So when Nathan first came up with this blog back in the summer of '09, I thought it was a fantastic idea because it would give those who were interested in strength sports at MIT a forum to exchange ideas. For a while it actually worked out that way.
Though lifting is a solitary sport, few things are more useful than to have people around you to give you support and technique cues and to share programming advice. It is perhaps even more important to be able to see these people train in person because, due to odd male insecurities, lifting on the internet is rife with -- to be generous -- slight misrepresentations. Being able to cut through all of the nonsense by training with people in real life is invaluable.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, differences in priorities, or perhaps sheer indifference, we never really took off. A lot of this is probably a failure on my part. Certainly at this point in my life, I am closer to the MIT athletic community than I am, or ever was, to Harvard's. Still, I maintain that if someone is to lead an MIT strength community, it should be an MIT person.
Regardless of the reason, this blog has become a bit of an echo chamber of late. This makes it useless to me. It also renders it useless to others because while the experiences, successes, and failures of lots of lifters, no matter how new, are useful, the experience of a single, mediocre lifter really isn't. It feels a bit self indulgent to continue.
I think this blog has served its purpose. If the MIT strength community ever decides to revive, it will probably do so in a different form. Personally, I'll still be lifting at the Z until at least the end of my gym contract in order to keep up with everyone here and to help out of if needed. Good luck to everyone who's still in school, and stay strong.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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Good luck Frank.
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ReplyDeleteOCCUPY MIT STRENGTH BLOG (to keep it alive)
ReplyDeleteI don't see why that means the entire blog needs to shut down. Sounds like your decision is a personal one, so just don't post anymore. If anyone here wants to keep posting, let them, it's not like it requires any effort from the admin. Back when it was our original group there was an understood format...but it's been well over a year since this blog has been anything other than a way to keep a log for some people. Why not just leave it?
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a personal choice, but based on the last few months -- and sporadically throughout its short history -- I think I can say without arrogance that I kind of *am* the blog (i.e. only regular poster). If someone else wants to step up and revive this in some form or other, that would be great, and if my posting again will help with that, then I will do so.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, of course I won't actually remove it. At the very least, I have some personal notes that I want to keep that I'm too lazy to write down or transcribe to another format.
And just to be clear, I'm personally not going anywhere for a good long while. My contract is until next July, and I'll probably renew it even afterwards because I still think the Z Center is an awesome gym. If I ever do decide to leave, I'll let people know in person and not do something lame like post it and run.
It seems like it was only this month that you had more posts than everyone else combined. I've been too busy with other things for the last couple of weeks, but I'll get back to posting regularly soon. Your posts have always been inspirational.
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