Gym Etiquette

floridamatty

So we all know the rules for gym etiquette, but I wanted to get an idea if im the only one who feels they should say something to someone who doesnt know what they are doing.

This morning there were three guys in the gym who were all using weights way above there capabilities. I saw one guy doing a One Armed tricep push down on a cable machine, he was obviously struggling from rep one and I could tell by his face he was about to have a stroke

Another was doing bicep curls and his body was sawying back and forth like he was on a boat

And another was doing lat pulldowns so heavy he was using his whole body to move it and when the weight would come down I was thinking it was going to yank his arms out there sockets.

Im not being a d__k just dont want to see these guy getting hurt. What do you think, should us with more experience be saying to these people (in the nicest way possible) Hey buddy, I think your using a little bit to much weight and then show them how to do it properly. Thanks

vzz1234

IMO, nothing is more obnoxious than unsolicited advice at the gym.

pondee629

Gently offer a hint that they are not doing that correctly and then walk away as they tell you to jump in a lake (or words to that effect).

AriesGal329

^ I agree. I know you're just trying to help, but I think it is so embarrassing to the person being helped it's better to just MYOB.

hill8570

Usually I'll ignore it, but occasionally I'll try a variation on "hey, I've never seen <exercise> done that way before, I've always been told <what is supposedly the right way>. Where'd you run across that variation, and what's it supposed to do for you?". That has a couple of outcomes: either they'll think about it and maybe learn to do it right, or I'll learn something new. Or they'll just keep doing it wrong, at which point it ain't my problem.

_Bropollo_

It sucks, but honestly they have to want to learn to do it the right way. Your good deed is unfortunately going to make you look like the jerk. Ego lifters get their reality check when they get hurt.

SonyaCele

99% of the people at any public gym i've been to have horrible form or no clue what they are doing. I dont talk to anyone, its the gyms responsibility to show people how to use their equip properly.

urloved33

floridamatty wrote: »

So we all know the rules for gym etiquette, but I wanted to get an idea if im the only one who feels they should say something to someone who doesnt know what they are doing.

This morning there were three guys in the gym who were all using weights way above there capabilities. I saw one guy doing a One Armed tricep push down on a cable machine, he was obviously struggling from rep one and I could tell by his face he was about to have a stroke

Another was doing bicep curls and his body was sawying back and forth like he was on a boat

And another was doing lat pulldowns so heavy he was using his whole body to move it and when the weight would come down I was thinking it was going to yank his arms out there sockets.

Im not being a d__k just dont want to see these guy getting hurt. What do you think, should us with more experience be saying to these people (in the nicest way possible) Hey buddy, I think your using a little bit to much weight and then show them how to do it properly. Thanks

mention it to the staff.

jemhh

I would only say something to someone who looked to be high schoolish or younger. Adults are free to injure themselves by doing whatever stupid thing they want. I give kids a bit more consideration.

devilwhiterose

I think it depends. If they look like a bunch of "know-it-all's" then it's probably not worth it. If they look like they're just unsure of themselves, they might appreciate a subtle hint.

I appreciate when someone walking by goes "Straighten up that ____. Keep going. Only a few more to go." But I'm a newb. Pairing critique with a compliment helps.

DvlDwnInGA

Not your problem, move on and go do your workout. The only time I offer advice is to young kids that I see with terrible form on dead lifts. Other than that, how bad are they really going to hurt themselves doing curls or tricep push downs?

Wicked_Seraph

I'm a bit torn on this. I have a gym at work I'd like to use, but I avoid using the weights specifically because I'm not 100% sure I'd be doing it correctly. I'm terrified of looking like the ignorant n00b I am lol.

As a newbie... it would depend on your approach, I think. If someone swaggered up and said "hey, that's not how you do it," of course I would be offended and mentally tell them to go f__k themselves. But if someone came up and said something like, "hey, I don't mean to pry but I think you'll find it more comfortable to <correct way>" - maybe with some encouragement? I wouldn't mind at all! I'd be a little embarrassed, yes, but I'd actually be quite grateful they took the time to offer some advice.

rhyolite_

This is why I paid so much for my home gym.

Angelfire365

I'd bring it up with the staff. I've been corrected by the trainers on site, and I found it very helpful.

JoRocka

Repeat after me
"not my circus- not my monkeys"

so unless someone's doing something that's inherently dangerous to other/many members (for example walking around swinging a barbell in the air casually) leave it be. It's their business to educate or not educate themselves. Unless someone is asking you- then no ;don't say anything.

Gavin_Campbell

If I'm sharing a machine with somebody or spotting somebody, why not. I've gotten advice like that and didn't mind. Otherwise youc an spend all day at the gym correcting people.

urloved33

the gym is part of your community. you entered into that community when you joined the gym. be a good community member and stay kind and be involved w and for the people in your community (the gym) and tell the staff.

It slays me when people sAy...move on. ignore it etc etc. so i am asking you to be a good community leader and don't do any of that.

