Buzz
A while back, I shared two videos on Instagram. One featured me swinging a kettlebell early in quarantine, while the other showed a more recent attempt. As time passed, I noticed improvement, which I highlighted in my caption. My swings became quicker and the kettlebell’s trajectory more controlled.
Naturally, someone left a comment claiming I was doing it incorrectly.
I’ve had people give me unsolicited feedback before, but receiving one on a progress post was just confusing. Was he commenting on the earlier video or the later one? It wasn’t clear. He wasn’t even a coach or someone I knew—just a random person who apparently follows the #kettlebellswing hashtag.
Here’s a little tip for life: Don’t be that person everyone avoids.
You might excel at a particular exercise or movement. Perhaps you're even a well-regarded coach. But if you're not the one guiding someone in their fitness journey, why would your opinion matter to them? Even more perplexing, why do you assume your perspective is superior to the one shared by the individual who actually posted?
To understand just how absurd things can get, take a look at the comments under almost any post made by an elite lifter.
“How about doing a proper deadlift?” says one clueless commenter to a powerlifter who holds world records in three different weight classes.
“I’m afraid you’re going to injure your back” warns another person to an Olympic lifter casually snatching 95 kilos, which happens to be roughly the weight of a young hippo.
Remember all the reasons why it's inappropriate to interrupt someone in the gym to tell them they're doing it wrong? The same principles apply online, but they’re even more pronounced. The person you're criticizing is further removed from you and their training routine might be completely unfamiliar to you. Maybe you don’t understand their sport, which is why you might think they’re ‘cheating’ by deadlifting sumo (a legal technique in powerlifting) or hitching the bar on their thighs (perfectly acceptable in strongman).
Context matters too: unless someone posts a video explicitly asking for feedback (which some do, and you’re welcome to give input), the video isn’t meant for you to critique. It could just be there to celebrate their progress, record their workout for the day, or share their cool gym outfit. If they want advice, they'll ask for it.
Here’s a simple guide to follow. When should you offer unsolicited feedback on someone’s form? Only if you’re their coach or a trusted mentor, and only if you know they’d appreciate your advice in the context of social media. And of course, do so kindly and respectfully—preferably through a direct message so you don’t spark the interest of the ‘reply guys.’
