When five-time Mr. Olympia, Chris Bumstead, appeared on Jordan Peterson’s podcast, it created a lot of buzz amongst bodybuilding fans and casuals alike. While a few fans flooded social media with criticism amidst the uproar, one distinct voice prevailed – that of Greg Doucette.
Doucette, known for his outspoken nature, defended Bumstead against the backlash, emphasizing the importance of giving everyone a fair chance. “Damn rare L from Cbum,” the comment section is filled with such criticism. However, “Based on what… You haven’t even watched the podcast” Doucette remarked, pointing out the irony of judging without listening.
Greg Doucette urges listen to diverse opinions for growth and learning
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The IFBB Pro coach urged followers to avoid the sheep mentality, reminding them that disagreement doesn’t justify dismissal. Doucette drew parallels to his own experience, recounting hate comments received for merely expressing an opinion on men’s wellness. He cautioned against presuming negativity without understanding the content. He stated in the video, “I have no idea what’s wrong with the world right now, but apparently you can’t even go on a podcast of someone who you admire.”
Addressing the broader issue of censorship, Doucette argued against stifling diverse opinions. He quoted Jordan Peterson, stating, “In order to be able to think, you have to risk being offensive.” Doucette acknowledged that while he doesn’t agree with every statement from Peterson, he appreciates the intellectual diversity he brings.
The 48-year-old encouraged people to broaden their horizons, emphasizing that disagreement shouldn’t hinder the ability to coexist. He questioned the logic of labeling a podcast appearance with an idol as “sad,” asserting that personal dislikes shouldn’t dictate others’ choices.
Doucette’s central message focused on the necessity of listening to differing opinions for personal growth. “If you can’t listen to people who have a different opinion than your own, how are you ever going to grow? How are you ever going to learn?” he passionately stated. Ever wondered when it all began? And why the people’s favorite CBum is receiving negative comments on social media?
Chris Bumstead shared excitement online and encountered backlash
On February 16th, CBum shared a carousel on Instagram featuring his latest podcast with Jordan Peterson, the controversial public speaker held by Bumstead in high esteem. Taking to Instagram, he expressed his enthusiasm, stating in the caption, “I have learned a lot from this man over the years, spent a lot of time listening and reading his words and so it was an honor to be able to speak with @jordan.b.peterson on his podcast. We spoke about mindset, discipline, love/marriage, and more.”
CBum opened up about the evolution of his discipline. He shared that his discipline grew by sticking with something consistently over time. He acknowledged experiencing common feelings of anxiety in the gym, a sentiment echoed by many. Interestingly, he highlighted the paradox where people, with good intentions, offer help to make you comfortable but inadvertently create a sense of unease. However, this post didn’t receive all positive feedback; instead, people started commenting negatively about him because he went on to chat with Jordan Peterson.
Doucette’s plea for open-mindedness and contemplative reflection strikes a chord. While one may disagree with Peterson, it is important to understand that CBum or anyone else, if they want to, should be able to talk to anyone they like. It’s only the hallmark of a functional democracy.
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