Should Gyms Be Cellphone Free Zones

13

Replies

  • CaliDan23
    CaliDan23 Posts: 14 Member
    I agree...I use my phone for my workout music and my Nike+ app to help keep track of my runs, calories, etc. Just talking should be banned unless an emergency
  • samamfa93
    samamfa93 Posts: 9
    I think that in classes, they should be banned. But not in the general gym area.

    I quite often use my cell to listen to music while I am doing cardio. And when I do interval training, I often will check facebook/ reply to texts and have found that it helps pass time by quicker.
  • bm99
    bm99 Posts: 597 Member
    Banning cellphones is silly. People use them as music players, stop watches and there are about a million apps available that are useful while exercising.

    They ought to ban people being obnoxious. If you are talking loudly or otherwise annoying the people around you, you should be kicked out of the gym or a manager can ask you to be quiet.

    A cellphone is a tool only, not the cause of the rude behaviour.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    OMG, lol "that yoga instructor" is my friend (since college). She's famous now...:D.

    For what it is worth...we should be able to use cell phones at the gym (in the locker room).
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    I think as long as your not sitting on one of the benches for weights or on other equipment, in the way, or talking on it around others then it should be fine.I check mine off to the side sometimes and will even answer it on rare occasions when I notice an important call. Even then I always make sure I'm not near anybody and not talking loudly. I would never do it during a class though. Thats just rude.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    YES YES YES
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    Honestly I think cell phones should be banned almost everywhere. It's corrupting everyone. I know plenty of people who would go mad if they lost their phone, that's how dependent they are on it... I always see groups of people hanging out together, not talking, on their cells, I mean really? Not that it's any of my business but I just don't get it. When I'm with someone and they start texting, I get pissed off. Worst thing is at restaurants when there's always that one person who is ridiculously loud on their cellphone.

    THIS
  • saragato
    saragato Posts: 1,154
    I use the gym at the Y and they ban cellphone use in the workout areas unless you're using it as an mp3 player. It makes things a lot quieter but there are still people who will sit on machines or form a group in the cardio area and start talking. Last week there was a couple of women in the weight room who were talking about "Magic Mike" and started describing certain parts on the male actors that even made me uncomfortable. To me those people can be more annoying than twits on phones.
  • BeyondThePixels
    BeyondThePixels Posts: 91 Member
    Yes, I can't stand when I'm working out and someone is having a loud conversation! I don't care if someone is texting or silently playing wiith their phone, just don't talk. If you need to take a call, pause your machine and go outside/lobby.
  • trojanbb
    trojanbb Posts: 1,297 Member
    Yes, I can't stand when I'm working out and someone is having a loud conversation! I don't care if someone is texting or silently playing wiith their phone, just don't talk. If you need to take a call, pause your machine and go outside/lobby.

    It's a ********** GYM. Not a library. A gym. A room filled with heavy iron.. A gym is a place of force and muscle, not some pansy *kitten* meditation paradise. What difference if I talk to my workout partner in person or a friend via a phone? Should we ban talking to friends in the gym as well? If conversation really destroys your workout that much, invest in some headphones. Go enroll at Planet Fitness, the queen of all pansy "gyms". the no phone rule will fit along nicely with their rule against in-shape men and countless rules against heavy lifting.

    A real gym should have loud music blaring, muscular men grunting, iron strewn across the floor, inspirational pictures on the walls. This quiet gym sanctuary crap is insane.

    for the record, i've never talked on my phone in the gym.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Yes, I can't stand when I'm working out and someone is having a loud conversation! I don't care if someone is texting or silently playing wiith their phone, just don't talk. If you need to take a call, pause your machine and go outside/lobby.

    It's a ********** GYM. Not a library. A gym. A room filled with heavy iron.. A gym is a place of force and muscle, not some pansy *kitten* meditation paradise. What difference if I talk to my workout partner in person or a friend via a phone? Should we ban talking to friends in the gym as well? If conversation really destroys your workout that much, invest in some headphones. Go enroll at Planet Fitness, the queen of all pansy "gyms". the no phone rule will fit along nicely with their rule against in-shape men and countless rules against heavy lifting.

