# Gym annoyances **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573 "2009-05-15T21:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [May 19, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/81 "2009-05-19T15:58:45Z")
**Jeff** , I think \*\*Fantome \*\*was reading your reply as “precautions against athlete’s foot or other fun stuff you can get through public showers are stupid because I don’t use them and I’ve never gotten anything” versus “I, personally, don’t bother with them and have never had it come back to bite me in the ass.” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/82 "2009-05-19T17:01:20Z")
I’m having a hard time visualizing how someone in a class not following the steps is such a heinous distraction. I’ve taken plenty of classes over the years and aside from the few times I’m checking my own form in the mirror I’m generally watching the instructor. My personal annoyance is when people just drop their equipment on the floor. Bitch, if you’re too lazy to \*set \*your weight, barbell, whatever down, how did you muster the energy to come to the gym? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/83 "2009-05-19T17:24:17Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I’m having a hard time visualizing how someone in a class not following the steps is such a heinous distraction. As someone who spent over a decade in dance, I can confirm that seeing someone else by you do the wrong thing, even if you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, at best is distracting and at worst can make you do something wrong, too. ETA: You might be amused to hear that my brain read your name for a half-second as WookieInAPub. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/84 "2009-05-19T17:42:18Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > As someone who spent over a decade in dance, I can confirm that seeing someone else by you do the wrong thing, even if you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, at best is distracting and at worst can make you do something wrong, too. > > ETA: You might be amused to hear that my brain read your name for a half-second as WookieInAPub. 😃 Hmmmm. I suppose I could see it if you’re rehearsing for A Chorus Line or something, but aerobics classes aren’t quite as complicated nor is the main objective to be in synch with your fellow exercisers (exorcists?). Any old way, it’s all a matter of the old mileage varying. You are not the first person to interpret my name that way and I always giggle when I picture a wookie in a pub:) ---
**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:** [May 19, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/85 "2009-05-19T17:54:09Z")
No one (who isn’t presenting a strawman argument) is saying that people have to be perfect, but they do have an obligation to not be a distraction to everyone else who’s trying to participate. As long as they’re making an honest effort and can somewhat keep up, no one has a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/86 "2009-05-19T20:17:46Z")
**WOOKINPANUB** , you’re right. Aerobics classes are usually not as complicated or precise as a Broadway-style chorus line production. That’s exactly why we are saying that perfection is not necessary. Nobody’s saying that the occasional minor error is a horrific distraction. It’s when people are majorly out of sync – doing entirely the wrong moves, for example, or jumping in entirely the wrong way – that it becomes a serious distraction. Nobody is going to get upset if you occasionally do a kick instead of a knee raise, or if your marching is occasionally out of sync with everyone elses. If your moves are entirely different from what the rest of the class is doing though, then it throws people off their game. It can even cause accidents on the exercise floor, especially when performing distance moves such as grapevines, sideways shuffling, or lateral jumps. Incidentally, this is a great response to the accusation, “You’re discriminating against first-timers! You’re saying that if you haven’t already taken your aerobics class, then you shouldn’t be allowed to start!” The reality is that most first-timers CAN roughly follow along, even if they sometimes mess up or have to take occasional breaks. When people don’t follow along, even roughly, it could be because they’re not concentrating enough or not applying enough effort. Or it could be because they simply cannot follow, in which case it’s not the right kind of class for their needs. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/87 "2009-05-20T04:54:19Z")
1. Equipment squatters. Why not pitch a tent there and just camp out over night? 2. Guys drying their balls at the hair dryers. (Do guys really need hair dryers??) 3. Loud talkers–in the gym and in the locker room. I’ve noticed the louder the talker in the locker room, the more full of shit he is. 4. Kids age 3-6 YELLING in the locker room. Parents, maybe you are immune to their incessant noise, but in that echo chamber, it’s awful. Make them stop. 5. Smart-assed attendants making dumbassed small talk. “Hey, there, Killer! Woah, hoh! You are just HUGE! I better watch out or you’ll tie me in a knot! Heh heh heh!” 6. I don’t know why this bugs me, but guys who work out in knit caps and sweat shirts and sweat pants. 7. The people who grab dumbbells and work out right in front of the rack. 8. People who plop their mats down in a high-traffic area. 9. Women who make a HUGE issue about how hot they are and don’t want to be hit on. Believe me. I’m not hitting on you. I’m not even looking at you. And if you’d stop going out of your way to make sure I see how hot you are and how annoyed you are that you are always getting hit on, I wouldn’t even notice you. 10. “Guess my age” woman. Um…50? Oh…40. Sorry. 11. People sitting on equipment while talking on their cell phone. 12. Gay guy with an attitude. Yes, I’m sure the way I placed that weight back on the rack is an affront to your rights as a sexual being, but, really, just like super hot woman who hates to be hit on, I really didn’t even notice you. 13. People who want to chat. Yeah, I suppose I’m the asshole for not wanting to talk during my workout, but I have an hour to work out…not a minute more. Plus, I want to get this over with. 14. Lap swimmers who glare at anyone who dares share their lane. 15. Guy who only works on his biceps and chest. Dude, you have hundreds of other muscles, and you’re more out of proportion than Barbie. 16. Guy who admires how huge he is every time he walks by the mirror. (Okay, okay, that guy is me. So what?) ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/88 "2009-05-20T06:03:28Z")
