There’s always that one person who says you shouldn’t put ketchup
on your In-N-Out Burger, that a Benz is so much better than a BMW, or that
the person you’re dating isn’t right for you (they know so much better!), and
although this advice might be annoying to hear when you don’t ask for it, it’s
rarely ever dangerous.
You know what is? Giving people lifting advice. More specifically, giving people lifting advice via Instagram.
A few weeks ago, I posted a lifting video, and the next morning I woke up to a whole mess of unsolicited advice. Now I’m the first to admit that I ask for advice and form checks from people over the internet. I record my lifts, upload them, and send them to people to have my lifts critiqued. You know how that’s different from the comments I get on Instagram? Because on one hand, I’m soliciting advice from relatively reputable sources, while on Instagram, I’m not. Mind blown.
Why does Mel not want people on Instagram to correct her
form?
1.
Who are you?
No, seriously. Okay, you’re strong, but do
you powerlift? Have you ever competed? Are you a trainer? Are you a lifting
coach? Have you written a book, studied technique, or worked with advanced
athletes? If your answer is “yes” to any of these, see below.
2.
Do I know who you are?
The people who critiqued that video on Instagram are
people who I have never had a single conversation with. I clicked a
few of the profiles to see if they might have had a bio written; for all I know, one of them could have been a world famous lifting coach. But no, no luck there.
3.
Why, WHY would I take your advice?
It’s pretty evident that people have
differing opinions on how to execute a lift. One person says look up, another
says look down. Point toes in, point toes out. If neither are people I know, and
neither offer a reason as to why I should use their technique over my own, how would I possibly be convinced to change my technique? Oh, I wouldn't? Cool.
4.
Nobody reads the fucking caption.
More often than not, I point out a
form flaw in my lifts. And there will always be people who point out the same
flaws over and over and over. It's not helpful, it's obnoxious.
Don't be one of those people.
Unless someone is doing something that could potentially result in a serious injury, I always stay out of their business, because at the end of the day, no matter how qualified I believe I am, and no matter how much more I think I know than the other person, I don't want the carry the burden of potentially ruining someone else's training because I can't control my urge to spew training advice at others' without their request.
Lifting heavy shit doesn't make you an expert lifting coach, much like eating food your whole life wouldn't make you a culinary expert. So unless someone asks for your opinion, don't be the bad guy with verbal training diarrhea. Laissez-faire.
Don't be one of those people.
Unless someone is doing something that could potentially result in a serious injury, I always stay out of their business, because at the end of the day, no matter how qualified I believe I am, and no matter how much more I think I know than the other person, I don't want the carry the burden of potentially ruining someone else's training because I can't control my urge to spew training advice at others' without their request.
Lifting heavy shit doesn't make you an expert lifting coach, much like eating food your whole life wouldn't make you a culinary expert. So unless someone asks for your opinion, don't be the bad guy with verbal training diarrhea. Laissez-faire.
www.instagram.com/melsmoves
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