Hey
@lukiss96 , this is a really cool discussion. I'll even pre-date the discussion by reminiscing of "back in the day" of the early Internet in the mid-1990s. This was prior to modern web forum apps like vbulletin, etc. I'm talking misc.weights.fitness.
Those engaged in those early AAS discussion were much more serious trainers, much like what you see in any bodybuilding gym at the time, but much more knowledgeable.
And I guess looking back, the community was so incredibly small compared to what is happening today. Anyone who signed up with one of those AOL, earthlink, etc. free internet discs they received in the mail who looked around for AAS-type info could find themselves accidentally walking into the middle of a conversation between Dan Duchaine, Patrick Arnold, Bruce Kneller, Lyle McDonald, Bill Roberts, Will Brink, etc. Anyone could interact, talk, and even meet these guys in person as I did. The access to these guys was unparalleled.
Given the community membership was much smaller, the participants much more serious, and the level of discussion much higher, I think there was a lot more respect for those with knowledge to share before the Internet more mainstream and social media changed the dynamics over the ensuing 20+ years
We are incredibly fortunate to still have experts like
@Type-IIx,
@PeterBond, etc. but mainstream adoption of AAS use seems to have attracted a lot more casual users who don't appreciate and respect the value of the contributions of true experts like them as much as would have happened in the past. It's challenging to raise the IQ of the discussion when everyone wants to be an influencer and present themselves as experts not to mention all those who just want to troll.
I am rambling a bit and have a lot more to say. For the moment, I want reflect on changes over this time that has troubled more particularly in recent years...
When I first discovered the Internet, I thought I found the solution to everything. All of this knowledge, all of these experts, and the unrestricted exchange of information would make us smarter.
As for AAS users as a group, we could collectively reduce the level of harm because we would know more about how to manage AAS-related side effects and minimize harm. Therefore, AAS use would just be safer across the board.
We used to dismiss all of the AAS hysteria in the media. The refrain if steroids are so dangerous then show us the bodies was a good rally because there were essentially no bodies.
Fast forward to the 2020s, we can't really say that anymore. Because there are bodies.
What's changed? There are probably many factors but one big one that I will highlight is the dramatic change in the patterns of AAS use.
In the early days of the Internet, most AAS users would do one or two 10-12 week cycle per year, maybe PCT or maybe not, and they would be off of everything for the remainder of the year while maintaining proper training/nutrition. This was more of the norm than the exception.
Nowadays, blast and cruise is very common (which is basically a euphemism for a never-ending cycle). TRT isn't actually testosterone
replacement therapy. It's a euphemism to use 200mg, 300mg, 400mg, or more testosterone per week. Sometimes it's called sports TRT or enhanced TRT. I would even say that forums have even contributed to the normalization of such practices.
In reality, these are all just ways of rationalizing never-ending cycles and trivializing any accompanying health concerns.
The irony is that because of the Internet and AAS-related forums, we as a community know more than ever before about how to manage AAS-related side effects and how to minimize harm. Yet, so many users are willing to take even greater risks for marginal additional gains. This ranges from the serious users to the casual users.
I'll probably ramble some more later on how things have changed over the year. So
@lukiss96 please reserve additional space for me in the thread.
