+ 11 Earning the right
Maybe a little controversial, but I've seen a few examples of members being critiqued for their choices of cycle recently. I've been here long enough to have seen most of the changes that have occurred over the years in both eroids and the recent world of AAS use. We're developing a tendency, (in places), of people having to "earn the right" to run certain compounds.
Firstly, let's remember this isn't a hardcore bodybuilding site. In fact our demographic is vast. Check out Nitti's post from December.
Stage competitors aren't that big of a part of our community. I'm one of them, but I'll tell you now there's only a handful of guys I talk to about competitive bodybuilding here. It's not a big part of who the members are and we must remember others have different goals that are aligned to what they wish to achieve. My values / opinions on cycles are utterly irrelevant to a competitive swimmer for example. Doesn't mean he/she or I are wrong, we just have different goals.
This brings me to the point. I see a repeating theme of what I'll call "earning the right". Let's take tren as an example. When I arrived, we used to say 8-10 cycles before running tren. It's a sweeping generalisation, but sensible in its premise. I followed this personally, tren was included in my 8th cycle. Here's a shock, I hated it. I still do to be honest. I enjoy being on steroids, always have done. I don't like being on tren. For me it's a necessary evil to compete. At a decent level of competition, it would be very difficult to compete without a classically struct prop / tren / mast cycle pre comp. if I didn't conoete, I'd never run it again. I've done plenty of cycles, I know a reasonable amount about steroids and I work in the pharmaceutical industry. So, I've "earned the right" to run tren right?
What about the guy who has run less cycles? What about someone who has no intentions of competing? What about a lad running low doses although he openly admits he doesn't know an awful lot. Who am I to decide if he/she has "earned the right"??????
Last thing I'm suggesting is advocating tren or any other compound inappropriately. Yesterday I told a grown man he shouldn't be using gear just because of his size and a comment he made "eat big whilst on cycle". What I'm trying to say is be aware others are trying to do different things and therefore have a different decision making process. As long as they are sensible and don't advise others to make poor decisions, adults can and will make up their own minds.
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Definitely a balancing act between being irresponsible and taking too hard a stance on it.
In the end it all boils down to run whatever the hell you want at whatever dose you want for how ever long you want to. I definitely agree with you that there is no earning the right to run a compound, but I do think there is a judicial and logical progression that one should follow if they are going to commit to this type of lifestyle, and I don't mean the bodybuilding lifestyle. What I am referring to is the lifestyle change where you decide to introduce AAS. It is big decision that can have huge consequences in your long term health and goals.
So what I see here on Eroids compared to other AAS sites is people trying to guide users on a more long term and sane path for AAS use. I think this logical progression of compounds and sane use of AAS is what is coming off as earn the right to use that compound. Some people are obviously going to need to jump ahead of this progression due to some immediate goals that warrant it, which is perfectly fine and that person shouldn't be persecuted for it. What pops into my mind right away is someone prepping for their first show. A basic test e cycle is likely not going to fit the bill for that type of goal so they may need to jump into the deep end right away with a more advanced cycle. So in the end people can run whatever the heck they want to but it is always good to remind them of the potential adverse consequences of jumping into more advanced cycles right away. Helps to put my mind at ease anyway.
What comes to mind with this statement is, if this is the case, the possibility of maybe they are prematurely entering their first show
You and I both know show prep is a whole different game that we put ourselves through hell to achieve our goals. We do stuff to our bodies most don't have understanding or appreciation of. Guiding, absolutely. Flaming as it doesn't meet our "typical cookie cutter method" I'm not so keen on.
AnonI've always been partial to keeping things as simple as possible. I honestly doubt that people who come on here wanting to run a test/deca/dbol cycle for their first run will even listen to any sensible advice given to them. There are always exceptions to that of course, but I think more often than not people are looking for validation. To me its more of a safety issue rather than blasting someone who is proposing some fucked up cycle. I try to be respectful as possible and guide people the best I can but at the end of the day its up to the individual and the choices they make.
I really don't view this as a bodybuilding website, I view it as a site where information about AAS is shared in a responsible way that can benefit everyone here. Does that always happen? Of course not, there will always be people spreading bad information. Thats where others come in, to correct and educate an individual instead of getting into some fight over the fucking internet lol.
I do enjoy seeing that most forum posts are first met with emphasis on diet and training instead of just throwing more drugs into the picture. From the most part what I see here from the guys who regularly contribute is solid information, and we need more of that no matter what your status or goals are.
At the end of the day, I don't really give a fuck what people decide to do with their own lives. I don't think anyone needs to earn the right to make decisions on what to do with their own body. But I would implore them to talk to more experienced guys and research as much as possible before making any decisions with their health. At least then if they decide to make an ignorant decision its nobody fault but their own and a lesson will be learned the hard way.
I've always taken a "keep it simple" approach too. Over the years it becomes apparent that there's a fairly small percentage who are receptive to critique no matter how it's approached. As you say, at the end of the day you can only guide and it's down to the individual to live with the consequences if they get it wrong.
I see what you're saying. There is a logical progression with compounds that people in this game might follow. As far as earning the right, or paying your dues...with compounds...I disagree. People have different goals and what a bodybuilder may use masteron for a cage fighter or porn actor may have different reasons. I do believe people just getting started should run sensible cycles. I don't think my first cycle of test prop kicker and taper, 500mg Test e a week, 50mg provi ed, and 100mg mast prop eod for the last few weeks was overkill, but I understand the reasoning behind the one compound at a time rule when people are laying out crazy cycles and you have to calm then down and be sensible. Point is...not everyone here is a bodybuilder. I'd like to see less bodybuilder elitism on this board...maybe...just maybe, the people who have kept quiet so long on this board might actually contribute without fear of the bodybuilding roid police on here. Hell, you guys might even learn something from us like we've learned from you.
Think you might have misunderstood slightly. When you say you disagree, that's precisely the point I'm making, you seem to be agreeing? I'm saying there's an element of people behaving as though you have to earn the right to run stuff like tren, and I don't think that's the case.
I'm confused even if you're not
Maybe I've communicated it badly? Re read it, let me know what you think.
Derp. I agree! Haha! It was early in the morning and I misunderstood your position.
I think for some people it's a simple regurgitation of things read online, for others they wish to show experience, and even others thinking they are boss man.
Did I think tren is such dangerous or powerful drug that I can't condone it for recreational use? No. But I felt like there are other drugs that are cool and useful and a logical progression can be found. Is tren at the pinnacle, I don't really think it works like that... Is tren the best drug? And again your goals should be at the forefront and the gear is just tools to help get there .
Being a endurance athlete who wants to look great, tren was a double edged sword for me. It killed my cardio and my will to do Hills, while in that brief moment when I got out of the pool and I saw my reflection with abs, and a nice full chest and back... I was very satisfied. Not the best shape I had ever been but the best looking.
I know what your saying. It's difficult to hand out advice and experience when people just won't listen anyway, or allready made there mind up. Some people act like popo here, and always will.
That's why I offer sound advice I can. And stay to what has worked for me as I enter single digit body fats and I suffer tremendously to do it.
Serious diet, two or three hours of physical workouts a day, and jabbing a needle inside all most daily at my peak.
It's a lifestyle choice