# I can't join a gym because people suck (long) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099 "2010-05-28T18:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/77aa72/32.png) [@Cort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cort)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/21 "2010-05-28T21:08:42Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > If they’d pull his membership, he wouldn’t need to. Nice! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/22 "2010-05-28T21:11:38Z")
I recently upgraded from a crappy gym populated with clueless (or passive-aggressive) douchebags and thugs to a much more upscale one, where I’ve found the clientele to be of a much better class. Even so, I still have occasional twinges of annoyance when someone is _daring_ to use the equipment I want to use. However, I’m able to quickly suppress it and chalk it up to my nature (if not human nature). I’ve also noticed that working out puts me in a foul mood for quite a while afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/23 "2010-05-28T21:20:34Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > It’s funny you should post this just now. I was just re-reading the responses in this thread and was considering responding to **PunditLisa** that her advise to interrupt a guy while he was in the middle of a set would probably be incident free 10 out of 10 times if you’re a girl. It would probably even come with a quick step getting out of the way while getting an “oh, sorry.” That won’t happen 10 out of 10 times if you’re a guy making the request. At least not in NJ. Well, just lift your leg and pee on the weights - that way, other gym users will know they’re yours and not get in your way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/24 "2010-05-28T21:26:49Z")
> [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](#): > > I’ve also noticed that working out puts me in a foul mood for quite a while afterwards. Interesting. I’m generally the complete opposite. I’m usually feeling good and happy after a workout. I don’t know if there is some physiological reason for this (endorphins, or whatever), but there are definitely some psychological ones. I feel good that i got through an hour of intensive exercise, and that the pain is behind me for another day. I feel good that i’m continuing to work out, despite my generally tendency towards sitting on my ass browsing the internet. I feel virtuous, having made the effort to drag myself to the gym and do the workout. And i like the feeling of pumped muscles combined with the low-level soreness that comes after a good workout. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/25 "2010-05-28T21:32:07Z")
> [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](#): > > I still have occasional twinges of annoyance when someone is _daring_ to use the equipment I want to use. I have this sometimes, although i’ve managed to keep it to a minimum by simply not having incredibly tightly structured routines. If i’m doing my back, for example, i have in mind the order that i would like to do my lifting, but it’s always something that’s open to modification. If i get to the stage where i was going to do seated rows, and the machine is in use, i’ll do bent-over rows or something else instead. About the only exception to this, for me, is bench press. While i understand that dumbell presses are as good for the chest as bench presses with a bar, i really like using the bar at a particular point in my chest workout (usually at or near the beginning), and i sometimes get annoyed if there’s no bar/bench available. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/26 "2010-05-28T21:37:29Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Forget it, Jake, it’s New Jersey. Ahhh, the gym in New Jersey, where you might run into one of the Garden State’s many famous [weightlifters](http://www.jumpingfrog.com/images/mags05aug19/mag9608.jpg). Tried a gym years ago after my injury. It had the emotional current of a Junior High School cafeteria. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/27 "2010-05-28T21:46:58Z")
I feel your pain as well. It’s tough out there in Athletic Club Land. I almost cried for joy the day I got a job at the University…not because of the job, but because I could start using the Student Athletic Center! The college-age kids that work out in there are so damn polite, it’s almost annoying. Quite a change from a public club. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/28 "2010-05-28T21:49:18Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Ahhh, the gym in New Jersey, where you might run into one of the Garden State’s many famous [weightlifters](http://www.jumpingfrog.com/images/mags05aug19/mag9608.jpg). Actually, when i picture a New Jersey gym, i think of a place full of douchebags like [this](http://realtybs.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/alg_jersey_shore_cast.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/29 "2010-05-28T21:53:44Z")
