The Boys side of the gym!

Southern girl here, we call everyone sweetheart, darling, hun, honey, babe. I use them often and don't think twice. I was unaware they were offensive names.

When I worked in the casinos (Mississippi Gulf Coast not Vegas) I could always tell the Northerners, they'd give me a crazy look when I'd say, honey, hun, sugar, babe, etc.

Some would flat out tell you not to call them that others would say 'I love the South, everyone is so friendly" :laugh:

Wow, who knew politeness would garner such a negative reaction. He didn't make an offensive innuendo, didn't swear, didn't wolf whistle or anything else particularly provocative. I don't see a problem here other than a little oversensitivity to a term that seems to be pretty commonly used in the South.

^^^ What he said. Some regions use that as a common term and it is not intended to be offensive. The best response you could have had is just to say in a polite manner. "I would prefer you use my name and it is ...." Problem solved and nobody remains offended and you might have made a new friend.

Ignore that shizz...It's infuriating I know, but it's best to ignore. I got asked if the weight I was using was too heavy by someone.....REALLy?! It's all good though. Keep it up and keep your head up and ignore. You'll be outlifting them all soon!! muah hahah!!!

I think we should rename it to the girls side

Well he didn't know your name.

He could have called you ma'am. But that would have made you feel old and upset you.

Or he could have called you miss. But that would have made you feel like a child and disrespected.

He could have gone with madame. But that would make you feel like you run a brothel.

So we're left with honey, sugar, sweetheart, toots, etc. All of which also upset women.



The problem is not men. The problem is women getting offended at literally everything.

^^This.

Never realized sweetheart was so offensive.

It is very offensive where I come from. In Massachusetts it's used to mean "okay, cute little girl who thinks she can keep up with the guys. Go ahead and delude yourself by stealing my weight lifting bar." But a lot of that's conveyed in the tone and the leer/eyeroll that go with it.

In the south, North Carolina to be exact, I've also been called sweetheart, young lady, and honey by people of both sexes. As far as I could tell, they meant it in a friendly, non-condescending way. It's not my favorite form of address, but I'll take it in the spirit that it's meant.

For your situation, I'd say let it go unless the guy was overtly rude or you get a hostile vibe when you're working out. If people start making remarks or edging you out of the space, ask them to stop. If they give you any lip, go to the management. My bet though is that it's a one time thing not worth getting into.

And for all you guys making claims about how all women get offended at everything - try substituting any other group (race, religion, whatever) in that statement and see if you don't hear how rude it is. If you really think that way about women, don't be surprised if a lot of the women you meet find you offensive.

Well he didn't know your name.

He could have called you ma'am. But that would have made you feel old and upset you.

Or he could have called you miss. But that would have made you feel like a child and disrespected.

He could have gone with madame. But that would make you feel like you run a brothel.

So we're left with honey, sugar, sweetheart, toots, etc. All of which also upset women.



The problem is not men. The problem is women getting offended at literally everything.

^^This.

Never realized sweetheart was so offensive.

It is very offensive where I come from. In Massachusetts it's used to mean "okay, cute little girl who thinks she can keep up with the guys. Go ahead and delude yourself by stealing my weight lifting bar." But a lot of that's conveyed in the tone and the leer/eyeroll that go with it.

In the south, North Carolina to be exact, I've also been called sweetheart, young lady, and honey by people of both sexes. As far as I could tell, they meant it in a friendly, non-condescending way. It's not my favorite form of address, but I'll take it in the spirit that it's meant.

For your situation, I'd say let it go unless the guy was overtly rude or you get a hostile vibe when you're working out. If people start making remarks or edging you out of the space, ask them to stop. If they give you any lip, go to the management. My bet though is that it's a one time thing not worth getting into.

And for all you guys making claims about how all women get offended at everything - try substituting any other group (race, religion, whatever) in that statement and see if you don't hear how rude it is. If you really think that way about women, don't be surprised if a lot of the women you meet find you offensive.

Not being a woman, I will grant you that the sweetheart comment could be offensive. It would def be offensive in a work setting, but in a gym setting, people call me "brotha" and I don't jump to the conclusion that it's a black thing. It's just how people talk in gyms.

But you can't just say don't call her sweetheart. Please give us your preferred substitute. Because if they guy just stayed silent and gave her the bar should she would be posting a thread saying he was mad dogging her for being on the boys side of the gym. So assuming some cordial exchange of words was going to take place, what would the ladies (women, females, girls...) of this thread prefer? Personally, I don't call women sweetheart.....yet. But I'm willing to try out the top 3 suggestions on this thread for the rest of the week. I'll let you know after Labor Day how many times I got smacked.

Maybe it's because I am Texan, but I'd love to be called Sweetheart. Especially right before dead lifting XXX pounds.

Not being a woman, I will grant you that the sweetheart comment could be offensive. It would def be offensive in a work setting, but in a gym setting, people call me "brotha" and I don't jump to the conclusion that it's a black thing. It's just how people talk in gyms.


Almost every time I have been called sweetheart it has been in the hey little girl why don't you go back and play with your dolls while the men do their work tone. why do you need a substitute how about instead of Im not using the bar here you go sweetheart, you say I'm not using the bar here you go. I do give people the benefit of the doubt when they use sweetheart and hon and try to assume they are not bring condescending but sometimes they are and the recipient can tell.

Wanna talk about sexist, let's take a look at the title of your thread.

Let's face it probably 75% are on roids and are too busy being into themselves, then you have the 5% that are just there to perv at every *kitten* they can see and the last 20% are actually there to do a workout.

I thought the point of this thread was to not judge somebody based on their gender? Ur doin' it wrong.

And men wonder why women are terrified to go into the men's section.

What happened to the good ole' days, when feminists were BAMFs?

I love when they call me sweetheart and tap me on the *kitten* as
I'm doing squats...only reason I lift.. Mmmmhmmm!

I get called sweetheart all the time in the gym, stop being such a girl! :-P

I like this :devil:

yea sure, thats why I go home to shower hahaha >.<

Let's face it probably 75% are on roids and are too busy being into themselves, then you have the 5% that are just there to perv at every *kitten* they can see and the last 20% are actually there to do a workout.

"Brought to you by sources I pulled out of thin air."

@half_moon hey I'm NOT sexist I'm a realist!!!
I just tell it like it is!!

.... said every sexist and racist, ever.

"Wow this thread should have died yesterday"
- Gandalf the Grey