# It's a weight machine, not a park bench! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160 "2009-01-07T00:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/81 "2009-01-07T23:09:08Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > I usually go late enough in the evneing that I miss the January stereotypes. But the stories here remind me of one guy that cracks me up. I’ve nicknamed him Snuffy Smith because he’s about 55-60 and bald with a grey fringe and he’s constantly chomping on chewing gum. He’s usually there longer than I am. I get my workout done in about 45-50 minutes and leave. But, I rarely see this guy do any exercise. What I do see him do is scan the gym for the cutest lady. Then he’ll go stand next to her machine and chat with her until she finishes and walks away. Then he’ll find another. If there are no ladies present, he’ll do one set one a machine, walk around for ten minutes, go get a drink, walk around some more … > > But, he’s a nice guy and he doesn’t hog equipment, so he’s a tolerable amusement. I wonder if the women find him so nice and tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/82 "2009-01-07T23:12:26Z")
> [@That\_Guy](#): > > I’ll be honest, I was getting in a little dig at the lady hogging machine at the expense of her being overweight. But what really got my blood boiling was how incredibly rude she was when I asked to work in. Then why weren’t your insults about how rude and stupid and selfish she was, instead of how much weight she needs to lose before weight training will do her any good, or what you could fit under her flab? In my experience, specific insults don’t come that readily out of the blue, which indicates you were most likely thinking it, even if kindness or politeness would have prevented you actually saying it if she hadn’t been such a provoking jackass. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/83 "2009-01-07T23:38:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I wonder if the women find him so nice and tolerable. It’s hard to tell. About half try to ignore him and the other half seem to be flattered by the attention. No one has slapped him yet, so I assume he’s at least polite. They used to have a personal trainer there that, if his client wasn’t a hottie, he would start his client off doing lunges and then leave them to go flirt with the hotties. He had one regular client that was a very attractive lady that could easily have lost about fifty pounds. She did lunges for 15-20 minutes at a time at least once a week for over a year. She didn’t appear to have lost a single pound. The reason I noticed it so much was because he was explaining to her (loudly) one evening that all of us people doing cardio were idiots - we should only be doing strength training because cardio was a waste of time. He’s not there anymore. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/84 "2009-01-07T23:43:30Z")
> [@incidental](#): > > Now, is it really necessary for me to wipe down the treadmill? I do, but always feel a bit silly. Usually, I’ve only touched the buttons when I started it up and shut it down. Otherwise, only my feet touch the treadmill. Maybe little bits of sweat are hovering around me, but it’s usually pretty cold if I’m in the gym, and I don’t sweat that much. I feel silly, too, but now I’m in the habit. I wipe down the buttons, but not the “tread.” After all, I don’t wipe down the road after I run on it. At my gym, I haven’t really noticed anyone else wiping the treadmill down, really. But I do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![incidental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@incidental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/incidental)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/85 "2009-01-07T23:58:04Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > For those nervous about going to the gym because they’re concerned about their appearance: > > _Everyone else there is, too_. Seriously, you’re not at the gym if you’re not trying to improve something about yourself – whether it be weight, health, or your killer 6-pack abs. But, even the folks with the killer 6-pack abs are there because they think they need to improve _something_. Uhm, no offense, but I don’t go to the gym because I’m concerned about my appearance. I like to run. That’s really all there is to it. Sometimes the weather is bad and I have to go to the gym if I want to do what I love. To me, that statement is like saying someone quilts because they are trying to improve their body. It’s just a hobby. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/86 "2009-01-08T00:40:36Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > No I’m sure you’re right, but it’s more fun to see a rant with some sort of conflict in it, not > > [suppressing fury]: Are you done? > > Yep, here you go! > > 😉 I guess it’s the code of expected conduct at the gym…you do your exercise, you get off the machine, you go to the next machine so someone can use the machine you were just on. I wouldn’t get irked at people sitting on a park bench talking, because that’s basically the function of a park bench. I do, however, get irked at people who sit on a machine to chat and don’t know enough to get off the machine. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/87 "2009-01-08T01:08:20Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > My gym rant: People who leave their clothes and crap all over the single 8-foot bench in the locker room. There are 50 lockers. USE THEM. And close the locker door while you’re at it. There are also coat hooks and a convenient out-of-the-way place for your shoes not five feet from where you left your crap for me to trip over. > > Also, the ab machine is not a clothes hanger. Toss your hoodie somewhere else. > > :mad: People are pigs. Mine, too. The gym I go to has U-shaped areas lined with lockers with a bench in the middle of each area. It’s most annoying to come over to your locker and find that some inconsiderate babe has her gym bag, her clothes, and some cosmetics arrayed all over the one bench. Doesn’t it occur to them that other people might want to, oh, sit down and tie their shoes? Don’t even get me started on the ones who leave their dirty towels strewn about when they leave, as if they are too **special** to drop the things in the hamper that is right by the door! ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/88 "2009-01-08T01:24:37Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Yeah I’m so fat I can barely see my fingers to type, you caught me there. What are you, his protector or are you just Captain Save-a-ho? > > The woman was rude by reading the paper, but his first comment insinuated that she was too fat to be there and that it would take her 150 pounds to see any muscle definition. His ignorance was glaringly obvious throughout his comment, but right there is where it shined the most. I’m sure she was told by a trainer (not just some guy who is trying to lift weights to get ripped to overcompensate) that she needed to do light weights, many reps to try to build muscle which will assist her in burning fat. > > For the most part I workout from home, but do teach water aerobic classes in a gym so I understand all too well how frustrating January can be. The thing is, these people are there to try to improve, perhaps if there weren’t so many impatient and entitled fucktards who are ready to be pissed and more people who can be considerate and help them understand the unwritten rules of the gym, they might stay and be on their way to a healthier life. > > As for you, kissing **That Guys** ’s ass isn’t going to burn many calories. Perhaps you’ll find another workout that suits you better. In all fairness, this isn’t gym etiquette we’re talking about, this is basic etiquette. If you aren’t using the ‘whatever the fuck it is’, get the fuck out of the way of people who are using it. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/89 "2009-01-08T02:54:17Z")
[QUOTE= CrazyCatLady] Then why weren’t your insults about how rude and stupid and selfish she was, instead of how much weight she needs to lose before weight training will do her any good, or what you could fit under her flab? In my experience, specific insults don’t come that readily out of the blue, which indicates you were most likely thinking it, even if kindness or politeness would have prevented you actually saying it if she hadn’t been such a provoking jackass. [/QUOTE] Well, being fat IS more easily discernible than being selfish or a Scientologist or a puppy hater. So when you’re picking secondary insults to go along with the primary, you go with what you got. So lighten up and quit projecting. Just because weight is the first thing on YOUR mind, doesn’t mean that to someone else it’s not just a flip aside. Not everyone shares your issues or assigns them the same priority you do. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/90 "2009-01-08T05:38:24Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > It’s hard to tell. About half try to ignore him and the other half seem to be flattered by the attention. No one has slapped him yet, so I assume he’s at least polite. Speaking as a former hottie, I never slapped anyone, though I was sorely tempted at times. Just because I never slapped a guy, doesn’t mean that he wasn’t bothering me. Mostly I would ignore the guy or leave. I wonder how many women he’s driven away from the gym? I certainly wouldn’t go back to a place where I knew I’d have a good chance of being harassed. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/91 "2009-01-08T10:21:50Z")
I had a run in with a bitchy “regular” in my office’s tiny gym. It’s a room with a bar, a scale, 5 weight machines, 1 bike, 1 eliptical, 1 stairmaster, and one Nautilus Treadclimber that has had a “this machine is still being assembled” sign on it for the entire 3 years I’ve worked there. It is very underused. Not a everyone seems to know it exists. I had post-surgical physical therapy that required me to do 10 minutes 3 times a day on the bike-- for 4 months I was there morning, noon, and night and never saw another soul. I quit smoking recently, and have been passing cravings with 5-10 minutes on a machine. I’ve been down there a lot more than usual. It’s still deserted. Today at 5:30ish I walk in and there’s actually someone in there, sitting at one of the weight machines. I say hello, she ignores me, I shrug and head for the treadmill. I’ve had a frustrating day and zone out to burn some anxiety. 22 minutes later (I looked at the timer on the treadmill) she’s standing in front of me. She tells me I can’t just walk in here and hog the treadmill, she’s been waiting for it for 20 minutes. I just stared at her sort of dumbfounded-- there is nothing indicating there are time limits or sign up sheets, she watched me walk in and get on the machine, and. . . there’s no one else in there. There’s 3 other cardio machines (any of which I’d have used, had something been said sooner). But, okay, I said just give me a few minutes to cool down and it’s all hers, and I’d have gotten off sooner if she’d said anything. She replied that she thought I was one of those January people, and the sooner I exhausted myself, the sooner I’d leave the gym to people who were actually serious. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/92 "2009-01-08T11:27:24Z")