    A real gym should have loud music blaring, muscular men grunting, iron strewn across the floor, inspirational pictures on the walls. This quiet gym sanctuary crap is insane.

    for the record, i've never talked on my phone in the gym.

    Ok, but it's not just men. Women should be able to lift weights also (even if we just get in, lift and get out). The gym is co-ed, the men don't own it. We all pay the same membership to use the squat rack and everything else. Just because we are small does not mean we aren't allowed to heavy lift. Using free weights is much better on all our bodies than being stuck with the crappy circuit machines.

    And btw, the article was about the yoga instructor working at the facebook employee gym...that is not a hardcore gym.
  • PrincessCelestia
    PrincessCelestia Posts: 28 Member
    No. Sometimes my mom drops me off, I have to text her when I'll be done.
    Some people have iPhones and need to put down how much time they did doing what.
  • InfinitePoss
    InfinitePoss Posts: 60 Member
    Personally, I think there should be restricted areas in gyms, and many other places, for making calls. Of course a person should be able to use a phone to surt the web, listen to music, etc.

    Honestly, it occurred to me the other day how absolutely dependent I have become on my cell phone. I was going out the door for a walk and I was thinking about just taking my iPod and not my iPhone, because it's smaller, and I almost broke into a cold sweat thinking about what if something happens on my walk, that took me all of an hour;-)

    I found this absolutely ridiculous because I can remember a time when I used to go on ten mile runs without even a walkman, "gasp", but now I can't even go workout for an hour without a phone. Pathetic....
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    This is tricky because I agree that people talking on their phones can be annoying. However, I actually have an app on my iPhone that tracks my workout as I do it, so I have to use my phone at the gym. For that reason, it would suck if they were banned. Also, I suck at rest periods, so sometimes I'll send a text message or something to kill time between sets. So I do think phones should be allowed, but I wish people were more responsible with them.
  • _Refried_
    _Refried_ Posts: 194
    This is tricky because I agree that people talking on their phones can be annoying. However, I actually have an app on my iPhone that tracks my workout as I do it, so I have to use my phone at the gym. For that reason, it would suck if they were banned. Also, I suck at rest periods, so sometimes I'll send a text message or something to kill time between sets. So I do think phones should be allowed, but I wish people were more responsible with them.
    THIS^^^^^^^^
  • texaslonghorn42
    texaslonghorn42 Posts: 34 Member
    I have to take mine with me because I am often on call for work and HAVE to answer. However, I ALWAYS put it on SILENT and just check it every few minutes. I have had to answer it while on the elliptical (I run a foster care agency so I can not NOT answer) but I always ask if I can call back or if I have to talk right then I will go outside.
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
    Yes. Yes. Yes.

    I cannot believe a gym fired a yoga teacher for this. Why would anyone be using a phone during yoga or any exercise class? Ridiculous.
  • TaraFTMVA
    TaraFTMVA Posts: 309 Member
    Honestly I think cell phones should be banned almost everywhere. It's corrupting everyone. I know plenty of people who would go mad if they lost their phone, that's how dependent they are on it... I always see groups of people hanging out together, not talking, on their cells, I mean really? Not that it's any of my business but I just don't get it. When I'm with someone and they start texting, I get pissed off. Worst thing is at restaurants when there's always that one person who is ridiculously loud on their cellphone.
    Agree^^. The gym I go to is a cell phone free place, there are signs at each machine and posted all over. The focus should be on fitness and relaxation, not chatting. Also I am a server and it drives me nuts to see people out together all on their phones or I am trying to take an order and they are on their phones whispering to me or mouthing the order...or making me wait.....I have a million things I could be doing while trying to interpret/hear your order or while you make me stand there waiting...so yes....more than just the gym should prohibit cell phone use.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    no.........because a lot of people use it to listen to music, and texting never bothers anyone. Personally though I just don't give a *kitten*........if it doesn't affect my workout I don't care what others do.

