I have patience with new people who don't know etiquette, but there are lazy, guys/gals who know better and just ignore the rules/common decency I have no time for. They are given a list of the rules and everyone is explained what the gym expects, but still some are either too dim or forget. Yes, the gym has rules.
1. Biggest is unload your machine if it is a machine with plates or the bar. If your strong enough to put 4 plates on a bench or endless plates, with your ridiculous ego lifting-which should be a row and turns into an upright row/body weight movement with the T-bar: take the plates off when you are done. There are men and more so older or new women who can't pick up the 50 lb plates and have asked me to help unload a bar or a machine so they can use it. Pure laziness.
2. If someone asks you how many sets you have left and you aren't doing a massive drop set, there isn't a huge difference in strength and you have to waist too much time changing weight - won't interrupt their flow. Ex: if it is the pec deck which is changed via pins - the rules is if you are working alone: You must share. Most young people, specific nationalities and I am not racist, homophobic, sexist, but facts are facts and a massive influx of a new Nationality has come to the gym and just say another 10 minutes or 4 sets. They take breaks and someone else can jump in and get their sets done. Share the f'n machine. I do as maybe I will learn something new, make a new friend, and it is basic manners.
3. You have no more right than two people using a bench than anyone else. I saw the same Nationality tell two younger women doing bench presses they were there long enough and to move along. That was the final straw, and I walked over and told him they had every right to use it. In that specific country, women do not have the same rights as men, but here they do and some of the women are stronger than that nob. Anyway, he said OK and walked away.
4. I could give a shit, but it is a rule and it does bother others - there is spray and paper towel everywhere. We are supposed to give the machines a quick wipe down when done. 90% do it but 10% either think people don't notice or don't care. It takes 30 seconds.
5. I won't get into the bizarre guys who come in and harass people, talk to the mirror and flex when they either never worked out before or don't realize it isn't normal to workout in jeans/boots, a wife beater, and a big gold chain. Gyms bring all kinds. I try not to judge but doing an exercise and then telling the mirror how tough you are and you don't want to f with me tells me you have a problem or are very insecure.
There are 5-10 of us who are pretty good friends, have decades in the gym, respect all members, follow the rules, and collectively decided if the owners won't police it - we will start saying something. I know both owners and spoke to them first, and told them I know they can't see everything and police the entire gym, hence we will if they don't (politely). Their only comment was try to be polite and don't hurt anyone, and most will change, if they don't or are rude come get one of us and we will speak to them and if they don't change revoke their membership. Since I spoke to them, I see them walking around a lot more.
Just a vent and most don't bother me much other than the people who tell you to leave a machine / bench as you have been there too long, or don't take the weight off when done. The rest - so be it.
The good news is the owners are all older and said help educate, not my job, but anyway they said they will back us all 100% if the people are rude when you broach the subject.
Anything grind your gears at the gym?
1. Biggest is unload your machine if it is a machine with plates or the bar. If your strong enough to put 4 plates on a bench or endless plates, with your ridiculous ego lifting-which should be a row and turns into an upright row/body weight movement with the T-bar: take the plates off when you are done. There are men and more so older or new women who can't pick up the 50 lb plates and have asked me to help unload a bar or a machine so they can use it. Pure laziness.
2. If someone asks you how many sets you have left and you aren't doing a massive drop set, there isn't a huge difference in strength and you have to waist too much time changing weight - won't interrupt their flow. Ex: if it is the pec deck which is changed via pins - the rules is if you are working alone: You must share. Most young people, specific nationalities and I am not racist, homophobic, sexist, but facts are facts and a massive influx of a new Nationality has come to the gym and just say another 10 minutes or 4 sets. They take breaks and someone else can jump in and get their sets done. Share the f'n machine. I do as maybe I will learn something new, make a new friend, and it is basic manners.
3. You have no more right than two people using a bench than anyone else. I saw the same Nationality tell two younger women doing bench presses they were there long enough and to move along. That was the final straw, and I walked over and told him they had every right to use it. In that specific country, women do not have the same rights as men, but here they do and some of the women are stronger than that nob. Anyway, he said OK and walked away.
4. I could give a shit, but it is a rule and it does bother others - there is spray and paper towel everywhere. We are supposed to give the machines a quick wipe down when done. 90% do it but 10% either think people don't notice or don't care. It takes 30 seconds.
5. I won't get into the bizarre guys who come in and harass people, talk to the mirror and flex when they either never worked out before or don't realize it isn't normal to workout in jeans/boots, a wife beater, and a big gold chain. Gyms bring all kinds. I try not to judge but doing an exercise and then telling the mirror how tough you are and you don't want to f with me tells me you have a problem or are very insecure.
There are 5-10 of us who are pretty good friends, have decades in the gym, respect all members, follow the rules, and collectively decided if the owners won't police it - we will start saying something. I know both owners and spoke to them first, and told them I know they can't see everything and police the entire gym, hence we will if they don't (politely). Their only comment was try to be polite and don't hurt anyone, and most will change, if they don't or are rude come get one of us and we will speak to them and if they don't change revoke their membership. Since I spoke to them, I see them walking around a lot more.
Just a vent and most don't bother me much other than the people who tell you to leave a machine / bench as you have been there too long, or don't take the weight off when done. The rest - so be it.
The good news is the owners are all older and said help educate, not my job, but anyway they said they will back us all 100% if the people are rude when you broach the subject.
Anything grind your gears at the gym?
