Resolutioner Season

124

Replies

  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    wellllll . . . except most of the time, nobody sees fit to second-guess you for being in the grocery store during the 5pm rush :tongue: you just reminded me that i need to buy stamps though, so thanks.

  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited December 2017
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.

    1) We have enough "old" members who don't re-rack their weights or wipe off benches when they're through. They're far more irritating than newbies to me because they've been around and should know better. They have no excuse except the fact that they're rude, inconsiderate pigs. Actually, newbies are usually pretty good about it because the gym staff stresses it during their orientation and newbies usually want to avoid doing anything stupid to draw unnecessary attention to themselves.

    2) It's too bad that father (who is no "gentleman", btw) wasn't taught better, and didn't teach his son any better. For idiots like that, I'd go straight to the gym staff and let them handle it. At our gym they'd get one stern warning, then they'd be booted. Our gym staff is pretty proactive when things like that come to their attention. I went in and told them about one ignorant, self-entitled slob in particular who left a trail of unracked weights behind him all over the gym every time he worked out, and the manager immediately went out and spoke to him about it. It was better for her to do it than me, because I wouldn't have been as tactful (and I also didn't have the authority to throw him out of the gym if my 'advice' wasn't well received, either).

    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.

    Headphones.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    spartan_d wrote: »
    AGAIN, it's not a matter of being new. Being new and being part of the huge resolutioner crowd are not the same thing. Regardless of what our response to the January 1st crowd may be, this distinction should be obvious to all.

    But for people who are contemplating starting out, fear of standing out, annoying others, or just being noteworthy may be enough to discourage them. If I was new to working out and reading this thread, I would have no clear idea how to make myself not seem like a "resolutioner." I understand that people are attempting to clarify which is which, but I don't know if that would be enough to eliminate my fears.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    JerSchmare wrote: »
    spartan_d wrote: »
    AGAIN, it's not a matter of being new. Being new and being part of the huge resolutioner crowd are not the same thing. Regardless of what our response to the January 1st crowd may be, this distinction should be obvious to all.

    But for people who are contemplating starting out, fear of standing out, annoying others, or just being noteworthy may be enough to discourage them. If I was new to working out and reading this thread, I would have no clear idea how to make myself not seem like a "resolutioner." I understand that people are attempting to clarify which is which, but I don't know if that would be enough to eliminate my fears.

    Probably no one says, “I’m going to start on Jan 1, ruin people’s gym experience until feb 25, and then quit until next year”. So, I see your point.

    There is no actual resolve here. So, it’s pointless to keep bantering. A small portion of resolutioners will stay on and make it a long-term think. The vast majority will quit within a month or two. It has always been that will and will always be that way. Not much we can do.

    During this time, I plan on doing alternative exercises to my normal routine because I know it going to be jammed. Leg day suffers the most due to squat racks being consumed. And, that is probably my biggest annoyance. Everything else I can work around. I cannot easily work around not being able to squat.

    Interesting. I find most resolutioners tend to stick to the cardio equipment and weight machines, leaving the power cage for me. All the years I've been lifting, I've never had an issue with this. Maybe I'm just lucky.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.

    Headphones.

    yep, wearing them..... it makes no difference to those looking to chat.

    It was easier just to travel the extra 3 miles to a gym where I only knew a couple of people.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    JerSchmare wrote: »
    JerSchmare wrote: »
    spartan_d wrote: »
    AGAIN, it's not a matter of being new. Being new and being part of the huge resolutioner crowd are not the same thing. Regardless of what our response to the January 1st crowd may be, this distinction should be obvious to all.

    But for people who are contemplating starting out, fear of standing out, annoying others, or just being noteworthy may be enough to discourage them. If I was new to working out and reading this thread, I would have no clear idea how to make myself not seem like a "resolutioner." I understand that people are attempting to clarify which is which, but I don't know if that would be enough to eliminate my fears.

    Probably no one says, “I’m going to start on Jan 1, ruin people’s gym experience until feb 25, and then quit until next year”. So, I see your point.

