"Soldierfit," a workout plan based not on boot camp -- that's been done, and never very successfully -- but on the military life post boot camp. Assigning you an "NCO" to check on you every 30 days and chew you out for bad habits is probably somewhat effective, if you stay with the program.
Of course, it's a gimmick. You could always walk away, unlike the real military. Nevertheless, the structure probably would help a lot of people. One of the things I try to do for a few of my closest friends, not here on the internet but the ones I have in the physical world, is to keep in touch with them about their priorities and check on their progress regularly. Obviously I wouldn't impose myself if they did not wish it, but several of them have said that they like knowing they will have to account for their progress on a regular basis. It sometimes gives them that push to go to the gym, to write an extra chapter on their novel or dissertation, or whatever else they may be working on that is important to them.
That said, talking about what you're trying to do feels like accomplishing something -- and it's not, it's just talking. You have to hit that balance where what we are going to talk about is your accomplishment, so there'd better be one!
An old writing teacher of mine told me never to talk about what I want to write because that will satisfy my desire to tell that story.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, and it generalizes somewhat. Telling someone in detail about your new exercise program or diet feels a lot like making progress on your exercise program or diet.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese like to play a batsu game, where the losing side has to obey certain commands from the winning side. Thus providing a motivation to win in a rivalry.
ReplyDeleteWhen initiated while young, it really sets up a competitive streak in people.
Even in comedy sketches, the funny part is watching the comedians play the batsu game when they lose. Things like wear summer clothing in the winter of Tokyo, driving in an open car. The winner gets an AC double decker bus at a resort with an onsen. Hilariously uneven, socially competitive, dynamics.
The West seems to prefer social humiliation, applied externally, to losers in games, such as Talent shows. That eventually inculcates an Obey the Authority syndrome where people are too afraid of society to go against society. They've watched everyone on TV who resisted society, get crushed after all. All the anti bully organizations do is to promote a reward and desire to be an organization's inquisitors. Few social organizations in America do what they say they are doing, fighting society itself. Because they are society itself.
"Of course, it's a gimmick. You could always walk away, unlike the real military."
ReplyDeleteDirty little secret, Grim... you can just walk away from the military (during Basic Training) as well. A trainee who simply refuses to do anything and just says "I want out" is given a "failure to adapt" general discharge. Sure, they can yell at the trainee and attempt to convince him not to give up, but if they stick to their guns, 100% of the time they are let go. Now, I suppose that in time or war or a draft situation, that may be different, but since the change to an all volunteer military, anyone who absolutely wants out can get out. And desertion from Basic is about the stupidest crime in the world.
If a woman wants out of a Navy ship, she gets pregnant. Seems simple enough in theory.
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