I’m annoyed at my most recent gym program. I went along with it at the time (and I know that’s my fault) but it’s got a lot of pointless exercises. For instance I have to dumbbell bicep curl and then extend my arm out like a slow punch. But I can only extend half as much as I curl so I don’t end up working my biceps with this exercise. I’m happiest doing a really basic workout with the free weights and I’m annoyed at myself for not speaking up. I’ll give this one a couple of weeks but otherwise I’ll revert back to my old program. Also boo to the people who tell me that as a woman I’ll get “bulky” doing heavy weights. I’ve lifted as heavy as I can for almost a year now. I’ve gained muscle and lost fat and look great, certainly better than the doughy fuckers who think I should be doing 100 reps of the little pink weights for “tone”. There are a couple of personal trainers who like to bags a few machines and a bunch of free weights to create their own private gym for their clients. Sorry, that’s not how it works - you don’t get to hog a large part of the gym, especially during peak times. Either set up your own gym or learn to share like everybody else. Guy who does push-ups and sit-ups in the squat rack - _seriously?_ ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/89 "2009-05-20T08:04:50Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Also, THE LADIES’ LOCKER ROOM IS NOT A PLACE FOR LITTLE BOYS. I’m glad you are comfortable with little Jimmy seeing my girly bits but I am not. Babies and toddlers I can understand, but your 7-year-old makes me queasy. Check out the Family Changing Room sometime, for chrissakes. It’s interesting that you mention this. I was at the pool today and noticed a sign near the women’s change room that read something like: “Supervised boys under the age of five are welcome in the women’s change room.” I wonder who decided on the age limit and what criteria they used. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/90 "2009-05-20T15:20:30Z")
**Shamozzle** , sounds like kindergarten age is the cutoff. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/91 "2009-05-20T15:31:56Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > BTW, even though I never suggested it, I do think that there **are** times when it might be best to observe a class first before jumping in. > > I speak from experience. Earlier, I mentioned that I once tried a step aerobics class that was far beyond my ability. The moves were simply too advanced for me, and so I was flailing around and messing up completely. As I said, I could have just stepped in place or done my own thing, but I knew that would be disruptive and distracting to the class. Er, if they’re watching the instructor, how are you disrupting them? Also, I don’t get the sweaty t-shirt thing. Why bother to change, if you’re just going to get the second shirt sweaty too? you’ll spend the whole time just changing and sweating. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/92 "2009-05-20T16:13:09Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Er, if they’re watching the instructor, how are you disrupting them? There’s a little thing called peripheral vision. It won’t usually catch people who are making simple mistakes, but it’s hard not to notice people who are doing something that’s wildly different from everyone else. Also, your comment seems to presuppose that the instructor is the only person that’s within their immediate field of view. That’s almost never the case. Unless you’re in the front row, there’s usually one more line of people right in front of you. You may be concentrating on the instructor, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t notice the people around you. Then there are the mirrors. Most gyms have huge mirrors lining the walls of their workout rooms. Try as you might to block out everyone else, it’s not always possible. Finally, in many cardio classes, you’re not always facing the instructor. The instructor can move around within the room, for example. Also, most cardio classes call for moves wherein people change the direction that they’re facing – by performing 180 degree turns as they jump, for example. So no, you WON’T always be looking at the teacher. Then there’s the danger of colliding with an out-of-sync neighbor, as I mentioned several times earlier. It’s a safe bet that most people who have taken cardio classes understand this. In fact, based on the comments in this thread, it sounds to me like people who have never taken a cardio class – or who have very limited experience with them – are the ones who cannot imagine how having other people perform wildly different moves can be so distracting. Again, this is not limited to my experience or those of people like **Shot from Guns**. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard the regulars in my cardio classes complain about being distracted by people who are doing something that’s completely different from what the rest of the class is doing. I think it’s pretty common-sensical and pretty well established. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/93 "2009-05-20T16:47:19Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > **Cardio class attendees who can’t do the basic moves… at all.