Fitness/gyms. Theres a thin blue line flag on the wall of 80% of small gyms across the country and the big fitness chains are politically neutral in an aesthetic sense but absolutely overrun & operated by reactionary goobers.
Leftists are weirdly focused/defensive about saving dying religious institutions and churches as prime organizing spaces like this is the 60's where instead we should be focusing on growing the swoletariat in the church of gains because that's where people actually congregate frequently when you're under the age of 60.
True, but the gym/fitness industry transcends brick and mortar gym's and membership numbers. Fitness related content from Instagram, TikTok, to at home Youtube workouts/etc is almost inescapable if you're someone who is trying to learn more/get back into shape. Which happens to be like 70%+ of Americans who state to have fitness related goals in mind at any given time. But when they want to do something about it they either sign up to MAGA adjacent gyms or watch content that is littered with and created by fat phobic anti-vaxxx deepak chopra reactionaries.
Fitness/gyms are a unique cultural institution because working on ones health is as objectively positive as something someone can focus on - so it's not going to go anywhere like religion/etc, matter of fact the fitness "industry" is exploding. It's also probably one of the few places that will somewhat survive the complete atomization of our society as the last public-ish area you can be somewhere on your own volition, doing something positive, being surrounded by people.
We should be building inclusive fitness co-ops that blast rage against the machine across the country. Don’t just build mass, build a mass uprising.
It’s also probably one of the few places that will somewhat survive the complete atomization of our society as the last public-ish area you can be somewhere on your own volition, doing something positive, being surrounded by people.
When I go to the gym, I talk to nobody of the people I don't know already, and I've never seen people starting conversations with someone they don't know. It's a completely atomized place. You might be in the same space, but that's it. In a cinema you're also in the same place, but you don't get to know the person sitting next to you either.
Regardless of how you personally engage with your fitness experience - the feeling of being in these spaces whether you engage or not is inherently positive and important to a healthy society. My experience is the contrary. All the daily gym rats and power lifters are on first name basis with not only each other - but the personal trainers and/or managers of the gyms, and lo and behold they're all new age conservative psychos.
The point of this statement and the theme of my original comment is that we as leftists should focus on reenvisioning the gym and create inclusive socialist fitness spaces that would act more as a community gathering space. Rather than the alt-right reactionary spaces they are now.
holy fuck as a guy who deadlifts 400+ I literally can't have ANY lifting friends because there's a 95% chance anyone who is that strong is either a self identified neoliberal, an actual Nazi, or OVERWHELMINGLY a libertarian or (not even a meme) ancap
Self-improvement was a mistake, it just makes libertarians. (But you're cool, friend. :) ) I don't lift heavy but I'd cheer you on if I saw you at the gym.
It's because lonely males spend more time on the internet, and saw either 1) lifting or 2) white identity as ways to improve/cope (respectively) with their situation
This started becoming popular in the late 2000s, (bodybuilding forums + 4chan) and over time the two merged and you have the current zeitgeist
Climbing gyms are different in my experience, lots of environmentalists and people who don’t buy into the rat race. More and more tech bro types seem to be picking it up as a hobby lately though
Lots of Pete! types as well, But often they're easily movable out of aesthetic politics and into the real stuff. A lot of the climbers I know got very radical last year.
Really enthusiastic Pete people yes. But maybe my opinions are pretty skewed, I was able to fully radicalize someone from a conversation about how bad things are, so I dont think there's a ton of inertia to most of these people's politics really.
Really? Because where I've always associated gyms with a strong sense of community, friendliness and mutual support. I figured it would be similar in America, but I guess the :brainworms: run deep
Fitness/gyms. Theres a thin blue line flag on the wall of 80% of small gyms across the country and the big fitness chains are politically neutral in an aesthetic sense but absolutely overrun & operated by reactionary goobers.
Leftists are weirdly focused/defensive about saving dying religious institutions and churches as prime organizing spaces like this is the 60's where instead we should be focusing on growing the swoletariat in the church of gains because that's where people actually congregate frequently when you're under the age of 60.
deleted by creator
True, but the gym/fitness industry transcends brick and mortar gym's and membership numbers. Fitness related content from Instagram, TikTok, to at home Youtube workouts/etc is almost inescapable if you're someone who is trying to learn more/get back into shape. Which happens to be like 70%+ of Americans who state to have fitness related goals in mind at any given time. But when they want to do something about it they either sign up to MAGA adjacent gyms or watch content that is littered with and created by fat phobic anti-vaxxx deepak chopra reactionaries.
Fitness/gyms are a unique cultural institution because working on ones health is as objectively positive as something someone can focus on - so it's not going to go anywhere like religion/etc, matter of fact the fitness "industry" is exploding. It's also probably one of the few places that will somewhat survive the complete atomization of our society as the last public-ish area you can be somewhere on your own volition, doing something positive, being surrounded by people.
We should be building inclusive fitness co-ops that blast rage against the machine across the country. Don’t just build mass, build a mass uprising.
When I go to the gym, I talk to nobody of the people I don't know already, and I've never seen people starting conversations with someone they don't know. It's a completely atomized place. You might be in the same space, but that's it. In a cinema you're also in the same place, but you don't get to know the person sitting next to you either.
Regardless of how you personally engage with your fitness experience - the feeling of being in these spaces whether you engage or not is inherently positive and important to a healthy society. My experience is the contrary. All the daily gym rats and power lifters are on first name basis with not only each other - but the personal trainers and/or managers of the gyms, and lo and behold they're all new age conservative psychos.
The point of this statement and the theme of my original comment is that we as leftists should focus on reenvisioning the gym and create inclusive socialist fitness spaces that would act more as a community gathering space. Rather than the alt-right reactionary spaces they are now.
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
Not much in my experience. I'm lucky that I've kept a lot of friends from school and undergrad.
Does the internet count
deleted by creator
Yes, YES, YES
holy fuck as a guy who deadlifts 400+ I literally can't have ANY lifting friends because there's a 95% chance anyone who is that strong is either a self identified neoliberal, an actual Nazi, or OVERWHELMINGLY a libertarian or (not even a meme) ancap
deleted by creator
Self-improvement was a mistake, it just makes libertarians. (But you're cool, friend. :) ) I don't lift heavy but I'd cheer you on if I saw you at the gym.
Just like everything else, capitalism and grifters ruined it.
It's because lonely males spend more time on the internet, and saw either 1) lifting or 2) white identity as ways to improve/cope (respectively) with their situation
This started becoming popular in the late 2000s, (bodybuilding forums + 4chan) and over time the two merged and you have the current zeitgeist
Climbing gyms are different in my experience, lots of environmentalists and people who don’t buy into the rat race. More and more tech bro types seem to be picking it up as a hobby lately though
Lots of Pete! types as well, But often they're easily movable out of aesthetic politics and into the real stuff. A lot of the climbers I know got very radical last year.
I feel like the Pete stans are the least likely group to see the light.
Really enthusiastic Pete people yes. But maybe my opinions are pretty skewed, I was able to fully radicalize someone from a conversation about how bad things are, so I dont think there's a ton of inertia to most of these people's politics really.
Nothing is safe from gentrification :sadness:
deleted by creator
Really? Because where I've always associated gyms with a strong sense of community, friendliness and mutual support. I figured it would be similar in America, but I guess the :brainworms: run deep
Nope, ain't no spaces for friendliness and mutual support in North America :( What country are you in btw?
Ireland, I guess people here are friendlier in general