    There is no actual resolve here. So, it’s pointless to keep bantering. A small portion of resolutioners will stay on and make it a long-term think. The vast majority will quit within a month or two. It has always been that will and will always be that way. Not much we can do.

    During this time, I plan on doing alternative exercises to my normal routine because I know it going to be jammed. Leg day suffers the most due to squat racks being consumed. And, that is probably my biggest annoyance. Everything else I can work around. I cannot easily work around not being able to squat.

    Interesting. I find most resolutioners tend to stick to the cardio equipment and weight machines, leaving the power cage for me. All the years I've been lifting, I've never had an issue with this. Maybe I'm just lucky.

    Well, I used to live in Los Angeles. The power cages and racks would be swamped. Since moving to Texas last year, I didn’t see the same level of crowds. So, maybe I’ll get lucky and it will be a fairly mild situation.

    Trust me, in the heart of a big city, it really really sucks. I mean, even during normal season, you have to wait for benches and squat racks. But, triple that population in Jamuary.

    This might be some of the discrepancy on this thread is people are coming from very different points of view.

    Last year, I first moved to Texas and I don’t remember it being that big of a deal. But, I was going to a different I gym in a smaller town than where I am now.

    I guess, we’ll see.

    That's why I wait outside for the gym to open and run straight for the racks. If you're not first, you're last!
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.

    Headphones.

    yep, wearing them..... it makes no difference to those looking to chat.

    It was easier just to travel the extra 3 miles to a gym where I only knew a couple of people.
    Just work on your RBF
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.

    Headphones.

    yep, wearing them..... it makes no difference to those looking to chat.

    It was easier just to travel the extra 3 miles to a gym where I only knew a couple of people.
    Just work on your RBF

    That's what works for me
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    Believe i saw a thread like this back when i was a newbie and its the reason why iv yet to sign up for a gym and still want to cry even considering going to one. People are judgemental and rude at gyms threads like this prove that to me >.<

    Thought of going to a gym and learning the mchines while all the "old folk" stare at you and judge you for being new.....*kitten* that.

    ^ And that attitude is just as negative and destructive as the ones complaining about resolutioners.

    I've belonged to over 20 different gyms in my life. Never once in any of those gyms have I ever seen anybody shamed or openly "judged" unless they were doing something extraordinarily rude and/or stupid (in which case they fully deserved it). I've been a member at my current gym for almost 2 1/2 years. In that time I've never once seen a rude word exchanged, or anybody leave the gym in tears because they were "judged" or "shamed". And in every one of those over 20 gyms, I walked in as a new person and never had anybody say a word to me or eyeball me like I didn't belong there. Everybody just went about their business because that's what they're there for.

    Walking into the gym is no different than walking into the post office, the grocery store, the library or a gas station. There's a cross section of society in there - gym people aren't mythical unicorns who only exist in the gym. They're the same people you shop with, sit with at concerts, ball games or plays, walk down the street with, and eat next to in restaurants. Yeah, there's the occasional rude, full-of-themself *kitten* who thinks they're superior to everybody else, but that's no different than anywhere else you go. You're not walking into a dungeon filled with monsters, you're walking into a building full of ordinary everyday people. That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    Agree, have worked out at many different gyms, including 3 that make most lists of the top 10 most hardcore gyms in the US and have observed this "shaming" (I'm an old dude and not squatting 500 lbs)

    It would not surprise me if many that have a fear of the gym have social anxiety issues regarding other places.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    wellllll . . . except most of the time, nobody sees fit to second-guess you for being in the grocery store during the 5pm rush :tongue: you just reminded me that i need to buy stamps though, so thanks.

    How about if you are in the grocery store during rush and participate in douchy behavior like 20 items in a 12 item limit lane or a check in a cash only lane? Guarantee there is plenty of second guessing going on there.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited December 2017
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    wellllll . . . except most of the time, nobody sees fit to second-guess you for being in the grocery store during the 5pm rush :tongue: you just reminded me that i need to buy stamps though, so thanks.

