Introduction
The article “Why I Don’t Do Crossfit” by Erin Simmons, the author writes about her perception regarding the training regimen associated with Crossfit (a popular fitness craze in the U.S.) and how it is supposedly a bad form of exercise to do.
Fallacy of Hasty Generalization
One of the first indicators that this is a bad argument is the hasty generalization the author makes regarding Crossfit. She states that the high rates of injury along with bad form and flawed exercise routines are a constant throughout all Crossfit gyms. This is a hasty generalization since the author herself has not attended every single Crossfit gym and underwent their various training regimens.
Thus, attributing the problems associated with some of the gyms to all of the gyms is a fallacy since there is no direct evidence to support that all Crossfit gyms have the same negligent practices.
This is not to say though that Crossfit is not to blame due to the lack of sufficient oversight regarding the training practices its various gyms employ, however, when taking into consideration the fact some gyms actually have competent trainers shows how what applies to a few gyms does not necessarily apply to all of them.
Issue of Insufficient Logical Connection
The second indicator of the argument showcasing a flawed position is its analysis of the injury rate of Crossfit and how it immediately equates into the activity being bad for you. Utilizing logical thinking to analyze such a position, it initially seems that the author does have a good point. Getting injured does not contribute towards a person’s well being, as such, Crossfit must be bad then.
However, when delving deeper into logical reasoning, you must take into consideration the fact that there are other forms of physical activity that people enjoy that also cause them to be injured. Sports such as football, soccer, basketball, skateboarding and bike riding also have prodigious amounts of injuries associated with them.
Do note though that even if these activities do have their share of injuries, people do not immediately stop doing them. The same logical conclusion can also be applied to Crossfit wherein just because people are getting injured does not mean that this form of physical activity is detrimental or dangerous when other physical activities have similar or even higher rates of injury.
Fallacy of Appealing to Ignorance
The third indicator of why this is a bad argument is how the author is guilty of a second fallacy (appealing to ignorance) wherein they connote their personal experience as applying to what other people must also be experiencing. In the article, the author states that as an athlete, they have experienced a plethora of training regimens that focused on developing them into a better, stronger and faster competitor.
The intensely vetted and scientific process behind each and every single range of motion exercise she went through was done in order to limit injury and maximize strength. She then concludes that based on her own personal experience and her observations regarding the differences in the Crossfit routines from what she did; Crossfit from her own perspective must be bad.
The main issue with this type of argument is that it ignores the fact that what applies to one person may not necessarily apply to another.
While her training regimen was effective for her, it may not apply to someone who is not as athletically gifted as her or on the other end of the spectrum would be insufficient for a person that is more athletically gifted. Not only that, the training regimen she underwent when she tested Crossfit could be far different than what is given to other people at different Crossfit affiliates.
Conclusion
Overall, while the author does present a good case as to why a person should not join a Crossfit gym, there are numerous problems with her given argument that detract from the viability of her statements.