The Importance of Context

[lylemcd]

Article on the main site

[ErinFL]

Nicely done. I'm afraid you will be posting this link a lot "go read this-then come back and rephrase your question"

[PlankIt]

This article needs to be a sticky on every fitness/diet forum.

Though I'm with Erin - I would be surprised if that didn't just result in a lot of answer givers needing to link OPs to the sticky.

And so the cycle will continue.

But at least you got to call out some...mmmhmmm... threads

[Fitnesschicky]

Apparently "read the book" or "muffins" is no longer a sufficient answer.

[lylemcd]

Muffins is always the answer.

[Fitnesschicky]

Originally Posted by lylemcd

Muffins is always the answer.

Not during carb-ups. At least not the whole wheat kind ;-)

[PlankIt]

Originally Posted by lylemcd

Muffins is always the answer.

When did I miss this?

Thought it was 'pizza'

[Omn]

An article that clearly and concisely sums up my frustrations whenever trying to explain something in training/nutrition to friends. It needs to be given the context. It once took me a good hour until I gave up, to explain how context and conditions (givens) are important. I even got into 3-4 arguments with my ex over the importance of context, and how she can't simply say everything in absolutes regarding random health-related content.


Also a very apt first example with the car question. I might use that sometime. And redirect people I know to this article.

[lylemcd]

I opted for the car example for two reasons

1. It's almost a cliche that people in this field use them to make illustrations. I have no idea why. Probably because people have so much common understanding of them.

2. It was an example where the issue is just so blindingly obvious, that you can't give a single answer to such a complex question, that I hoped it would get the point across without people digging in over something they have an emotional investment in. So that when I turned it around to training/diet, they couldn't help but see 'Oh yeah, I guess it is the same thing' unless they are truly thick.