    How about if you are in the grocery store during rush and participate in douchy behavior like 20 items in a 12 item limit lane or a check in a cash only lane? Guarantee there is plenty of second guessing going on there.

    But I haven't seen repeated forum posts about it.
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    Believe i saw a thread like this back when i was a newbie and its the reason why iv yet to sign up for a gym and still want to cry even considering going to one. People are judgemental and rude at gyms threads like this prove that to me >.<

    Thought of going to a gym and learning the mchines while all the "old folk" stare at you and judge you for being new.....*kitten* that.

    ^ And that attitude is just as negative and destructive as the ones complaining about resolutioners.

    I've belonged to over 20 different gyms in my life. Never once in any of those gyms have I ever seen anybody shamed or openly "judged" unless they were doing something extraordinarily rude and/or stupid (in which case they fully deserved it). I've been a member at my current gym for almost 2 1/2 years. In that time I've never once seen a rude word exchanged, or anybody leave the gym in tears because they were "judged" or "shamed". And in every one of those over 20 gyms, I walked in as a new person and never had anybody say a word to me or eyeball me like I didn't belong there. Everybody just went about their business because that's what they're there for.

    Walking into the gym is no different than walking into the post office, the grocery store, the library or a gas station. There's a cross section of society in there - gym people aren't mythical unicorns who only exist in the gym. They're the same people you shop with, sit with at concerts, ball games or plays, walk down the street with, and eat next to in restaurants. Yeah, there's the occasional rude, full-of-themself *kitten* who thinks they're superior to everybody else, but that's no different than anywhere else you go. You're not walking into a dungeon filled with monsters, you're walking into a building full of ordinary everyday people. That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    Agree, have worked out at many different gyms, including 3 that make most lists of the top 10 most hardcore gyms in the US and have observed this "shaming" (I'm an old dude and not squatting 500 lbs)

    It would not surprise me if many that have a fear of the gym have social anxiety issues regarding other places.

    And?

    This a health and fitness site, not really much discussion here on supermarket behavior, more discussion on gyms.

    And they may very well have similar issues going to a new job, new store, etc.

    Yeah, I don't see how speculating about a person's mental health is appropriate and if "everyone is fighting a hard battle" I'll say that making other people self-conscious about when, where, or how they exercise is a *kitten* thing to do.
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    wellllll . . . except most of the time, nobody sees fit to second-guess you for being in the grocery store during the 5pm rush :tongue: you just reminded me that i need to buy stamps though, so thanks.

    How about if you are in the grocery store during rush and participate in douchy behavior like 20 items in a 12 item limit lane or a check in a cash only lane? Guarantee there is plenty of second guessing going on there.

    But I haven't seen repeated forum posts about it.
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    Believe i saw a thread like this back when i was a newbie and its the reason why iv yet to sign up for a gym and still want to cry even considering going to one. People are judgemental and rude at gyms threads like this prove that to me >.<

    Thought of going to a gym and learning the mchines while all the "old folk" stare at you and judge you for being new.....*kitten* that.

    ^ And that attitude is just as negative and destructive as the ones complaining about resolutioners.

    I've belonged to over 20 different gyms in my life. Never once in any of those gyms have I ever seen anybody shamed or openly "judged" unless they were doing something extraordinarily rude and/or stupid (in which case they fully deserved it). I've been a member at my current gym for almost 2 1/2 years. In that time I've never once seen a rude word exchanged, or anybody leave the gym in tears because they were "judged" or "shamed". And in every one of those over 20 gyms, I walked in as a new person and never had anybody say a word to me or eyeball me like I didn't belong there. Everybody just went about their business because that's what they're there for.

