've been doing. Hell, I don't do half the crap I did to lose my 50lbs anymore.

I know that over the past few months you've made great progress and turned your body around dramatically. Props to you on that.

I think Nick might have something with the avatar. That's probably part of it. It looks studly and confident. Combine that with statements and advice that are put very strongly and confidently and you have an "air of authority." When you go to a nutrition thread and say something that looks definitive compared to the rest of the ideas and opinions, people slant toward the definitive advice. New people want to be told what to do, not given choices and be encouraged to consider the options.

I don't want to sound patronizing, but I remember the day you joined up here. You asked lots of good questions and learned so much, so quickly. You totally changed your paradigms about fitness and nutrition and saw things really take off! We were all really happy to read the posts of wide eyed wonderment (that's the not patronizing part) as you got fit and strong so fast. Hard work and all, but like a light switch too, in some ways. It was truly fun to follow along and see someone learning and inspiring others to kick things up and get fit, too.

Your avatar used to be smiling, too.

[kfisherx]

Guys thanks for the advice... It is very helpful for me. You know people always tell me that I am a natural leader, and yet I never believe it until things like this happen. It boggles my mind in fact to tell ya the truth because (honestly) I see myself as an eternal beginner and have much less confidence inside of me than Iapparently project.

Roland you are right about my log. I look at it like a place where I can just say whatever I want to because it is MY BLOG and that is where people talk out of their asses. But you are right that there have been many instances where people have decided to do what I do. I am pretty sure that I have always told them though that it might not work for them. I will make sure in the future to do that if I haven't in the past. I am not really sure what esle to do about that. When somenone makes good progress there will be people looking to copy exactly with the hopes.... I am posting in my log to help people see that these sorts of changes are really possible with enough focus and hard work and honestly I feel like anyone can do what I do if they could be as consistent. That is the trick and the secret to all the progress. I am deadly consistent in my diet and workouts. I realize that most people do not have the ability to invest that much time into their own plan though so they have to find what works for them. I always support that to the extent that I can. Of course it is fun to have some of the banter and all that other stuff in there but my hope is that my BLOG is an inspiration to people more than anything.

RE the avitar. Great observation Nick. I never thought of it at all like that but I think you have something there. I'll see what I can do about coming up with something different but to be fair, you need to change yours because I am pretty sure that you are misleading me with that hot chicka pic! LOL!

Actually I want to also change my "senior member" status. I have been wanting to do that for awhile but haven't seen where that option is. Can someone walk me through that? Finally I will add a disclaimer to my posts as well (via a signature) so that people know that I am a newbie rather than a senior member since it will most probably be the case that I won't be able to change very quickly or entirely my way of communicating.

Again much appreciation for bringing this out and working with me to make it better for everyone. Please feel free to PM me or nudge me otherwise when you see infractions in the future so that I can fix it.

[Aoife]

User CP on the top left... then on the left, edit profile. It's the first things you can do in the optional information part.

[kfisherx]

Thank you and also thank you for your very helpful insight into this matter. I will try to have these things fixed over the weekend.

[LisaS]

speaking of bodybuilding -
there was an article in one of the British papers about a photographer, Joachim Ladefoged who apparently published a book that is a series of art photos of Danish bodybuilders.
a gallery of some of the photos is here (warning, I find these vary odd and some are technically NSFW) - and it is photo-art rather than BB focused

[Waittz]

Originally Posted by LisaS

speaking of bodybuilding -
there was an article in one of the British papers about a photographer, Joachim Ladefoged who apparently published a book that is a series of art photos of Danish bodybuilders.
a gallery of some of the photos is here (warning, I find these vary odd and some are technically NSFW) - and it is photo-art rather than BB focused

...that just ruined my day....you know exactly which picture I am referring to.

[UConnJulie]

See now ... how about a group hug?!

[Jean-Paul]

Originally Posted by LisaS

speaking of bodybuilding -
there was an article in one of the British papers about a photographer, Joachim Ladefoged who apparently published a book that is a series of art photos of Danish bodybuilders.
a gallery of some of the photos is here (warning, I find these vary odd and some are technically NSFW) - and it is photo-art rather than BB focused

That was some disturbing yet excellent photography.

[Jean-Paul]

Originally Posted by Waittz

Screw Oleg.......give that Sandow to the Blade!



That is a taper my friend. that is a freaking taper.

Impressive? I guess so. Took a lot of work. Attractive? It doesn't even really look human. It looks like a charicature or a comic book illustration.

[Waittz]

hahah. Jp I have always said that dexter jackson looks like Venom from spiderman.

[Jean-Paul]

Originally Posted by Fulmen

How bout this Waittz:





Joel Stubbs.

Jesus WEPT! Who wants to look like this? That has little to do with training and mostly to do with such massive amounts of steroids and GH that I'm surprised he hasn't kicked the bucket yet.

I am pretty sure that even our resident bb'ers recognize that none of these guys are natural.