Toughness

[Dale00]

Physical and mental toughness are important goals. Unless you try you won't learn your limits. And once you try and keep trying your limits will increase....some new skills will probably creep in as well.
Am I right that this is the missing element for most people in modern life? If so, what can we do to reintroduce it to people?

 

[TwoForFlinching]

We've made the world so safe that an entire generation of Americans doesn't realize how prosperous they actually are. The lack of toughness is simply a side effect of generations after generation wanting more for their kids. It's not wrong, but it's the side effect.

Quick fix... Kill the web, start WWIII

 

[Aku]

Physical and mental toughness are important goals. Unless you try you won't learn your limits. And once you try and keep trying your limits will increase....some new skills will probably creep in as well.
Am I right that this is the missing element for most people in modern life? If so, what can we do to reintroduce it to people?

Competition. End the nightmare of participation trophies.

 

[dennishoddy]

Physical and mental toughness are important goals. Unless you try you won't learn your limits. And once you try and keep trying your limits will increase....some new skills will probably creep in as well.
Am I right that this is the missing element for most people in modern life? If so, what can we do to reintroduce it to people?

Most can't get off their recliner to do anything but eat.
It's amazing how being overweight will sap your internal and external strength. Age can be a small factor, but I know some 80 years olds that do nothing more than sit in a chair and lift 5lb weights dozens of times as their daily workout because they cant walk. Others walk or ride bicycles.
Nothing will extend your lifespan more than physical activity and a balanced diet.

 

[Okie4570]

The movie WallE predicted this years ago lol sadly

 

[rc508pir]

Most can't get off their recliner to do anything but eat.
It's amazing how being overweight will sap your internal and external strength. Age can be a small factor, but I know some 80 years olds that do nothing more than sit in a chair and lift 5lb weights dozens of times as their daily workout because they cant walk. Others walk or ride bicycles.
Nothing will extend your lifespan more than physical activity and a balanced diet.

Mileage is a BIG factor

 

[RickN]

Most can't get off their recliner to do anything but eat.
It's amazing how being overweight will sap your internal and external strength. Age can be a small factor, but I know some 80 years olds that do nothing more than sit in a chair and lift 5lb weights dozens of times as their daily workout because they cant walk. Others walk or ride bicycles.
Nothing will extend your lifespan more than physical activity and a balanced diet.

I keep a 5lb weight on my desk and on good days walk the neighborhood. Some days I use the ski machine or recumbent bike. I still fight to lose weight. Does not help that some of my meds can make people gain weight.

 

[druryj]

Reinstate the draft.

 

[TedKennedy]

Eliminate al the "safety nets" that we have allowed to be constructed in the name of compassion. There are few consequences for bad choices these days, and stupid, selfish behavior is tolerated and even rewarded.

Men have determined that eating bacon and watching television sports are manly, worthwhile activities and have substituted participation with observation. The reward of a satisfying plate of meat and fat is easy to obtain, without the effort required by a hunter or farmer.

Women are entitled and have been deemed beautiful creatures regardless of how much they physically deteriorate from inactivity and overeating. Have a bunch of bastard children? Taxpayers will gladly foot the bill.

Should someone be so practical as to suggest a physical intervention to reduce the burden on society, that person is deemed the problem, not the parasitic child bearer.

I have zero doubt that our coming economic collapse will straighten many of these deviant actions out, but it won't be fun. It'll make the ones that are left tougher, though.

 

[Jcann]

Physical toughness might be achieved with mandatory PE in first thru twelfth grades. Throw in team challenges with both winner/looser.

Mental toughness, no one does it better than the military. In boot camp, I witnessed a very physically fit young man that had been broken mentally. I was assigned to watch him during mess and maintenance duty in the squad bay. He was completely broken and did a lot of sitting on his footlocker sobbing and wanting to go home to his mother. The Marine Corps eventually obliged him. No one that I'm aware of felt sorry for him. We looked at him as basically a pu**y.