    I've used my phone before to log into MFP while working out to pass the time while on an elliptical or bike and it was nice to be able to do so, but most often I like to just listen to music and workout hard.
  • StarvingDiva
    StarvingDiva Posts: 1,107 Member
    People should have more sense than to be fiddling with their phones during their workout time.

    Too many people are too attached to their phones.

    I totally agree. People need to learn to unplug.
  • jayhawkX
    jayhawkX Posts: 48
    Absolutely not. I use my cell phone to listen to music and to tune in to the TV stations, or even watch Netflix if I'm on the right cardio machine.
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,334 Member
    I can say this. If I had my phone with me and I got a phone call, I would leave the gym floor to answer it. But for everything else...music, surfing, texting....I would want it with me when I workout.
  • Josette89
    Josette89 Posts: 244
    When I used to go to the gym I used my cell phone as an MP3. So I wouldn't ban them completely. and some of those people have kids at home that they need to be in contact with. But, I do understand about talking WHILE exercising in the middle of a group of people. That's rude, they can take that elsewhere. And in a class, they should have the people keep there stuff in a cubby or something... :)
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I always have my cell with me including at the gym. I use it for my music mostly but during the school year I also need to have it with me at all times incase the school nurse needs to get ahold of me. She has called several times while I was at the gym--and I have answered and will always answer. Most of the time our conversations are very quick so I don't bother stepping outside--but I would never hold up equipment to talk to her either. I would step away but haven't ever had to yet. because I always seem to be on an elliptical or treadmill when she calls. .

    EXACTLY! I have a 16yo with autism, and a husband with epilepsy....I am RARELY more than 2 feet away from my phone in case one of them needs me. I have gotten calls at the gym, but I was either on the treadmill or the seated elliptical, so I kept it short, but I DID answer it!
  • Elite4LifeDono
    Elite4LifeDono Posts: 33
    Cellphone free gyms, driving, and eating. Cellphones in class are a must. lol

    EDIT: Cellphone talking should be prohibited in those areas; texting, mp3 and surfing is always welcome IMHO
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    If someone else using a phone in your vicinity bothers you...I think that is the real problem.

    THIS. lol

    Not that I need to be on my phone 24-7 but honestly, if you are going out in public, you can't expect total silence. How is someone talking on the phone any different than those 2 girls that are on the treadmill next to each other gossiping about the hot guy at work? Do we want to ban talking at the gym too? If you don't want to hear anyone...INVEST IN AN IPOD!!!! Some of you guys remind me of the grumpy old lady next door that screams at the little kids on the block to stay away from her lawn lol. However, it is kinda disrespectful to the teacher if you text in yoga class. That's a different story though.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I don't even bring my phone in with me - I think it's rude as hell to be glued to your phone and loudly yakking away in public. Texting doesn't bug me because I don't have to hear it. However, I'd hate to see an outright ban on phones at the gym - lots of people are on-call or waiting for emergency calls, etc. I DO think it's appropriate for an instructor and other participants to expect people to leave their phones outside of a CLASS, though - especially YOGA for God's sake. How obnoxious! :mad:
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    I am not a fan of bans, but I think as a society we need to start socially enforcing cell phone etiquette. It is NOT socially acceptable to annoy everyone in a restaurant, gym, or other public place with your phone conversation. Go find a bit of privacy, even if you have to go sit in your car..

    I personally get very annoyed when my meal is disturbed by some idiot yammering loudly on their stupid phone, and more often than not I will say something to them.
  • Josette89
    Josette89 Posts: 244
    Agree^^. The gym I go to is a cell phone free place, there are signs at each machine and posted all over. The focus should be on fitness and relaxation, not chatting. Also I am a server and it drives me nuts to see people out together all on their phones or I am trying to take an order and they are on their phones whispering to me or mouthing the order...or making me wait.....I have a million things I could be doing while trying to interpret/hear your order or while you make me stand there waiting...so yes....more than just the gym should prohibit cell phone use.

    Haha, that's why I could never be a server, I would tell them and I would come off as rude. And that is also why I am a Chef, it is acceptable to be rude :D
  • cordianet
    cordianet Posts: 534 Member
    One of the reasons I like my gym better...

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