More testosterone won't make a better soldier or a tougher man • Hacker News Board

Re: More testosterone won't make a better soldier or a tougher man

#11

Post by inigyou » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 11:59 AM UTC

superxpro12 wrote: post #7

Any time a strongman chooses some inherent immutable characteristic to justify their superiority, its usually because they are inherently inferior in almost every other way including politically and morally. They have no other way to justify their power, so they pick something that is an inherent body characteristic instead. It's literally no different than saying "well i have a bigger dick than you, so shut up". It'…

Everyone advertises their assets and hides their liabilities, it's just normal.

Re: More testosterone won't make a better soldier or a tougher man

#12

Post by w0de0 » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 7:45 PM UTC

dentemple wrote: post #2

> For instance, testosterone therapy often carries risks. Supplementing the hormone signals the body to shut down production of its own supply, which can shrink the testicles and suppress sperm. Some researchers have even studied testosterone for its contraceptive effects. > Moreover, because testosterone revs up oil glands and hair follicles – and partly converts them to estrogen – it can also bring about acne, bald…

> all you need to do to become stronger and more "manly" is to exercise, sleep well, and maintain a nutritious diet.

One also needs to be handy, humble, kind to and protective of the weak, trustworthy and able to keep your word, and not a coward, moral or otherwise. You know, have character.

I have “TDS” specifically because these all are lacking, so lacking it is as if by deliberate abdication, among those leading the new masculinity cult in America.

Re: More testosterone won't make a better soldier or a tougher man

#13

Post by Llamamoe » Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 10:27 AM UTC

modo_mario wrote: post #10

Llamamoe wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For physiological level replacement, not a lot. But also, you don't get a whole lot of additional benefit for going over the lower end of the reference range, and people usually don't fall below that.

Isnt the issue that it happens quite a lot more since test levels on average dropped a ton? (in part due to various lifestyle choices which should be focused on first but arguably also due to various polutants)

I strongly suspect that most of the issues correlated with low testosterone are co-symptoms rather than caused by it. From my research, it doesn't seem like going much above the lower end of the T range carries much additional benefit, other than muscle mass, and testosterone replacement in people with merely low testosterone doesn't do as much good as people think it does.