Muscle over mind?

[Cai]

I was just thinking of this...

If you could sacrifice your intelligence to get any body you wanted would you do it?

[arpeejay]

Considering the number of stories where just exactly THAT occurs, wouldn't it be safe to say that there'd be some takers in that regard? (Oh, yeah, except it's all a secret plot!)

I'm waiting for someone to write a story in which the character gets smarter and smarter as his muscles get bigger and bigger.

rpj

[wbhunk]

<<I'm waiting for someone to write a story in which the character gets smarter and smarter as his muscles get bigger and bigger.>>

Well, I did sort of do that with "Live and Learn".....lol.

[bulkinupbig]

Why would you want to sacrifice your brain power for anything?
A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.

Moreover, I'm sick and tired of the stereotypical responses people have toward bodybuilders. Why people assume that just because you have muscles you don't have a brain... is beyond me. Building muscle takes an understanding of physiology, biology, nutrition, etc. Plus it takes determination, dedication, desire and discipiline. Just because I happen to tip the scales at 280 pounds in the off season doesn't mean that I can't add 1+1.

There are a lot of intelligent bodybuilders out there... some I have had the pleasure of meeting with personally, Dave Palumbo, Tom Prince, etc.

Maybe rethinking this... if you have any brain cells... and showcasing bodybuilders with intelligence will help to change perceptions and stereotypes.

[paarke]

Some of my friends would doubtless argue that I already lost it, but that is probably one of the few things that I would not sacrifice for anything. I get the feeling there are probably quite a few who would.

[hecad84]

Interesting this thread should appear now as I was just thinking about this same thing. I can understand the "becoming stupid as muscles grow" fantasy from the standpoint of being the one who makes someone else grow, and they become your muscle slave. From the standpoint of being the one who grows, my answer is I definitely would not give up my intelligence for a killer body. And my reason is very simple, if I have a killer body, I want to know it and be able to enjoy it! I don't just want to be a mindless pile of good looking flesh for someone else to use.

[brent]

There are some great points here today, but I think part of the 'becoming dumber and bigger' thing is the fantasy in it. I have had many fantasies of becoming bigger & dumber, or watching that happen to someone else. However those are just fantasies that pass, I would never choose that in reality... I think.

The other point is that a lot of people will project their jealousy on others. When I was younger I used to think that big guys were dumber than me, because I wanted to . I couldn't accept that they were superior to me overall. Nowadays, I believe in reincarnation, so if I'm not perfect, hopefully I will get another chance to be the smart 280# guy.

[Bull]

Well, let's see: my intelligence is a constant source of torment to me, and has brought me one moment of happiness that I can recall. Whereas a fantastic physique would at least lead to a lot of physical pleasure. Do the math...

[Corwin]

Well, let's see: my intelligence is a constant source of torment to me, and has brought me one moment of happiness that I can recall.

Oh my.

I'm well paid, have a fun job and generally enjoy life, mostly because I am intelligent and do think.

I'd kill for a better body.

[viamanmax]

Lose my genius, no, kill of course.

[musclewannabe]

Actually i wouldn't mind becomming dumber. My biggest thing is that i want to become a muscle slave. and when i say slave i mean slave. i want to find a big muscle bound master who wants to make me his freak muscle slave. I wouldn't mind for my mind to be gone after the experience. I'm not dumb now i attend college but being a mindless muscle bound slave is more appealing to me then having a borring ass 9-5 job.

N

[andres]

I think that there's no contradiction between being smart and muscular. The stereotype of dumb muscular men may have come from the fact that if a person does only physical work, he just doesn't have time to develop his brain. Perhaps that's why many professional athletes cannot compose a sentence longer than two words. But if one seeks balance, one can develop both muscles and brain. For me personally, bodybuilding gives such inspiration and energy that I wake every day with desire to do my scientific and translator work even better than I did the day before.

[Mdlftr]

The Romans had a phrase for it,
"Mens sano in corporo sano"

"Healthy mind in a healthy body"

Philosophy much favored by the English Public [i.e., private school] system in the 19th and early 20th centuries. See, "Tom Brown's Schooldays" for a novel about the exploits of boys on the 'playing fields of Eton'.

