Steroids: Good / Bad

[OAR]

NOTE: THIS IS ABOUT ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Do you support the use of steroids in both the bodybuilding world and/or the world of professional sports

First, lets consider what steroids can do to a persons body. Sure, they can give you increased muscle mass, but they can also lead to, in men, shrunken testicles and ineffective sperm. Addtionally, overuse can result in acne. Not the sort of stuff that teen girls worry about, but this kind. NOT SAFE FOR ANYBODY PICTURES (http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/graphic-evidenc.html).

What are they good for? Giving increased performance. We love to see athletes preform incredible feats, and steroids can enhance said feats. They can also help people recover quicker from injuries.

Which side are you on?

[Lizzaroni]

Bad.

[AzureNightmareX]

Steroids have numerous medical uses, from healing devastating injuries to something as mundane and everyday, yet lifesaving as inhalers for people with asthma. Steroids themselves arent bad, it just has the capacity to be abused, just like any other legitimate medical substance.

[thegamecubist]

I'd rather not have man tits. :D

[Z.E.I.D.A.N]

Bad

[Thebigbear8]

Steroids are bad M'kay

[HGW XX/7]

Using them to get the edge in sports = no.

[MAX]

depends on what they are used for, as has already been noted in previous posts.

[OAR]

What would happen if they allow everyone in sports to use steroids, just in certain doses. Would it make the sport more exciting, or would it turn you off?

[HGW XX/7]

I wouldn't bother watching.

[MR EPIC]

The big issue for me is that steroids are illegal and so it's hard to make a decent argument in favor of them personally. Aside from that fact I don't mind it at all if an athlete wants to get a competitive edge and do steroids, again, if they were available to all without risking defaming yourself and possibly legal ramifications. Athletes from the beginning of time have been striving to get a competitive edge from all types of substances and in theory steroids is no different than many of them. It should be up to the individual as to what they decide to put into their bodies and how far they are wiling to go in order to reach that next level. And to answer OAR's question, there is one sport that pretty much allows (or turns a blind eye) to steroid use and that's football. Players like Sean Meriman were found to be doing steroids last season yet were allowed to participate in the pro-bowl. And I'd speculate that at very minimum 60-70% of all football players are doing steroids yet it was baseball that got the bad rep over the past few seasons. Once again, they're illegal and for that reason I can't make a completely valid argument, but I personally don't have a problem with them otherwise.

[oldgeeser]

bad and if pro sports athlethes used steriods wouldn't that make them bad role models for everyone else? eg. bullies jacking up on steriods to be up people...

[OAR]

^ So basically, that makes me think that Steroids == Adam

[Nismo]

Geez, that's an awful picture I can practically taste the scarring in my mouth. Check out the boobs the guy has in picture 3.

[Smokey]

Steroids shouldn't be used in sports, IMO. The consequences of taking them far outweigh the benefits.

[Tanooki]

Steroids in sports = cheating and pumping up fake numbers that are outright illegitimate much like Barry juicer Bonds fake record that Hank Aaron really still owns for now.

Those steroids prescribed due to some health issue, it's ok. And I suppose if you want to use it for entirely personal uses and not to cheat in any form of any type of competition I could care less what you do in your private life even if it's not the right thing.

[Rensa]

As they are, no - too dangerous and unpredictable. But as Epic pointed out, they are, in concept, no different as a competitive edge to things like special swim suits. If steroids or HGH had no side effects, would they be any different to taking protein and vitamin supplements?

[Nismo]

I think the guy forgot to take another drug that counters those effects (scarring, acne, tits) and took just straight up roids.

I have a few acquaintances from high school that do steroids publicly for the look and strength.

[Smokey]

As they are, no - too dangerous and unpredictable. But as Epic pointed out, they are, in concept, no different as a competitive edge to things like special swim suits. If steroids or HGH had no side effects, would they be any different to taking protein and vitamin supplements?

Certainly, if there weren't any side effects, I don't think anyone would have any real problem with them. I don't think anyone's going to find a way to change the way anabolic steroids affect people, though. They might find some other kind of supplement, but they probably won't fix the existing substance.

[Rensa]

Certainly, if there weren't any side effects, I don't think anyone would have any real problem with them. I don't think anyone's going to find a way to change the way anabolic steroids affect people, though. They might find some other kind of supplement, but they probably won't fix the existing substance.
If that is indeed the case, we need to recognise the real problem we have with steroids - namely, not that we believe they're 'cheating', but that we're asking athletes to take unreasonable risks with their bodies in order to maintain the competitive edge.