    Walking into the gym is no different than walking into the post office, the grocery store, the library or a gas station. There's a cross section of society in there - gym people aren't mythical unicorns who only exist in the gym. They're the same people you shop with, sit with at concerts, ball games or plays, walk down the street with, and eat next to in restaurants. Yeah, there's the occasional rude, full-of-themself *kitten* who thinks they're superior to everybody else, but that's no different than anywhere else you go. You're not walking into a dungeon filled with monsters, you're walking into a building full of ordinary everyday people. That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    Agree, have worked out at many different gyms, including 3 that make most lists of the top 10 most hardcore gyms in the US and have observed this "shaming" (I'm an old dude and not squatting 500 lbs)

    It would not surprise me if many that have a fear of the gym have social anxiety issues regarding other places.

    And?

    This a health and fitness site, not really much discussion here on supermarket behavior, more discussion on gyms.

    And they may very well have similar issues going to a new job, new store, etc.

    Yeah, I don't see how speculating about a person's mental health is appropriate and if "everyone is fighting a hard battle" I'll say that making other people self-conscious about when, where, or how they exercise is a *kitten* thing to do.
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    wellllll . . . except most of the time, nobody sees fit to second-guess you for being in the grocery store during the 5pm rush :tongue: you just reminded me that i need to buy stamps though, so thanks.

    How about if you are in the grocery store during rush and participate in douchy behavior like 20 items in a 12 item limit lane or a check in a cash only lane? Guarantee there is plenty of second guessing going on there.

    But I haven't seen repeated forum posts about it.
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    Believe i saw a thread like this back when i was a newbie and its the reason why iv yet to sign up for a gym and still want to cry even considering going to one. People are judgemental and rude at gyms threads like this prove that to me >.<

    Thought of going to a gym and learning the mchines while all the "old folk" stare at you and judge you for being new.....*kitten* that.

    ^ And that attitude is just as negative and destructive as the ones complaining about resolutioners.

    I've belonged to over 20 different gyms in my life. Never once in any of those gyms have I ever seen anybody shamed or openly "judged" unless they were doing something extraordinarily rude and/or stupid (in which case they fully deserved it). I've been a member at my current gym for almost 2 1/2 years. In that time I've never once seen a rude word exchanged, or anybody leave the gym in tears because they were "judged" or "shamed". And in every one of those over 20 gyms, I walked in as a new person and never had anybody say a word to me or eyeball me like I didn't belong there. Everybody just went about their business because that's what they're there for.

    Walking into the gym is no different than walking into the post office, the grocery store, the library or a gas station. There's a cross section of society in there - gym people aren't mythical unicorns who only exist in the gym. They're the same people you shop with, sit with at concerts, ball games or plays, walk down the street with, and eat next to in restaurants. Yeah, there's the occasional rude, full-of-themself *kitten* who thinks they're superior to everybody else, but that's no different than anywhere else you go. You're not walking into a dungeon filled with monsters, you're walking into a building full of ordinary everyday people. That building just happens to have weights and fitness machines in it instead of groceries or postage stamps.

    Agree, have worked out at many different gyms, including 3 that make most lists of the top 10 most hardcore gyms in the US and have observed this "shaming" (I'm an old dude and not squatting 500 lbs)

    It would not surprise me if many that have a fear of the gym have social anxiety issues regarding other places.

    And?

    This a health and fitness site, not really much discussion here on supermarket behavior, more discussion on gyms.

    And they may very well have similar issues going to a new job, new store, etc.

    Yeah, I don't see how speculating about a person's mental health is appropriate and if "everyone is fighting a hard battle" I'll say that making other people self-conscious about when, where, or how they exercise is a *kitten* thing to do.

    And my point is myself and I'm sure most others posting here don't do anything to someone at a gym to make them uncomfortable. I feel the uncomfortableness is in the perception.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Here’s one. What about the lack of gym etiquette that generally follows a mass arrival of new members. The gyms can’t keep up with telling everyone how they should act and go about their sessions.

    Just today we had a new arrival.

    A gentleman with his son, both obviously very new to going to the gym. At several points I caught these two starring at other patrons, including myself and then openly mocking their workouts. Any one here who does deadlifts regularly, knows it’s not the easiest thing to set a high weight load back onto the ground lightly. These two however would stare followed by conversing and then laughing and staring at patrons making any sort of sound.

