why bad posture isnt that bad

How bad is your posture? Be honest. Now what if we told you that bad posture isn't actually that bad? In this video, Sabrina unravels the surprisingly horrible history of posture while also getting the internet to bully her because this is an Answer in Progress video. What did you expect?

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SOCIAL MEDIA
Sabrina
Melissa
Taha

CREDITS
Produced by Sabrina Cruz
Video Editing by Joe Trickey
Motion Design by Sabrina Cruz

MUSIC

RECOMMENDED READING
Stand Up Straight! by Sander L. Gilman

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Siri, play Tessa Violet's Bad Ideas
00:11 This video is an elaborate subtweet to my mom
00:50 Research montages aren't a personality trait, but i wish
01:07 This is just a book report i guess
01:38 The Benefits of Good Posture
02:44 Childrens robotics projects vs Sabrina
04:10 Asks internet for roasts. Gets roasted. Shocked pikachu.
04:40 The Bad of Good Posture
05:44 Self Improvement vs Existential Crisis: a memoir
08:19 Share this video with a bad posture pal
08:32 Paying the bills

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Welcome to the joke under the fold! Here's a lesson in the form of a joke.

I didn't think this video would help my posture, but I stand corrected.

Leave a comment with the word STAND to let me know you were here ;-)

[answerinprogress]

Hows ur posture rn? 👀 Also, yes, the channel name changed. We explained why here:
*EDIT:* I hear what y'all are saying about being disappointed with this video. I considered making an in-depth exploration of posture but ultimately, it veered too close to me (baby) giving medical advice and it made me uncomfortable. So, the video became more about drawing a line between the physical benefits of good posture and the unnecessary social noise. I believe that healthy posture is valuable and achievable through awareness and exercise; I just think individuals should be able to decide what is right for their bodies.

[dingus]

"posture doesn't fucking matter as long as you're working ergonomically and paying attention to what feels good for your body"
- My physiotherapist

[gominuke]

the best posture you can have is the one that allows you to move about. sitting straight at a desk isn't inherently better than any other posture as long as you are changing you position around and getting up every so often.

[NoName-ikdu]

I'm really tall, so hunching down to fit in a tiny world has plagued me since puberty. I actually had to go through physical therapy as a teenager because it was hurting my back so much.

I still really struggle with maintaining good posture, but a few years ago I decided to wage war on the tiny world that has caused me so much pain. I made my kitchen counters 7" taller than standard, my bathroom vanity 5" taller than standard, and my dining room table 4" taller than standard. I also insist on having my desk raised by several inches whenever I start a new job. Existing in an environment that's _my_ size makes a huge difference. It really shows the importance of equipment that's adjustable to the user's body.

[tatewinter]

at 6:02 she says "allowing my spine to flop around like an uncooked spaghetti noodle", surely an uncooked spaghetti noodle would be totoally straight and hard

[elizabethdevido]

The way this channel manages to find entire academic books on such niche topics like "posture" and "olive oil" and "daily planners" keeps me coming back.

[seekittycat]

My dad was obsessed with posture to the point where I had to wear a back brace everyday (even in summer) in hopes of making my back straight (and my neck longer). Paradoxically he doesn't think women can do sports or should stand too tall /shrug in confusion. Once I left home and started going to the gym and lift heavier I developed the muscles on my back that naturally pulled my shoulders back. I don't need to think about "stand up straight" because my body finally had to strength to stand comfortably. Years of back brace and getting yelled at when I could have just made do with some exercise lol.

[magic_cfw]

tl;dr "I willingly subjected myself to literal cyberbulling whenever I slouch, and I discovered that one's humanity is, in fact, not dependent on how straight you sit"

[elietheprof]

1. Staying in any one position for too long is unhealthy - doesn't matter if it's straight or not.
2. When you use a laptop on the table, if you try to straighten your back, you actually strain your neck/eyes even more by having to look down. You can't win - laptops are just bad ergonomics. The healthiest thing to do is take a lot of breaks.
3. Good posture matters for exercise such as running or weightlifting. To prevent injury.
4. If you've been sitting for a long time, stretch out and relax a few minutes BEFORE you start exercising. That way, you won't get injured from hours of stiffness.

[spaalonebabuguuscooties]

"I've never known someone could so wholly embody 'former gifted kid' as much as you do" Holy shiiiit omg

[weeweemonami]

"i don't like sitting up straight. alright? it's never gonna happen. if meditating was sitting hunched over on the toilet with your elbow on your knee while kind of looking at your phone, i'd be the dalai lama."
— john mulaney

[thecasualcyborg]

massage therapist weigh in: a lot of folks have muscle imbalances from day to day life. the muscles in the front of our bodies are used or held in shorted position for long periods of time and very few of us do much to involve our back muscles, so they end up over stretched and weakened. Depression and stress can also cause people to kinda fold in on themselves :( When this starts causing pain it can help to do these posture exercises, get up and move, pay more attention to your ergonomics etc. After working on these things and clearing up some really bad chronic neck pain I had, I let myself shrimp up at my desk these days lol. F*** eugenics, I just don't want to see people in pain.

[jfh]

4:21 "I've never known someone could so wholly embody 'former gifted kid' as much as you do"
Describes me so perfectly that it physically hurts

[tessaviolet]

i love this video!! i work with a body coach because i also have pain in my back and knees and he’s real careful about not pushing “good” posture because he’s like ahhh... there is no good and bad it’s just that movement makes you feel better end if anything he’s about a neutral spin but he’s also like the goal is just to have less pain so whatever gets you there. anyway this video passes the vibe check

[Rabbit-the-One]

Been waiting for this since Tom Scott leaked it. Most hyped video of 2021

[ChuckMeIntoHell]

Great video as always. As someone with scoliosis, I've known that good posture is overrated for years, but it's nice to have that sentiment expressed by someone else.

If I hold a "good" posture, sure I can feel more confident, but the discomfort is excruciating. I will likely have back pain for a few days if I make myself do it for more than 30 minutes. While I recover I will be unable to have a "good" posture, else I prolong the recovery period. Since my scoliosis is not very visible I was scolded for having bad posture until I was diagnosed at age 12. Even then, my Dad had this idea that good posture would cure my scoliosis until my doctor was able to set him straight on that issue.

It's not fun when you're constantly told that you're improper because you refuse to do something that causes you pain. "Everyone has back pain, you just have to learn to deal with it." Maybe, but I'm pretty sure I have it worse than people with straight spines.

[rebeccahollman]

This seems super relevant to broader conversations about the societal policing of other nonconforming body types like weight, height, and disability. Great video!

[JuliaC-spqk]

"somewhat unsurprisingly, there was so much eugenics

Yes, I have new glasses", strange segue

[samr]

I did ballroom dancing high school and had to have "good posture" for it. Mostly that good posture actually wound up hurting my back somehow. I think a good posture is just whatever doesn't make your back hurt, because the human spine was a mistake

[Jeljo]

The best sitting position is the next one.

Still my favourite quote, and I live by it