[MR EPIC]

Now you guys are gettin' it. ;)

It has little to do with "cheating", especially when the majority of the users competitors are doing the same thing. It's a level playing field in that regard.

And for those of you who've always believed that steroids were the cause of Lyle Alzado's death (ex-Raider great), there is no information nor evidence to back up such a claim. The guy had a lot of medical issues aside from doing steroids.

[Smokey]

If that is indeed the case, we need to recognise the real problem we have with steroids - namely, not that we believe they're 'cheating', but that we're asking athletes to take unreasonable risks with their bodies in order to maintain the competitive edge.

Well, I do think it's cheating when not every athlete has them available/is too honorable, as it were. If they were available to everyone legally, that'd be another story, but as it stands now, it is cheating.

So, what I'm trying to say is that if they were readily available and had no serious side effects, they would be just like protein shakes or other stuff you buy at GNC. That is, there'd be no problem.

[MR EPIC]

There are side effects to every performance enhancing supplement, be it Creatine, Andro, HGH, Steroids, thermagens, etc...Also, steroids are readily available to each and every professional athlete on the planet. The only issue is that steroids are illegal and for that reason alone it's hard to make a case in their favor.

[Smokey]

When I say "readily available", I say it with the implication that it is readily available legally. Also, "side effects" is usually meant to carry a negative connotation. A big one.

[Rensa]

Well, I do think it's cheating when not every athlete has them available/is too honorable, as it were. If they were available to everyone legally, that'd be another story, but as it stands now, it is cheating.

So, what I'm trying to say is that if they were readily available and had no serious side effects, they would be just like protein shakes or other stuff you buy at GNC. That is, there'd be no problem.
Not every country can get a sponsorship deal with Speedo and access to their latest suits. Not every country can afford the latest training centres and techniques, with entourages of personal trainers and nutritional scientists following each athlete, either. The simple fact is that representing at least a moderately wealthy nation means more opportunities and advantages than representing a tiny little Pacific island.

[Smokey]

Ugh, I really should start including more details in my posts. I was actually thinking of just American sports, not international competitions or the like. You are right, though.

[virion]

steroids aren't that bad..

with a combination of legal supplements you can get the same effects.. steroids just put you in an anabolic state. you can easily obtain that with a combination of nitric oxide, bcaa's, amino acids, protein, tribulus terrestris, an estrogen blocker, and so on. steroids like D-bol are just a little stronger, but for max effects you would still need bcaa's, aminos, proteins, estrogen blockers and such.

[Smokey]

Just because the same effect can be achieved with a myriad of other supplements doesn't mean that steroids aren't bad. Saying they aren't bad is simply the height of ignorance. Honestly, I don't see how you can make that statement in a serious manner.

[MR EPIC]

How are they bad Smokey? Do you have any medical information to back up your claim of steroids being bad? Or are you just following along with what the media says again? Steroids are fine aside form the fact they're illegal.

[virion]

you can take steroids healthily and avoid some of the adverse reactions by combining it with other supplements. plus steroids are heavily prescribed by doctors for a myriad of things. for instance, if you have bronchitis. a steroid therapy is usually prescribed.

[Smokey]

@Epic- You saw the pics, right? Is that not proof enough? Besides, they're illegal for a reason (read: unhealthy and dangerous).

@Virion- That's a different kind of steroid. Yes, there are different kinds that do have medical uses if taken in small amounts. The kind we've been talking about, however, which is anabolic steroids, is quite unhealthy and is not prescribed for medical purposes.

[MR EPIC]

Smoke - So is Marijuana, but you're not going to convince me that it should be any more illegal than alcohol should.

[virion]

@Virion- The kind we've been talking about, however, which is anabolic steroids, is quite unhealthy and is not prescribed for medical purposes.

many anabolic steroids are prescribed like winstrol and others.

what pic?.. do i need to go back to the beginning.

[virion]

okay.. first off. the guy from that article should have never stopped steroids usage. i mean those lesions and such became prevalent after months of non use of steroids. if he would have just continued with his cycles he would have just had bad acne.

ha.

[JValone]

Smoke - So is Marijuana, but you're not going to convince me that it should be any more illegal than alcohol should.

Well to be fair marijuana is much less harmful than many types of steroids. That's not news to you, I know, but it's a really benign substance so I wouldn't say it's a good comparison.

