Natter 54: Right here, dammit.
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Isnt't that the author's point, that we have this myth in the US that exercise helps with self-esteem?
No, the myth is that exercise will cause you to lose weight. This is the context
This is not to say that there aren’t excellent reasons to be physically active, as these reports invariably point out. [one reason being:] we’ll probably feel better about ourselves. (Of course, this may be purely a cultural phenomenon. It’s hard to imagine that the French, for instance, would improve their self-esteem by spending more time at the gym.)
Even if you don't lose weight, even if you hate doing it, just being active might make you feel better about yourself because it's seen as a moral thing to do. He's guessing that in France that's not the case. Which seems plausible to me. But between the "may be" and the "hard to imagine," and the fact that it's a parenthetical comment anyway, I don't think it's meant as a statement of ultimate truth.
I think exercise is a fake moral issue in the US. More of it wouldn't fix anything psychologically.
Well, yeah. I don't think "higher self-esteem" actually means "greater psychological health."
OK, right. I read the article yesterday and forgot the context of the quote.
But, bon, I don't see the point of that statement if France and the US are similarly uncheered by an increase in physical exertion.
This is
not
what the author said. He said:
It’s hard to imagine that the French, for instance, would improve their self-esteem by spending more time at the gym.
(In general), French people think going to a gym is crazy. Or really, any attempt to exercise for the sake of exercise. Jogging took a long time to catch on in France, and you still don't see that many people doing it. They "exercise" by integrating it into their daily activities--walking way more than the average American, carrying groceries home from the market, etc.
French people think going to a gym is crazy. Or really, any attempt to exercise for the sake of exercise. Jogging took a long time to catch on in France, and you still don't see that many people doing it. They "exercise" by integrating it into their daily activities--walking way more than the average American, carrying groceries home from the market, etc.
I think I am French! Seriously, though, since not having a car, I walk a lot. I walk a lot carrying things. I eat a fairly good diet (certainly similar in content to my thin cow-orkers). I haven't just randomly lost weight. When I lost weight via exercise, it was when I a) worked an 8 - 10 hour a day job that included standing on my feet and moving crap around b) I walked or biked to work and everywhere c) AND exercised 1 - 2 hours per day. That is sort of ridiculous, and I don't have that kind of time
Yes, that helps sometimes. But, if I'm being introduced to someone who says "this is Bob Smith", then where do I go?
Follow Teal'c's example and always call him by his full name?
I think of exercise and the nation's self-esteem being related as a myth that everyone knows is a myth, if they even grant it any status at all.
I don't think it's a myth. I think people
do
feel better about themselves, in the sense that they think on some level it makes them a better person. How often have you bragged or been bragged to about making it to the gym? Happens all the time. (More the latter than the former in my case, heh.)
And the converse is even more true - that
not
exercising or going to the gym is reflective of some sort of character flaw, or laziness at the very least.
Which is not to say these things are
true.
But that people believe them, on some level, is certainly true in this country.
Does anyone think it's weird if little kids call grown-ups by their first names? Bloke says it's Just Not Done in America, and finds it very weird here where no one calls anyone Mr or Mrs anything. The only situation I can think of is in school, but even that's being phased out, I hear.
Not weird to me. But it depends on the degree of familiarity. If it's someone I would call by their first names, I find it hard to introduce them to my kids as Mr. __ or Ms. ___. Teachers, etc. still get called by their title, since I think it's a respect thing.
But just someone casually, I'm not apt to force Mr. or Ms. onto my kids.
Now that I'm an adult, I would find it totally weird to have anyone address me as Ms. Hell, I'm not even that into Aunt as it feels so formal.
How often have you bragged or been bragged to about making it to the gym?
Not that often, honestly.
But, bon, I don't see the point of that statement if France and the US are similarly uncheered by an increase in physical exertion.
This is not what the author said. He said:
I didn't say that's what he said. I posit that Americans are uncheered and he posits that the French are uncheered. That's where I was discussing from.
I also think that better self esteem is generally better mental health.
Oh, and some other stuff. I'm going back to bed.
I would find it totally weird to have anyone address me as Ms.
Does take a lot of work. Occasionally I respond to "Ms. [lastname]" with "Yes, Mr. Guerrero?" This tended to surprise the middle-schoolers.
