It seems to me to be like anorexia. Poor self image. You think there is an ideal out there. And you will "hurt" yourself to become it. But there isn't an ideal outside of your imagination. Even the greats had flaws.
I got into BB because I had to lose a lot of weight. As I was doing it I started to notice some cuts in my arms and legs. This led me to want to experiment with really changing my physique. If I can get myself into good enough shape to step onstage once then I will have accomplished what I wanted. At that point I can maintain it and go on with other things in life like starting a family, etc.
I think obsession and drive can lead to a great many things as can competition. But I think when the drive gets in the way of what you're promoting you've got problems.
In my opinion having a "drug free" world class physique should be about healthy living. Showing the world what exercise, diet and determination can do. Exalting the beauty of the human body with its size and lines. Muscularity signals healthyness on a genetic level with both sexes. Bad posture, bad skin and bad attitude tend to signal weakness and unhealthiness which puts us off reproducing with them. Just the biology of it. So to strive to present and be healthy and vigorous, I feel, is a noble one. But is that what Pro BB is? What values to Pro BB'ers present? What does the idea of 'whatever it takes' really mean and translate to? Are we not seeing how modern PRo BB has been distanced from the 'mainstream' world?
Other sports:
When I see guys like TO in football it makes me sick. To have such phenomenal talent at something and a poor attitude kills me. And I think it distorts what should be the message of games; skill, drive, courage, teamwork and SPORTSMANSHIP! The fundementals of competition is one of the biggest lesson a human can learn. To give it a positive imprint can have huge sociological consequences later...as can negative imprints. Another example of the drive distorting the end product. I think its endemic of American culture which seems to strive to create "icons" that are so far from what the average person can achieve that it reinforces the feeling that they should just stay home, watch TV, get fat, take this or that medicine, pay your taxes, do as your told. This seems to me to be where we want the American ruling class wants them to be...and where they appear to be.
If we had "icons" that stressed the fundementals of whatever profession they choose, you might see people getting more motivated about life in general. That motivation might make them more "secure" with themselves and lessen the self-destructive behavior that seems to be the norm, these days.
Isn't that what we really look for in a leader?
There is no enemy anywhere - Lao Tse