But I do agree with you that steroids should be made legal, I can understand pro sports leagues or the Olympics banning them but if some average Joe wants to do harm to themselves I don't believe it's the government's job to babysit.

[ReaganYouth]

Marijuana isn't very harmful at all. That's why my mom still lets me smoke it. :P

[JValone]

There are some adverse health effects depending on how you take it. Smoking it is still significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco, but anytime you smoke it does have an effect on the lungs. I'm fairly certain that if you use a vaporizer most if not all health issues can be avoided. Erik's probably the man to go to for this sort of thing, at least from what I can tell. But we're getting way off-topic, the only thing MJ and steroids have in common is that they're illegal because the government has a nanny complex.

[virion]

There are some adverse health effects depending on how you take it. Smoking it is still significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco, but anytime you smoke it does have an effect on the lungs.

marijuana has 3 times the amount of carcinogens in it that tobacco. but most people who smoke, smoke far greater amounts of tobacco that weed. plus i've never used a vaporizer that worked worth a ****. i once had a 3.5 foot glass color changing ice catching bong. best bong ever. no more marijuana for virion, though.

[JValone]

I've never read a reputable report (re: not sponsored by an organization whose purpose it to crack down on consumption and sale of cannabis) that found cannabis to be as harmful as tobacco. Here is an excellent (imo) comparison of the carcinogenic properties of both plants:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1277837

It highlights not just the carcinogen levels but also the way they interact with cells, I thought it was a really informative read and more importantly it is not a pro-cannabis site.

You get what you pay for with vaporizers, from what I hear, though I'm not personally familiar with them because I don't have any interest in paying $100+ dollars for that sort of equipment. I also never smoke during the school year and only sporadically otherwise, so it just wouldn't be worth the investment.

[Smokey]

Smoke - So is Marijuana, but you're not going to convince me that it should be any more illegal than alcohol should.

Josh said a lot of what I was going to. Either way, marijuana doesn't shrivel your manhood, but steroids does. I rest my case.:P

[virion]

You get what you pay for with vaporizers, from what I hear, though I'm not personally familiar with them because I don't have any interest in paying $100+ dollars for that sort of equipment. I also never smoke during the school year and only sporadically otherwise, so it just wouldn't be worth the investment.

i once had a vaporizer.. it seemed like it just roasted the weed and what i smoked didn't get me really high but just gave me a headache.. i also think that the heat generated from the plate on my vaporizer was hot enough.

[virion]

Either way, marijuana doesn't shrivel your manhood, but steroids does. I rest my case.:P

who cares about having big balls.. girls don't clamor after the guys with huge BALLS.. i'd rather have a huge hard dick and small balls than the reverse. and an increase of testosterone helps with firmness of the penis. couple that with nitric oxide, which in all actuality is probably the best supplement ever, and you'll get a much firmer larger penis. just small balls.

[ReaganYouth]

What do you guys think about acid? I did that a few times and the first time it was pretty fun. I saw some **** I would have never imagined in a normal state of mind. The second time was about as good. The third time I was screaming the whole night. Oh god, it was like a freaking nightmare. I never did it again after that. Why does it have such varied affects on people? I never quite understood that.

[MR EPIC]

Josh said a lot of what I was going to. Either way, marijuana doesn't shrivel your manhood, but steroids does. I rest my case.:P

It might not shrivel your manhood but it lowers your sperm count, giving you less need to have "manhood" in the first place.

[JValone]

What do you guys think about acid? I did that a few times and the first time it was pretty fun. I saw some **** I would have never imagined in a normal state of mind. The second time was about as good. The third time I was screaming the whole night. Oh god, it was like a freaking nightmare. I never did it again after that. Why does it have such varied affects on people? I never quite understood that.

You ought to start an "Opinions on Drugs" thread, I would say move the discussion to the "I'm High" thread but I can't seem to find it at the moment. There are a bunch of people who seem interested in the subject (me being one of them) but I feel guilty about derailing this thread any more than I already have, hehe.

[ReaganYouth]

Ok, I'm on it then.

[MR EPIC]

How is comparing Steroids to other forums of drugs in order to formulate an argument "derailing the thread"? I think everything we're talking about it pertinent to the conversation at hand.

[Smokey]

It might not shrivel your manhood but it lowers your sperm count, giving you less need to have "manhood" in the first place.

Really? I didn't know that.