If it's for self fulfillment it's not cheating at all I agree.
Well maybe cheating yourself, but youngsters these days (like the members of this forum) are easily swept up in these sort of decisions for the sake of vanity and for a quick win. Long term it's always going to be a foolish path to go (IMO).
However, whilst I will lose a bit of respect in people's achievements, I won't lose respect or trust or friendship to those that do go that way as I know they'll be honest with me. I won't judge, I may be disappointed in their decisions, but I know that the effort required is still there - but you can get away with a lot less "perfection" and less effort if the person wants to as well. That's the sort of joy of steroids, you can get away with training like a a bicep monkey and still grow, and have no nutritional education, or just go SUPPS FTW OMGLOL!!!!111
It's a dark taboo world, and I think it's a shame that people want to go that way - it's their choice, and they can look back 20 years from now and question their decision.
A lot of people here have some form of body image issue, I think it's the reason why a lot of people go to the gym on here. If I'm honest initially I think I was like that 10 years ago, but then I just couldn't really give a **** as long a I was strong, and made progress and got better at lifting weights, and as long as I enjoyed it and had fun.
I'm not interested enough to put synthetic chemicals into my body to artificially help my body grow, and affect part of my body's natural balance/levels. Our bodies are designed to work a certain way, I'm not going to mess with it. Sure, it's well researched, and steroids were designed to help people who suffered atrophy and muscle wastage - but for recreational purposes?! No thanks - just like smoking to me - I see no long term benefits, short term, yes, long term no.
It's a MASSIVE decision, i.e. bigger than who do I shoot first, my mother or my father (well maybe not quite
), and I'm sure those that have decided they want to go that route have thought long and hard, and are not doing so lightly. People die every year from substance abuse (including steroids) but thousands use them with no ill effects (long term effects are debateable as Zulu has highlighted). Those that are going that route will research it, speak to their GPs about it, monitor their blood pressure, lipid levels and all other bloods during their cycle - and if they don't do that then more fool them - it's like overclocking your PC without any temperature monitors (to continue the analogy.) you'd be a fool not to monitor yourself.
So let's get back to the point, it's their choice, they've made an informed decision - we don't all agree about them (I certainly don't) - however I consider a few members here good friends, and I will support them as friends, but not their decisions.