21 May 22
@very-rusty saidMost aspects of progress have made us stronger, healthier, better fed, longer living, and safer in various ways. But what aspects of progress have made us weaker?
fmf you may have answered your own question. "Progress"!
@fmf saidMan is not as strong as he was 100 years ago, as far as heathier, better food, that would depend on what you eat. Medication helps us live longer. A time may come when you take a pill instead of food. I hope I am long gone by then. We are not as physical as we once were which makes us weaker.
Most aspects of progress have made us stronger, healthier, better fed, longer living, and safer in various ways. But what aspects of progress have made us weaker?
-VR
22 May 22
@very-rusty saidI disagree. Athletes are constantly breaking each and every record they set and have been doing so for over a hundred years. Jesse Owens couldn't hang with today's track stars.
Man is not as strong as he was 100 years ago
22 May 22
@vivify saidDo the attributes of the fittest and most athletic - outliers and exceptional specimens almost by definition - tell us much about ordinary people?
I disagree. Athletes are constantly breaking each and every record they set and have been doing so for over a hundred years. Jesse Owens couldn't hang with today's track stars.
22 May 22
@fmf saidAthletes all across the board at all levels are better, not just the "exceptional specimens". A high basketball player now is incomparably better than high school player from the 50's.
Do the attributes of the fittest and most athletic - outliers and exceptional specimens almost by definition - tell us much about ordinary people?
22 May 22
@vivify saidYes, I know. But I asked you a question, not about how exceptional humans -making systematic efforts to improve athletic performance - and how they compare over time, but instead about whether the standards achieved by exceptional humans [in sports, for example] tells us about ordinary humans.
Athletes all across the board at all levels are better, not just the "exceptional specimens". A high basketball player now is incomparably better than high school player from the 50's.
@vivify saidI wasn't talking about athletes who are getting better with each decade that passes.
I disagree. Athletes are constantly breaking each and every record they set and have been doing so for over a hundred years. Jesse Owens couldn't hang with today's track stars.
I was talking about your ordinary man who works a regular job, most are in offices now. No EXERCISE!!!
-VR
22 May 22
@fmf saidAgain, I'm not talking about "exceptional" athletes. The skill and athleticism of any average high school athlete far surpasses high schooler athletes from the 50s.
Yes, I know. But I asked you a question, not about how exceptional humans -making systematic efforts to improve athletic performance - and how they compare over time, but instead about whether the standards achieved by exceptional humans [in sports, for example] tells us about ordinary humans.
There's no indication we're getting weaker.
22 May 22
@vivify saidHigh school athletes are not representative of the ordinary students who make up the majority of people of their age. I'd say with widespread obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle circumstances, that your average high school age kid is probably weaker than his or her counterpart 70 years ago.
Again, I'm not talking about "exceptional" athletes. The skill and athleticism of any average high school athlete far surpasses high schooler athletes from the 50s.
There's no indication we're getting weaker.