Should You Be Checking on an Unsolicited Form?
Not so long ago I posted a couple of videos on Instagram. One was about how I swing a kettlebell at the beginning of the quarantine; another, more recent set. Over time, I noticed progress, and that’s what I talked about in my signature. My swings were sharper, the weight trajectory was more controlled.
So of course some dude noticed that I was doing it wrong.
I used to receive unsolicited forms of criticism, but seeing it in a progress post was just plain confusing. (Did he watch the “before” or “after” videos? It’s unclear.) He wasn’t even my trainer or a loyal friend, just someone I’ve never seen before who obviously follows the #kettlebellswing hashtag.
So here’s a life hack: don’t be that guy.
Maybe you are good at a certain lift or movement. Maybe you are even a respected coach. But if you’re not that person’s coach, why the hell should they be what you think? More importantly, why the hell do you think you know better than the person who posted the message?
To see how silly that can be, check out the comments on almost every post by a world-class athlete.
“Do a real deadlift, okay,” says one bozo powerlifter who holds the world deadlift record in three weight classes .
“I’m afraid that you break your back”, – says another elite athlete-Olympian who accidentally gaining 95 kilograms , which is about equal to the weight of a young hippo .
Think about all the reasons it’s inappropriate to interrupt someone at the gym to say that you think they’re doing it wrong. They all apply to social media as well. But they intensify because this person and their training regimen are even further away from you. Maybe you have no idea how their sport works and therefore think they are “cheating” if they do sumo deadlifts (legal in powerlifting) or if they hit the bar with their hips (legal in strongman’s powers).
There is also a contextual issue: unless they have posted a video specifically looking for advice (which people sometimes do and you can completely answer a call), this video is not for you to find fault with. This is to acknowledge their progress, or document a day’s workout, or show off their clothes, or whatever. If they need advice, they will ask.
Here’s a small block diagram that might help you. When should you submit an unsolicited verification form? Only if you are a coach or trusted mentor of this person and you know that he will welcome your advice in the context of social networks, and you do it thoughtfully and respectfully – ideally in your personal account, so as not to give the guys any ideas about the answer .