Sounds to me like you found a gym that’s so cheap and crappy that they’ve had to resort to mass emailing out coupons to get members. Go find a better one. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/30 "2010-05-28T22:10:24Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Sounds to me like you found a gym that’s so cheap and crappy that they’ve had to resort to mass emailing out coupons to get members. Go find a better one. Thousands of gyms all over the country have things like coupons, offers of a free week/month, trial periods, specials, etc., etc. We’re in tough economic times, and i’ll bet plenty of people have let gym memberships lapse in an effort to save money. The simple presence of incentives designed to attract new members doesn’t necessarily indicate that a gym is “cheap and crappy.” ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/31 "2010-05-28T22:13:29Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Sounds to me like you found a gym that’s so cheap and crappy that they’ve had to resort to mass emailing out coupons to get members. On their website when you click on “Try us now Free 1-Day Guest Pass” you have to fill out a form in order to be e-mailed the coupon. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/32 "2010-05-28T22:28:15Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I’m not so sure that would be the end of the conflict but the beginning of one. I have a feeling plenty of people would look over at me annoyed and respond “you wanna hold on 'till the end of my set, pal?”, or something similar. It’s not worth it to potentially start out on the wrong foot with people. They’ll be the next guy and the next guy after that working out in front of the dumbbell rack too. This is retarded. If you can’t open your mouth to politely ask someone who is in your way to let you by, you don’t belong out in society. Just stay in your basement. Refusing to make the slightest effort to speak up on your own behalf while ascribing the worst possible motives and responses to everyone you encounter is a recipe for misery. There are inconsiderate assholes in the world, sure. But they are far outweighed by perfectly nice people getting wrapped up in their own shit and not realizing they’re inconveniencing someone else. Stop assuming the worst of everybody, grow a pair, and you’ll be a lot happier. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/33 "2010-05-28T23:01:24Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > This is retarded. If you can’t open your mouth to politely ask someone who is in your way to let you by, you don’t belong out in society. Look, internet tough guy shithead, I never inferred in the slightest that I fear asking someone to get out of my way. Idiot after idiot in gyms everywhere, if you couldn’t tell by the responses in this thread, stands in front of dumbbell racks and workout. When one is a member of a gym, if he interrupts people while they’re concentrating in the middle of a set every time someone is standing in front of the rack, sooner or later it’s not going to go over well with someone who’s already proved to be an asshole. I’d rather wait a few extra moments than ruin my mood while working out because I had some altercation with a douche bag, no matter how slight. The younger me got in enough altercations mostly because I had to prove to myself that I don’t take any shit, but now I’m confident enough to know I can walk away from petty bullshit even though I’m annoyed rather than have my day ruined. I have several years of experience working out in gyms and I don’t recall seeing anyone asking someone to move while in the middle of a set. It’s either because everyone is as big a pussy as me or because it’s just worth it to wait half a minute tops rather than interrupt someone in the middle of a set, which generally pisses people off. > [@](#): > > But they are far outweighed by perfectly nice people getting wrapped up in their own shit and not realizing they’re inconveniencing someone else. Stop assuming the worst of everybody If you workout right in front of the dumbbell rack, you’re an inconsiderate douche bag that doesn’t bother to think for a moment that they’re inconveniencing someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/34 "2010-05-28T23:08:33Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I’m not so sure that would be the end of the conflict but the beginning of one. I have a feeling plenty of people would look over at me annoyed and respond “you wanna hold on 'till the end of my set, pal?”, or something similar. It’s not worth it to potentially start out on the wrong foot with people. They’ll be the next guy and the next guy after that working out in front of the dumbbell rack too. I know what you mean. I do. I had the same problem for a long time. Something like the situation you describe would come up, and I’d run it through in my mind, and I’d end up not being able to see anything but a bad outcome. I made a real effort to stop doing that, and just proceed in good faith with the expectation that I’d be met with the same courtesy I was extending. I was pleasantly suprised to find that most of the time, the response I got were pretty courteous. Once in a while, I’d run into an asshole, of course, but those times turned out to be the exception rather than the rule. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/35 "2010-05-28T23:13:18Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > This is retarded. If you can’t open your mouth to politely ask someone who is in your way to let you by, you don’t belong out in society. Just stay in your basement. Did you read the OP? His wanting to workout in his basement has zero to do with not being able to speak up. Judging by his posts, he has no problem speaking up and is consciously putting forth an effort to stop letting little things get to him. It seems you’re trying to provoke for no good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/36 "2010-05-28T23:17:15Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > The younger me got in enough altercations mostly because I had to prove to myself that I don’t take any shit, but now I’m confident enough to know I can walk away from petty bullshit even though I’m annoyed rather than have my day ruined. You don’t sound confident. Confident people don’t fume over stuff like this. They either wait because they honestly don’t mind waiting or they speak up. You sound like someone who is terrified of confrontation and projects that onto everyone he encounters. > [@](#): > > I have several years of experience working out in gyms and I don’t recall seeing anyone asking someone to move while in the middle of a set. It’s either because everyone is as big a pussy as me or because it’s just worth it to wait half a minute tops rather than interrupt someone in the middle of a set, which generally pisses people off. What are you talking about? Here’s what you describe in the OP: [QUOTE=x-ray vision] He’s using light weight in front of the heavy dumbbells and he’s going for distance. Plenty of room to step back away from it, but why should he give a shit about anyone else? My head is going to explode. [/QUOTE] That doesn’t sound like someone in the middle of an intense 30-second set whose going to be annoyed at being disturbed, that sounds like someone doing ten pound flys who could easily take a step back so you could grab your weights, and who almost certainly wouldn’t think twice about doing so. But I’m sorry if you were hoping to be comforted after your trying ordeal – MPSIMS might be a better choice next time. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/37 "2010-05-28T23:39:48Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > You don’t sound confident. Confident people don’t fume over stuff like this. They either wait because they honestly don’t mind waiting or they speak up. You sound like someone who is terrified of confrontation and projects that onto everyone he encounters. So for you to believe he’s not terrified of confrontation he would have had told the counter guy he’s an asshole, tell everyone to bring a towel next time, kick both parties off of the squat racks and also told someone to step away from the dumbbell rack? Because those are all the things that he “fumed” over and didn’t speak up about. Looks to me that you’re baiting someone that’s trying to not let things get to him into letting you get to him. > [@](#): > > But I’m sorry if you were hoping to be comforted after your trying ordeal – MPSIMS might be a better choice next time. Actually, I think this thread was going pretty well for him until you posted. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/38 "2010-05-28T23:53:27Z")
> [@Fantome](#): > > So for you to believe he’s not terrified of confrontation he would have had told the counter guy he’s an asshole, tell everyone to bring a towel next time, kick both parties off of the squat racks and also told someone to step away from the dumbbell rack? Because those are all the things that he “fumed” over and didn’t speak up about. Wow, so when the white knight instinct kicks in, I guess everything else just goes dark, huh? Yes, you’ve restated my opinion on this matter perfectly – the only two choices are to quiver with impotent rage, or start flipping over benches and rampaging around like the Hulk. By quibbling with the former, I was implicitly endorsing the latter. Or not. The fact is, people like **x-ray** get on my nerves. They walk around ready to be pissed at everyone and everything for their own lack of social ability. It’s annoying to encounter said people. So, when I saw **x-ray** making a spectacularly dumb argument in defense of his own impotent rage, I posted my opinion about it. I’m sorry if this upsets so, provided you replace the words “I’m sorry” with “I don’t give a crap”. [QUOTE=Fantome] Actually, I think this thread was going pretty well for him until you posted. [/QUOTE] Yes, well, such are the risks of blogging in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/39 "2010-05-29T00:10:53Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I doubt it was the weight lifting that caused the anger … off the cuff, sounds more like what they call “roid rage”. 😉 I thought the same thing. Lifting weights doesn’t make you aggressive! I suspect someone’s pulling the wool over someone’s eyes here… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099/40 "2010-05-29T00:53:51Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Wow, so when the white knight instinct kicks in, I guess everything else just goes dark, huh? Yes, you’ve restated my opinion on this matter perfectly – the only two choices are to quiver with impotent rage, or start flipping over benches and rampaging around like the Hulk. By quibbling with the former, I was implicitly endorsing the latter. > > Or not. The fact is, people like **x-ray** get on my nerves. They walk around ready to be pissed at everyone and everything for their own lack of social ability. It’s annoying to encounter said people. So, when I saw **x-ray** making a spectacularly dumb argument in defense of his own impotent rage, I posted my opinion about it. I’m sorry if this upsets so, provided you replace the words “I’m sorry” with “I don’t give a crap”. > Yes, well, such are the risks of blogging in the Pit. Damn straight. If whiney pussy McAngryDude is scared to ask somebody to move a few steps, then he has issues. For these issues, I suggest an extended period of weight training, changing Mr Wimpy into Mr Muscle and giving said numpty the confidence to deal with all those pesky people getting in his way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-join-a-gym-because-people-suck-long/541099.md?page=3)