    I personally have ZERO *kitten* time for people like that and encourage them to openly mock the wrong person. It would not be the first time that I had seen a confrontation followed by words and/or shoves.

    I know you shouldn’t pay any attention to these kind of people, but I’m the type of person who looks around inbetween sets and when you catch a pair of people doing things such as this it’s mildly annoying.


    [ETA:] I don't go out of my way to greet or encourage newbies because I can see where that could come off as condescending to some, and/or make them even more self-conscious than they already are. Basically, I treat them the exact same way I treat everybody else in the gym - if our eyes meet I'll smile, nod and say hi, and go about my business. I'm not very chatty or social in the gym, it's not what I'm there for. Even after 2 1/2 years, I know the first names of exactly three people in my gym - one is the manager, one is a friend I've known for 30 years, and the other is a rando who I chatted with about football for a few minutes after our workouts one day.

    Heck, I had to find a different gym for a while because our gym was so social.
    One morning I had a half dozen people all want to chat for 5 minutes each.

    I'd rather be training than talking.

    Headphones.

    yep, wearing them..... it makes no difference to those looking to chat.

    It was easier just to travel the extra 3 miles to a gym where I only knew a couple of people.
    Just work on your RBF

    Ha, yeah....

    * avoids eye contact
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    well.... it might have already started

    Just today, I'm at the gym and there's a guy whom I have never seen before. He's on a bench with 130 pounds ( plates and bar together). He's benching. Great; have at it.

    It's difficult to tell how strong someone is just by looking at them, nor do I care.
    He's lean but could be wicked strong, who knows, right ? I'm waiting for a bench to open up so I'm just behind the row of equipment.

    Anyway, 1 rep, 2 rep, 3 rep.... rep 4 and the bar drops to his chest and his legs kick in the air. ( not good. )

    I walk over and lift the bar from his chest. He hops up and looks at me, he said "Oh my God, thank you so much!" and runs from the floor, thru the lobby and out of the gym into the parking lot.

    .... I wonder if he's coming back tomorrow?
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    Not much of a rush from holidays yet at my gym. I lift on off days (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) at 0400. By avoiding Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I really cut down on crowds and lifting when the place opens also cuts down on people.

    Now if I went to gym M/W/F at 6pm the place is packed anyway it doesn’t matter time of year. That *kitten* show never goes away. I’d be annoyed even without an influx of people. As it is I am amused. People do come up with some crazy stuff and then stare openly at the regulars. I think sometimes it’s them processing what the lift and form is, other times it’s this weird mouth agape lost look.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    Just found out that, due to work stuff, I won't be able to go to the gym at 5 a.m. anymore for awhile starting Wednesday. I've been lifting there for years now. So...I have to start going after work and I'm getting nervous that the after-work crowd will think I'm a resolutioner! I wouldn't have thought twice about that before, but this thread is giving me anxiety now LOL
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,464 Member
    JaydedMiss wrote: »
    Believe i saw a thread like this back when i was a newbie and its the reason why iv yet to sign up for a gym and still want to cry even considering going to one. People are judgemental and rude at gyms threads like this prove that to me >.<

    Thought of going to a gym and learning the mchines while all the "old folk" stare at you and judge you for being new.....*kitten* that.

    I've only been to maybe 3 weight rooms ever, but all 3 had some kind of introduction to the machines for newbies. One I go to now has "intro to weight lifting" 2 mornings and 2 evenings/week. Another one has a place to sign up when you'd like to come in, and a trainer or trainer wannabe signs up to show you around, kind of a big brother/sister type thing. Surely other gyms have something, too.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,464 Member
    Just found out that, due to work stuff, I won't be able to go to the gym at 5 a.m. anymore for awhile starting Wednesday. I've been lifting there for years now. So...I have to start going after work and I'm getting nervous that the after-work crowd will think I'm a resolutioner! I wouldn't have thought twice about that before, but this thread is giving me anxiety now LOL

    If you've been lifting for years, nobody's gonna mistake you for a newbie. Just ain't gonna happen.