# Assholes at the gym: A "What would you do?" and "Here's what I did" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744 "2010-09-14T17:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/101 "2010-09-15T20:40:12Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > Sorry, but if you’re a woman and you’re paying to go to a gym that makes you uncomfortable, I would change gyms and complain via a letter. Why a letter? Because I wouldn’t want to get into a debate with the manager or worse, call the asshole employees in and force you to confront them with your gripes. “Sorry,” but \*I’m \*a woman and if I were in this situation, I’d absolutely want to speak to someone in person if at all possible. I have \*no \*problems being confrontational. Whether this should be dealt with in person, on the phone, or in a letter has nothing to do with the gender of the person who has a complaint. > [@Johanna](#): > > I wasn’t the one who hijacked. The hijack was the transphobic joke. As has been explained to you, the joke was \*not \*at the expense of trans people; it was _mocking transphobic behavior_. Stop attacking people who’re _on your side_; you’re \*\*not \*\*doing my trans friends any favors. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/102 "2010-09-15T21:00:24Z")
[quote=“Shot\_From\_Guns, post:101, topic:553744”] > [@Yarster](#): > > As has been explained to you, the joke was \*not \*at the expense of trans people; it was _mocking transphobic behavior_. How do you know that? You can divine the poster’s intent? If it had been “Tell them you’re Jewish” while the Holocaust was still going on, or “Tell them you’re black” while lynchings were going on, how funny would that have been? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/103 "2010-09-15T21:05:32Z")
Ladies, take it outside. This thread is for: 1. Talking about how you’d deal with shitheads that work at the gym you work out at 2. Telling me to wipe the sand out of my vagina for being bothered by people “just doing their job” and/or 3. Telling me instead of just quitting, I should have complained. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/104 "2010-09-15T21:08:26Z")
As terrible as the violence against trans people in the U.S. is, it’s not remotely comparable to the Holocaust, or even the violence against Blacks in the American South. And if you want to continue this line of discussion, I suggest you start a new thread. ETA: And yeah, **MOL** , you really should have complained to someone. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/105 "2010-09-15T22:07:31Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > > \ > > The dope is full of people who make their voices heard\ > > I would say the Dope is full of people who _say_ they make their voices heard. The Dope is also full of people who have an IQ over 200 and a 14 inch penis. And that’s just the women! ---
**Author:** ![EVERYNAMEISTAKEN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@EVERYNAMEISTAKEN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVERYNAMEISTAKEN)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/106 "2010-09-15T22:20:34Z")
I think you were right to quit, but I would have complained first. But I know that once you’ve been made uncomfortable it would be hard to have to see those people again. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/107 "2010-09-15T22:44:01Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > …or “Tell them you’re black” while lynchings were going on, how funny would that have been?.. Just reading this post, I feel lynched. Lynched is the new ‘raped’. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/108 "2010-09-16T01:06:49Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:105, topic:553744”] > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I would say the Dope is full of people who _say_ they make their voices heard. The Dope is also full of people who have an IQ over 200 and a 14 inch penis. And that’s just the women! [/QUOTE] Ba-dum-chick. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/109 "2010-09-16T02:16:44Z")
Damn, this thread is gold for one-liners. 😃 I started multi-quoting and gave up. Anyway, I, too, would have complained and left - on the same day. I’d have complained because it would have helped future customers, and I’d have left because I still wouldn’t have felt comfortable there. That said, asshole 1 doesn’t sound so bad, but that’s probably because a lot of sleaziness is in tone of voice and body language rather than words. The trans comment made me raise my eyebrows too, but only because I suspect what would ensue if you told sleazebags that you were trans would be like one of the worst scenes from Boys Don’t Cry. I know it was meant as a joke against transphobes. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/110 "2010-09-16T02:58:18Z")
I’m again grateful for my building’s gym that I just got back from. No one really works there so other than the other residents who are in there at any given moment, there’s no one to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/111 "2010-09-16T04:24:25Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:105, topic:553744”] > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I would say the Dope is full of people who _say_ they make their voices heard. The Dope is also full of people who have an IQ over 200 and a 14 inch penis. And that’s just the women! [/QUOTE] Oh shit, NOW you’ve done it! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/112 "2010-09-16T14:11:26Z")
Any more comments on the subject of trans jokes will be treated as failure to follow moderator instructions and warnings issued. Please, continue with the gym/asshole discussion and the merits/problems with complaining, or other gym-staff related woes. But no more hijacks. **Ellen Cherry IMHO Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/113 "2010-09-16T14:15:05Z")
I’m just stopping in to say that I think **MOL** really should have considered complaining and then quitting. This is probably not going to be a popular suggestion, but I thought I’d just throw it out there. Complaining simultaneously while quitting would be OK too; but either way I think she should go for the 1-2 “complain-quit” punch. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/114 "2010-09-16T14:17:09Z")
I wish more moderator instructions told us to discuss assholes. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/115 "2010-09-16T14:55:22Z")
Think of it as a sticky. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/116 "2010-09-16T15:29:57Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:105, topic:553744”] And that’s just the women! [/QUOTE] Personally, \*I \*have an IQ over 14 and a 200 inch penis. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Think of it as a sticky. What, the asshole? No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/117 "2010-09-16T16:51:51Z")
I think I speak for myself when I say, “Ew.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/118 "2010-09-16T18:24:14Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > > > \ > > The dope is full of people who make their voices heard\ > > I would say the Dope is full of people who _say_ they make their voices heard. The Dope is also full of people who have an IQ over 200 and a 14 inch penis. Even the women! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/119 "2010-09-16T18:32:19Z")
Seriously, I’d strangle the assholes… and complain about having to do it. Then I’d strangle Gary for doing my joke first. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744/120 "2010-09-16T18:36:19Z")
I like you position on strangling very much. Unfortunately, my membership is officially over as of yesterday, but I guess you don’t have to be a member to strangle the employees. I’ll do it this afternoon! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assholes-at-the-gym-a-what-would-you-do-and-heres-what-i-did/553744.md?page=7)