# Is it Safe to Have Sixpack Abs? Healthy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145 "2013-10-13T16:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/261 "2013-10-22T18:21:58Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > And yet, as in the case with body fat, you seem to cherry pick one item while ignoring the others. Please show me what I cherry picked and what I ignored. Please quote me. TIA. > [@](#): > > Note the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption include lowering the risk of “heart attack, ischemic (clot-caused) stroke, peripheral vascular disease, sudden cardiac death, and death from all cardiovascular causes” as well as gallstones and type 2 diabetes. So, you’d be an idiot to _not_ drink in moderation, right? Perhaps. I take it you agree with me that, at a minimum, it is reasonable to even ask the question? Or do you take **epbrown01** ’s apparent position, that it is ridiculous to even ask if moderate alcohol consumption is less healthy than abstinence? > [@](#): > > I’m all for being informed but you can’t expect people will make the same decisions as you would when presented with the same information. Did I ever express or imply that anyone would make the same decisions as me in terms of body fat percentage or alcohol consumption? > [@](#): > > Unless he starts taking direct actions that are outside the realm of normal and accepted practice I see no benefit of you getting involved. Why are you trying to involve yourself in my decision as to whether to get involved? Is it just concern, or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/262 "2013-10-22T18:39:25Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Please show me what I cherry picked and what I ignored. Please quote me. TIA. He already did. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/263 "2013-10-22T19:01:32Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Please show me what I cherry picked and what I ignored. Please quote me. TIA. Right above, where you quoted a study that showed one negative risk of moderate alcohol consumption without acknowledging the many documented benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. One study, in isolation, is interesting but doesn’t make your point. That is pretty much the definition of cherry picking. > [@](#): > > Why are you trying to involve yourself in my decision as to whether to get involved? Is it just concern, or something else? Because you started a thread on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/264 "2013-10-22T19:20:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Because you started a thread on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. Please show him where he posted that thread or apologize immediately. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/265 "2013-10-22T19:28:03Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Right above, where you quoted a study that showed one negative risk of moderate alcohol consumption without acknowledging the many documented benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. That would have been cherry-picking if my point was that moderate alcohol consumption is unhealthy. However, that was not my point in linking to that article. The point was that it is reasonable to ask whether moderate consumption of alcohol might be unhealthy. Do you understand the difference between the two issues? Ok, now please show me what I have cherry-picked in connection with body fat and what I have ignored. Please quote me. TIA. Also, do you agree with me that it is reasonable to even ask the question, i.e whether moderate alcohol consumption is relatively healthy or unhealthy? Or do you take epbrown01’s apparent position, that it is ridiculous to even ask if moderate alcohol consumption is less healthy than abstinence? > [@](#): > > One study, in isolation, is interesting but doesn’t make your point. That is pretty much the definition of cherry picking. What exactly is my point, in your view? Because I suspect you are strawmanning me. Also, did I ever express or imply that anyone would make the same decisions as me in terms of body fat percentage or alcohol consumption? Simple yes or no question. > [@](#): > > Because you started a thread on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. Let me put the question a different way: What exactly are you trying to accomplish by offering unsolicited and unwanted advice about interpersonal relationships, given that you know very little about the relationship in question? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145/266 "2013-10-22T20:12:31Z")
This thread has gone off the rails and has moved away from being a simple thread asking for opinions. Instead, it’s more the OP debating with most people who answer the topic and many participants debating among themselves over issues, so I’m going to shut it down. You can feel free to remake it, however, I feel Great Debates is better suited for what it is you’re looking for. I also wish to remind everyone there is also the Pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-have-sixpack-abs-healthy/671145.md?page=13)