Gym Etiquette - what bugs you?

One day I was on a stationary bike when a woman came in and got on the bike next to mine. She was wearing street clothes, not exercise gear, and pedaled verrrry slowly, just barely moving the pedals around.

What was she doing? Watching the soap opera that was on the TV above us. Since it was the middle of the day, I suppose she wasn't keeping anyone else off the equipment, but I did think it was funny--and iffy gym etiquette. All I could figure was that she was on her lunch hour from her job, and was popping into the gym to catch her soap.

When I used to go this is what bothered me
1. People who sit on a machine and talk on their cell phone or text.
2. People who don't wipe their machine down.
3. WOMEN who don't wipe the machine down, where they were sitting and then leave behind that diamond shaped crotch stank on the seat. >_<
4. People who try to chit chat with you even if you have ear phones in.

People that come on the internet and whine about other people at the gym.

I'm sorry to sound high maintenance, but I don't understand when I see people at the gym that:

1) Sweat all over the cardio machines (dripping sweat) and don't wipe them down
2) Talk REALLY loud on their cell phone. Loud enough to hear their whole conversation
3) Come in with extremely bad body odor.

Do you all feel the same way? What else bothers you?

In response,

1) Sweat is proof that I was there. I need justification for this triple cheesburger that I'm about to eat, even if it means leaving behind my sweat for you to see/smell
2) I have to talk loud because of all those huge muscly men grunting and dropping weights!
3) Somebody has to balance out all the perfume-ridden cardio bunnies

People using the racks for squats. I gotta do my curls somewhere.

I only have two things that really bug me.

1. When people don't wipe down machines. Especially in the winter with th Flu going around. When I'm sick I skip the gym and workout at home so everyone else doesn't get sick. Some people don't care.

2. Boys that are like 10-12 years old running around the gym using all the equipment. Maybe it's just me but why would a young kid with tons of energy need to go to a gym to workout? You're with all your friends, go run around outside and play a game. My nephew is 11 and he doesn't go to a gym to work out. It really bothers me when I'm on a roll and I'm ready to move from a machine to something else and I can't get on a specific machine because a 10 year old thinks he needs to work out on an elliptical.

When I used to go this is what bothered me
1. People who sit on a machine and talk on their cell phone or text.
2. People who don't wipe their machine down.
3. WOMEN who don't wipe the machine down, where they were sitting and then leave behind that diamond shaped crotch stank on the seat. >_<
4. People who try to chit chat with you even if you have ear phones in.

#3 - LOL (especially on the abductor/adductor machines)

there's just one super obnoxious dude who goes to my gym. he commits every gym crime known to humanity. Safe to say every one of those listed above (apart from the triangle of crotch sweat) . The two that really rankle me are 1. talks constantly in a really loud voice to his buddy about women, only he always refers to them as "*****es", nice. 2. He throws his dumbbells on the ground when he's done with them without looking to see who/what is around him, then he leaves them there.

right, I'm off to hunt him down.

1. The girl I see in the spin class who only half-*kitten* participates because she's too busy playing on her smartphone. The entire time. I can see through the window of the spin room while I'm in yoga and it drove me so crazy that I had to move to another spot. I'm just like 'WTH do you even go into that class?'

2. Creepy staring people.

3. People who walk the wrong way around the track, especially when it's crowded.

4. People who come in 5+ minutes late to yoga class, wearing perfume, and being generally loud.

5. I don't know what the general etiquette for this is, but the dropping/slamming sound of the free weights and weight machines drives me nuts and makes my heart jump out of my chest.

6. I really just don't understand why talking on the phone at the gym has become OK. I know I'm weird but that is the last thing I want to do when I'm working out, and I know my friends don't want to hear me huffing and puffing while trying to carry on a conversation. My mom used to call me when she was out walking and it drove me batty.

These 2 are my husband's:
1. People who walk abreast on the track and you almost have to blow a whistle to get them to move when you're passing.
2. People who walk around the locker room naked, holding their towel instead of wrapping it around their body.

Yes, we are easily annoyed.

I only have two things that really bug me.

1. When people don't wipe down machines. Especially in the winter with th Flu going around. When I'm sick I skip the gym and workout at home so everyone else doesn't get sick. Some people don't care.

2. Boys that are like 10-12 years old running around the gym using all the equipment. Maybe it's just me but why would a young kid with tons of energy need to go to a gym to workout? You're with all your friends, go run around outside and play a game. My nephew is 11 and he doesn't go to a gym to work out. It really bothers me when I'm on a roll and I'm ready to move from a machine to something else and I can't get on a specific machine because a 10 year old thinks he needs to work out on an elliptical.

Our YMCA doesn't allow anyone under 16 in the fitness room. There is an allowance for 14-15 year olds but they have to attend a glass and pass a test first. Kids under 16 actually have their own circuit training room downstairs.

I have my cell phone with me because I have 4 kids (1 special needs) and I keep track of how many reps/weight/sets so I can record on MFP later also a lot of people use them for music.

Pet Peeves:
1. Guys who come in to use the cardio machines looking like the unibomber the whole time with their hoodies up.
2. People who use the weight machines as stools while they wait for the next machine to open up.

1. people not wiping down their machines after
2. people talking LOUDLY so that you can hear their entire conversations
3. People ''saving' multiple weight machines so that they can just rotate between 'their' set for the day without other people using it... You get the one machine that you are on! Everyone else wants to be able to use the machines too!

Standing in groups talking and blocking machines and stations.

Ugh, last time I was at the gym, there were about 7 guys hovering around the squat rack. I wasn't sure if they were using it or not, so I went up and asked. They weren't; they were about to use the leg press directly next to it. Then I had to do my squats while these 7 guys hovered around, and I was afraid I would hit someone with the bar because they were racking and unracking weights on the leg press within less than a foot of me squating.

1. The people that don't rack their weights when they are done. Not only do i have to put them away from them, but i have to check to make sure i won't get my butt chewed for taking their bench.

2. Wipe down your bench or whatever you are on! They have wipes and towels nearby, so USE THEM!

People who worry about what other people are doing rather than just focusing on their own workouts.

Well, that and people who keep talking to me when I'm trying to work out.

^this.

Luckily when I go to the gym it's usually late at night (24hr gym) and it's always just the "regulars". We are all courteous with each other and don't take up machines we know someone else was going to use and share space. I can lift right next to the "meathead" guys without an issue.

The only thing that REALLY bugs me are the college guys who tend to try to talk to me while I'm planking....PLANKING! there will always be people who do stuff that bug you at the gym, but really just workout that frustration and you'll be golden