Why does the public look at bodybuilders in a negative light?

[Poker face Ace]

It kills me to see we have 500 lb obese people walking this earth digging away at mcdonalds and the public has the nerve to say, "Oh, poor guy/gal has an eating problem" yet the big bb is looked at as all drugs and rants of how bad this is, from being called meat head to juice head.

What's your take?

[weezer]

Envy, Jealous, fear, low self esteem, take your pick.

[warthog]

Bodybuilders are not average. People always either feel threatened or look down upon those who don't conform to what is supposed to be standard or because they dont understand it or know they cant achieve it

[Johnny Bravo]

The only negative talk is usually from the media. I find that the generel public finds it interesting, and wants to know more about it (lifestyle, training, food etc).

I also think that some bodybuilders tend to assume that others look down on them, even if it isn't the case.

[Ironbrian82]

It kills me to see we have 500 lb obese people walking this earth digging away at mcdonalds and the public has the nerve to say, "Oh, poor guy/gal has an eating problem" yet the big bb is looked at as all drugs and rants of how bad this is, from being called meat head to juice head.

What's your take?

people are scared of what they don't know, and its intimidating to adults, but in restaurants parents with there kids come up to me asking are you a pro wrestler or rugby player and ask for pics, which is kind of cool

[Anders JP Eskilsson]

Great thread start. Poker face you could do a real scientific research on this subject. start googeling methods and which field of science it could be based upon.

[Mac]

Poker face you could do a real scientific research on this subject. start googeling methods and which field of science it could be based upon.

He will start another thread with a Poll. This is the extent of his research.

Clowns like Joe Rich doing pushups in restaurants is why there may be some negative light cast upon bodybuilders.

[the mighty stu]

While not everyone does, it's always about the individual doing the perceiving and the individual being perceived.

That said, some people don't like seeing something different, intimidating (to them), or even that serves as a simple reminder of their own inadequacies or failings.

Of course the occasional meat head going out of his way to draw attention and act like an ass clown doesn't help things either -lol.

S

[BrickHead]

You seriously believe that obese people just get sympathy from others?! I come from a fat-phobic family and one of the members regularly attends a community pool about which she routinely says things like:

> "Mira, puerco cochino!" Translation: "Look, fat pig!"
> "Mira, rollos!" Translation: Look, rolls! (said while grabbing her side)
> "I was at the pool today. Oh my god... what is wrong with these people? Everyone is so FAT! The women, the men... The men have enormous stomachs."
> "I saw _____ the other day. What the hell happened to him? He looks terrible! He must have gained 50 pounds--no kidding! You should've seen him! He's your age and he looks like he aged 20 years since I last saw him. He looks like an old man!"

I don't think this family member ever said the word fat without over-annunciation, not just saying fat, but FATTT, whenever the word is used.

Even my own grandfather was fat and didn't like fat people.
I regularly see on Facebook, puffed up bodybuilders, Crossfitters, and other fitness fanatics poking fun at fat people, even expressing outright contempt for them and sometimes making memes about them.

Contrary to popular belief, some people look at juiced up bodybuilders in a negative light simply because don't like their look, as people do for anyone else whose looks they don't like! Contrary to popular belief, in many cases it is NOT because of envy or low self esteem--because plenty of people don't even give a rat's ass about looking like a well developed drug user--and instead is simply because they are disgusted.

It's the same ploy people try to use when someone doesn't like gayness or gays and will often say, "Oh, that's because the person is really gay or not comfortable with his own sexuality." Sorry, one can be perfectly fine and enjoy having sex with women while simply being repulsed by homosexuality--no mental or emotional problems included.

I actually have little sympathy if some grown adult is so offended by being called a meat head or juice head. I don't believe grown adults should expect to take on a look and lifestyle so drastically different than the norm--actually a look and lifestyle that most people don't want or dislike--and then be surprised when the desired result--either neutrality or praise--isn't reached.

[BrickHead]

people are scared of what they don't know, and its intimidating to adults, but in restaurants parents with there kids come up to me asking are you a pro wrestler or rugby player and ask for pics, which is kind of cool

(Serious reply here; not trying to instigate.)

Do you think people are scared or intimidated? Most ordinary folks I know couldn't give a rat's ass about a muscle freak they see anywhere. If anything, many think to themselves, "What's wrong with this guy?"

[Mac]

(Serious reply here; not trying to instigate.)

Do you think people are scared or intimidated? Most ordinary folks I know couldn't give a rat's ass about a muscle freak they see anywhere. If anything, many think to themselves, "What's wrong with this guy?"

Many of us think the same thing when we see obese out-of-shape people.

[BrickHead]

Many of us think the same thing when we see obese out-of-shape people.

Exactly. When I see obese or fat people, I don't think much. Obviously I instantly recognize them as a "fat person" but beyond that I don't think much; I'm just neutral. I have other stuff going on in my head usually.

[BrickHead]

Bodybuilders are not average. People always either feel threatened or look down upon those who don't conform to what is supposed to be standard or because they dont understand it or know they cant achieve it

Or they can simply be disgusted by something--no fear or threat involved.

[gilbrt]

Any thing in its extreme form will be viewed as negative if you see a 500 pound man at the shopping mall you will be disgusted but to a normal person so would a contest ready ronnie coleman . But I also think that some off us don't do our selves any favors with how we act in public so that can cast a negative on the bodybuilding / powerlifting community .

[Young Gotti]

depends on what you consider a "bodybuilder" many people i run into and get to know me think it's awesome that i'm into being healthy and working out....i'm also not huge

however when they see a pro bodybuilder, i've gotten things like "they inject drugs similar to heroin addicts" "they have a drug of choice no different than coke" regardless of health or not...anyone going home and injecting themselves is going to be looked down upon

as far as fat people, i work with a lady who's obese and she just says she loves food and the food will kill her one day, she's ok with it and knows it will happen, i sort of respect her honesty in a way

now another lady i work with is obese and shes diabetic, she always talks about how she's going to start eating better and how she hasn't had this or that in so long....yet she'll walk past me with some junk she knows isn't good for her with a napkin over it like trying to hide it...i don't call her out on it but those ppl make me the most mad, the ones who say they want to change and just never do, dont' say it then