Honest Assessments - Or "I Am Not Mediocre"

[BendtheBar]

Experienced lifters often tell less experienced lifters to surround themselves with people that are going to push them; athletes who are leaps and bounds ahead of them. This helps build perspective, improves drive, and carries with it many other benefits.

Well I stumbled upon another reason to step out and train, or surround yourself with more experienced lifters. This reason is "self-serving bias."

A College Board survey of 829,000 high school students:

--0 percent rated themselves below average in ability to get along well with others
--60 percent rates themselves in the top 10 percent
--25 percent rated themselves in the top 1 percent

Similarly, in surveys of college faculty, 90% rate themselves superior to their colleagues. As far as drivers, 9 out of 10 think they're above average.

Source: T Nation

We tend to elevate our accomplishments, ignoring our weaknesses, faults, etc. So it stands to reason that if we remain surrounded by average lifters with average numbers, it is likely we will elevate our accomplishments even more.

You tend to see this on forums that are "green lifter" heavy, where very few men hit 300 squats and 400 deadlifts. Guys tend to stagnate, unable to see the bigger picture.

Why I am not building much muscle, etc? They don't see themselves as being too far off numbers wise from the average forum member. Perhaps with "self-serving bias" built in, they think they are better than average, or near the top. Far from mediocre.

Maybe a reason for the heavy amount of confusion about lack of gains.

Does this sound fair and reasonable?

[Off Road]

Awesome! I find myself humbled on a daily basis because I hang out on forums where guys are WAY-WAY-WAY stronger than me. With a 400+ squat and a 500+ deadlift, I would only rank myself as low-average in strength. "I have a long ways to go and a short time to get there" (/Jerry Reed)

[bamazav]

Originally Posted by Off Road

Awesome! I find myself humbled on a daily basis because I hang out on forums where guys are WAY-WAY-WAY stronger than me. With a 400+ squat and a 500+ deadlift, I would only rank myself as low-average in strength. "I have a long ways to go and a short time to get there" (/Jerry Reed)

Ditto. One of the reasons I hang around here.

[bruteforce]

Its a different world in here. There's only a handful of people at the Golden Social Club stronger than me, and only one who does full squats. Here, I'm still the new kid with some potential and a bunch of great mentors. I believe this is also why places like MIT have such high suicide rates. You have to be pretty darn smart to get in, but once you're there, you among people as good as or better than you. Its rough for this generation to be just another snowflake in a blizzard.

[BendtheBar]

I was pretty confident when I headed off to college. When I got there reality hit - I wasn't as gifted or smart as I thought.

[big_swede]

Good post BtB. Being a member off this forum where most of the senior members are stronger than me is a great motivator. So it is when choosing training buddys. "When you are the strongest lifter at your gym, its time to find a new one or progress will halt" someone said, and I agree.

[Kuytrider]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

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You tend to see this on forums that are "green lifter" heavy, where very few men hit 300 squats and 400 deadlifts.

Kindly point me in the direction of these forums so I can feel all powerful and special

My current gym is filled with the strongest guys I have seen (yet they pale in comparison to many MAB members) and I am training harder than ever, not sure this is a coincidence.

High school isn't the best gauge, many people have inflated egos (even if it is hidden) at that age. I figured I was smarter than I was but that illusion quickly dissipated as I grew older. Never thought I was strong though

[JacktheThriller]

Conformation Bias is another one that kills progress. Surround yourself with inferior lifters who praise your above average lifts and hold you up as the pinnacle.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Kuytrider

Kindly point me in the direction of these forums so I can feel all powerful and special

I could but I won't. With the glory comes many OCD headaches.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by JacktheThriller

Conformation Bias is another one that kills progress. Surround yourself with inferior lifters who praise your above average lifts and hold you up as the pinnacle.

Good point.