We just exaggerated on it a bit!

Md lifter-ebus

[ethernet_jock]

to answer the original question and state an opinion:

No.

Given the choice - if I had to make one - I would chose intelligence over muscle. I love being a big and fairly strong guy.... but being smart has gotten me MUCH further in life.

[claygrant]

Originally Posted by ethernet_jock

I love being a big and fairly strong guy.... but being smart has gotten me MUCH further in life.

gee EJ, not all of us are as blessed to have both...

interesting topic though... I might have to agree with Brent's younger self in that I sort of want that big guy over there to be lacking in something else. A slight superiority issue. I like to to think of myself as a humble guy, but when it comes to this topic, I don't know. Now if that big guy over there happened to be smart AND kind and willing to teach me a thing or two, I'd have no problem being the student!

[Aikuchi]

Though I know intelligence is often an amazing asset and it does enrich experience as muich as it does awareness and a keen ablity to also critique the finer details of life ...

I don't see the detriment of losing intelligence.

If I were to become ''dumber', I doubt I would recall or clarity what my higher level of thinking had brought me. There migth be some trouble grasping concepts and notions I would have no problem before but the lvel of contentment AS well as thing that keep me happy would be simpler.

My needs would boil down to more basic and less complex notions to comprehend and handle. Less complicated, I suppose. ... and I'll look good (LOL)

Its really a state of mind, regardless of my intelligence.
So yes,. I would not mind. Especially since I would not recall perfectly, or taionalize well what I 'lost' to begin with ... there are some perks as well.
Ignorance can be bliss.

---

Ok, this makes me sound so vapid (lol) but its the way I feel.



Yinn

[LittleArm]

Keeping the fantasy world seperate from reality...

I enjoy stories where there is some sort of symbiotic relationship, not just some big guy dominating another or even two big guys admiring eachother. Being a small man myself, I like the idea of a somewhat dimwitted muscleman with his small, brainy buddy. This way they are both getting something out of the relationship. Maybe the little guy gets protection, and in turn the big guy has his financial and professional life taken care of for him.

There's something fascinating about a man with a tremendous amount of physical power, yet being naive about the ways of the world.

[omelissokomos]

Originally Posted by LittleArm

There's something fascinating about a man with a tremendous amount of physical power, yet being naive about the ways of the world.

This reminds of me Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in Twins . Wasn't his face priceless when he discovered sex for the first time?

[LittleArm]

Twins is a great example... I never thought I'd be jealous of a Danny DeVito character, but being a twin brother to Arnold? Hmmmm....

To answer the original question, I think it depends on how much intelligence you'd be willing to sacrifice, for how much growth. I wouldn't give up 10 IQ points for an extra inch on my arms, because I know that with hard work I can gain that mass and still keep what (little) brainpower I already have. But, would I give up 10 points to have 20" guns? Sure. Because I know I will never have them on my own. I realize how much work is involved in doing that, and I'm not willing to make that amount of commitment.

I wouldn't want to give up 50 IQ points for those guns though- if I'm going to be that big, I want to at least be smart enough to know what to do with all that muscle.

[muscle_mastah]

Call me stupid, I'd trade it. But not for a little muscle for as much as I could possibly want.



Mmmmmmmm.... Apollyon?

[glammaman2000]

the lowest I ever scored on an IQ test was 149,the highest 172.When you're a kid,having a high IQ can be VERY isolating.(other kids aren't interested in the things you're interested in;you're not interested in,...etc.)Emotionally,you're the same as everybody else your age.As a young adult;older people can find an obviously intelligent younger person threatening.I've never felt superior about having a high IQ.If you don't realise that the vast majority of(often very nice)people are of average intelligence or less;&YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM(you're hopelessly outnumbered);how smart are you?Years of drugs&alcohol have gotten me to the point where I feel comfortable in the larger world.(without going overboard).But,like being gay;I wouldn't trade being smart for anything.It's part of who I am.&I'm bigger than 90%of the population.

[LittleArm]

How about the reverse question? Would you give up your size to be smarter? Surrender those rock-hard biceps, those chisled abs, the broad shoulders and powerful chest, to be a much weaker yet more intellegent person?