Stoshew71

You help one person and you will end up like this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gORmiX-5PWU

urloved33

being deaf dumb and blind never did any of us anything for any of us.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Willbenchforcupcakes

JoRocka wrote: »

Repeat after me
"not my circus- not my monkeys"

so unless someone's doing something that's inherently dangerous to other/many members (for example walking around swinging a barbell in the air casually) leave it be. It's their business to educate or not educate themselves. Unless someone is asking you- then no ;don't say anything.

This. A sports team member sandbagging it? Not my issue. A teammate needs help? My circus my monkeys and I help, just like they do for me.

Moonlightsonata79

As someone with no experience in a gym or lifting i would appreciate any gentle advice given. Dont assume that someone doesnt want help maybe they are too shy to ask. I personally agree with a few of the posters here,tell someone working here i also believe as humans it is our responsibility to tell others when we see them doing something that is dangerous,if they dont listen after that then atleast you tried.

LaurenAOK

From a personal standpoint... I had a guy at the gym help me with my squat form once. I have never been able to afford a session with a trainer so I was going off what I had seen online. A guy came over between sets and said, very kindly, "Hey, you're doing great. But do you mind if I give you a couple of pointers?" I was actually grateful for the help and he showed me how to position my legs better and use my glutes more. I have always used his advice ever since.

I guess my point is that if you go about it the right way, unsolicited advice can be okay. You just need to tread very carefully. I also think you run more risk because they are guys - not to gender stereotype, but I think guys at the gym are generally a little more touchy/aggressive than women. They might be more likely to get peeved off than I was.

If it was me personally I wouldn't say anything, but I'm also easily intimidated.

urloved33

leonsinned wrote: »

Unsolicited advice on form is almost never appreciated. I'd say just don't do it. Now, I've had someone ASK me for advice, and in that case I think it's fine to offer help, but 99 times out of 100 if the person doesn't ask you then they probably don't want to know your opinion on their form.

Now, if they're leaving dumbbells on the ground or not returning their weights to the stacks, then I say absolutely correct them on THAT behavior!

let me get this straight. if they are going to hurt themselves ignore them BUT if they leave the place dirty point it out to them.

wow.

juggernaut1974

JoRocka wrote: »

Repeat after me
"not my circus- not my monkeys"

so unless someone's doing something that's inherently dangerous to other/many members (for example walking around swinging a barbell in the air casually) leave it be. It's their business to educate or not educate themselves. Unless someone is asking you- then no ;don't say anything.

Yup yup yup

ChunkLaFunk

you mean something like this? I enjoy the show and move along

http://youtube.com/40GSMS1ACQI

JoRocka

urloved33 wrote: »

being deaf dumb and blind never did any of us anything for any of us.

Yeah it did- because I did my own research- I didn't have people constantly coming over to correct me. That's just annoying. It's 2015- everyone has access to the internet and research and books- and if you say "they don't have internet at home" the library is free- and has books and internet.

it is LITERALLY not my responsibility to take care of people who are perfectly capable of going out and research these things themselves.

juggernaut1974

I'm constantly amazed at how much attention people pay to others in the gym.

Am I the only person who focuses on what I and I alone am doing?

Commander_Keen

floridamatty wrote: »

So we all know the rules for gym etiquette, but I wanted to get an idea if im the only one who feels they should say something to someone who doesnt know what they are doing.

This morning there were three guys in the gym who were all using weights way above there capabilities. I saw one guy doing a One Armed tricep push down on a cable machine, he was obviously struggling from rep one and I could tell by his face he was about to have a stroke

Another was doing bicep curls and his body was sawying back and forth like he was on a boat

And another was doing lat pulldowns so heavy he was using his whole body to move it and when the weight would come down I was thinking it was going to yank his arms out there sockets.

Im not being a d__k just dont want to see these guy getting hurt. What do you think, should us with more experience be saying to these people (in the nicest way possible) Hey buddy, I think your using a little bit to much weight and then show them how to do it properly. Thanks

If they don't know what they are doing, you could prevent a huge injury or accident.
if its something that they can break the equipment, or really hurt themselves.
Walk over, introduce your self, break the ice.. ask them how long they been lifting and then when you are giving out advice be defensive about it.

Lleldiranne

If I see clear risk for major injury, I'll usually step in -- for example, a couple of teenagers were doing jump-squats on some stools which were meant for such things. Okay, no problem, until they started stacking them. I said something there. (No, I don't think they were appreciative, but whatever).

However, IME, a guy doing a tricep push on a cable machine with a weight too high doesn't want to be told to he's lifting wrong. The saying during bicep curls is so common I start to wonder if there's something I don't know about it. (If not, then it's again a case of trying to lift too much, which they don't want to hear). I'm not even sure that gym staff will do much about it if it's not endangering anyone or damaging equipment, but if you feel the need to say something, talk to the staff.

nordlead2005

Didn't we learn anything from the last gym etiquette thread?