** Again, I understand that some people are in worse shape than others. I also understand that some people aren’t terribly well coordinated. I further understand that a lot of people need to adapt the moves based on their fitness level. All of that is perfectly fine. > > However, there are people attending these classes who habitually step to the left while everyone else is lunging to the right. Or people who zig in one direction while everyone else is zigging another way. The occasional mistake is fine, but if you do that habitually, then you are presenting a physical hazard to the other people in the class. What’s more, you’re also throwing people off their game, since people have a natural tendency to follow what the folks around them are doing. So if you have so much difficulty that you habitually find yourself going the wrong way, then **please** , for everyone’s safety and benefit, learn to concentrate. If necessary, practice the moves at home for a while, so that you can get the proper benefits and avoid injuring your fellow gym-goers. I would summarize this as - if you bump into someone once or twice, fine. If you bump into someone three times, leave the class before you hurt yourself or someone else. > [@](#): > > Less annoying are people who do go in basically the right direction, but whose moves bear little resemblance to what the instructor is calling for. … there are a few people … who can’t manage even a basic knee raise or a light kick. They basically do nothing more than step in place and maybe lift their hands a little bit. … perhaps you should start off more slowly – going for a brisk walk, perhaps, and practicing some knee raises at home. … Rather, I’m saying this because if you’re basically just stepping in place, then you’re not really getting any benefit from the cardio class. You may as well do that sort of thing at home, where you can practice and build up to these moves. I don’t agree with this. Not every person takes a class because it’s a good hard workout. Some people need the class to inspire them to exercise regularly. If your gym has an easier class, then these people should take that class, but if this is all they got, then saying that they should just work out at home is a little short-sighted. > [@](#): > > Besides, as I said earlier, it throws other people off their game when someone nearby is doing the moves in a blatantly incorrect way. That’s just human nature, which is why it’s important to ensure that your moves at least somewhat resemble what the class is calling for. Or they could get in the back of the class, or by the wall, where they are not between another person and the instructor. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/94 "2009-05-20T16:59:05Z")
I can understand how someone constantly getting the moves wrong in an aerobics class could get annoying/painful at some point. On the other hand, if you have problem with laughter in a cardio class, you don’t need to enroll in cardio classes. That’s ridiculous. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/95 "2009-05-20T17:17:01Z")
**Labrador** , what if someone were constantly laughing in a class at a college, or a high school, or a grade school? You’d want them to be considerate of others then, wouldn’t you? So how is a class that involves physical exercise instead of mental any different? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/96 "2009-05-20T17:35:14Z")
I’m _really_ annoyed by the aquacise ladies in the pool who _don’t want their hair wet_. WTF? It’s a freakin’ _pool_, lady. And you’re surrounded by kids’ swimming classes, and the lap lane. Water galore. Also, not taking a complete shower is a violation of the county and state health code, and making a fuss about it is just going to get me to point that out to the pool manager, and _then_ we’ll see how your hairdo survives them _monitoring_ who showers before class. I’m considerably less annoyed by the clueless people who don’t know how to share lap lanes. Mostly because their reactions amuse me. Either they’re really poor swimmers who won’t be considerate of faster swimmers – apparently, _no one_ is allowed to swim faster than they, and _no passing_ – leading to complaints to unsympathetic lifeguards. Or, they’re athletic nonswimmers who think they’ll be the bee’s knees and barge in front of everybody… only to be smoked by the less-buff but more skilled swimmers. Had one of those, last night. Hot shot who thought the old guys and the chick _obviously_ couldn’t match his magnificence… only to end up bewildered and eating bubbles the whole time. He may not have been pleased had he heard me compliment the kids in class the next lane over about how much faster they were than he. Made _their_ night, though. 😃 ---
**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:** [May 20, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/97 "2009-05-20T17:37:31Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > I’m _really_ annoyed by the aquacise ladies in the pool who _don’t want their hair wet_. Don’t they have, y’know, \*swim caps \*for that? Or are they trying to preserve the styling or something? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/98 "2009-05-20T18:03:11Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > **Labrador** , what if someone were constantly laughing in a class at a college, or a high school, or a grade school? You’d want them to be considerate of others then, wouldn’t you? So how is a class that involves physical exercise instead of mental any different? Because the gym is already noisy? I don’t know if you guys are really really easily distracted but when I’m doing weights I’m really focused on that. The world goes on around me and so long as it’s not in my way I don’t tend to care. And when I’m doing cardio my ipod is on, so again I’m tuned out. The gym is full of people doing their own thing. Grunting, breathing hard, banging equipment, talking to other people, encouraging them while spotting, trainers giving instructions to their clients, intercoms going off. If you can focus while all this is going on, surely you can tune out laughter as well? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/99 "2009-05-20T18:25:43Z")
**Jeff** , this is about people \*in the class \* constantly laughing/nervous-giggling, which is a whole 'nother thing. IMO, it’s the same as if they were to be talking loudly to the person next to them, or whistling, or singing. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573/100 "2009-05-20T18:33:28Z")
As posted earlier, those people that _still_ believe that women shouldn’t lift heavy or they’ll get bulky. We don’t have the hormones for it, for goodness sakes! Lane swimmers that go in the wrong direction, though I usually just point it out and all is well. But what annoys me the most in the pool is blatantly slow swimmers in the medium or _gasp_ fast lane! If the pool is empty, sure, take an empty fast lane, but when I get into the lane and am going the speed the lane is designated as, get out and move to the proper lane please! People who don’t wipe up their own sweat should be banned from the gym. Also, I don’t wear shower shoes! But I don’t care if you do or don’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gym-annoyances/496573.md?page=6)