I think I’m falling in love with my gym all over again. My only complaints:[ol][_]The gym is only a year old, and in a space especially constructed for it. So how is it nobody thought to put a water fountain or sink in the main weight room? The choices for re-filling a water bottle are to use the lone sink in the one tiny restroom, or hoof it back to the locker rooms.[_]That old dude I keep bumping into who thinks he can reserve a line of five or six machines because he’s doing a “circuit”, and gets bitchy if you decide to use one of “his” machines. Fortunately, mp3 players make it easier to ignore crazy people. And speaking of the mp3 player, BAD MUSIC, and it’s piped in everywhere, even in the freakin’ showers. If I find the person responsible for the play list, I will pinch them, I swear.[/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/93 "2009-01-08T16:30:33Z")
I just wish my local chain would hire people that actually know something about fitness. If I was doing an exercise incorrectly, I have no problem with anyone informing me (politely). We’re having the influx of newbies and more power to them if they stick it out and attain their goals. We have people hogging machines and not cleaning up after themselves but I lay the blame on the staff. They don’t inform new members of the rules and don’t patrol the area. They give out a sheet with the rules on it and imagine that they read them, I guess. If they’re not selling memberships, they’re gazing blankly out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/94 "2009-01-08T18:11:34Z")
I guess I’m a January kinda guy but I don’t want to be, so I’m trying to get my head around this “working in” concept since I plan to do a workout circuit (as advised by one of the folks who work at the gym) every other day. 2 sets of 12 reps with a 30-sec break in between sets, then move on. Is there a “working in” window there or am I doing the right thing? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/95 "2009-01-08T18:12:17Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Then why weren’t your insults about how rude and stupid and selfish she was, instead of how much weight she needs to lose before weight training will do her any good, or what you could fit under her flab? In my experience, specific insults don’t come that readily out of the blue, which indicates you were most likely thinking it, even if kindness or politeness would have prevented you actually saying it if she hadn’t been such a provoking jackass. I saw where he asked her if he could work in, and she said “no.” I would have been plenty pissed about that, especially for her “reason.” I am 5’1" and about 110 lbs. I ain’t exactly maxing out the machine capacity on anything I do, but I am happy to work in with anybody. I remember working in with a guy who was built like Michael Clark Duncan and people were grinning- we practically had to dismantle and reassemble the machine every time, but it really only took a few seconds. She’s a stupid waste of gym space- I could give a shit about her size or shape. Edit- and for those who don’t clean up after themselves? Eeeeeeeeeew! I will come right out and say something, especially if they don’t have a towel… ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/96 "2009-01-08T18:14:40Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I guess I’m a January kinda guy but I don’t want to be, so I’m trying to get my head around this “working in” concept since I plan to do a workout circuit (as advised by one of the folks who work at the gym) every other day. 2 sets of 12 reps with a 30-sec break in between sets, then move on. Is there a “working in” window there or am I doing the right thing? If you’re only taking a 30-second break between sets, then don’t worry about it- people will see that you’re working. If you are taking a 2 minute break between reps, then let me do 2 or 3 minutes in between. That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/97 "2009-01-08T18:17:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Speaking as a former hottie, I never slapped anyone, though I was sorely tempted at times. Just because I never slapped a guy, doesn’t mean that he wasn’t bothering me. Mostly I would ignore the guy or leave. I wonder how many women he’s driven away from the gym? I certainly wouldn’t go back to a place where I knew I’d have a good chance of being harassed. That’s a good question. I don’t know if they stop coming for all of the usual reasons or because they’re tired of being chatted up by Snuffy. What could a gym owner or manager do if one of his customers is driving away business? If they’re not breaking any laws or any gym rules, what can they do about it? I used to work out at the Y. They took in a local dance class that lost their lease and the dance class sort of took over the place. One night, the dance kids (unsupervised) were playing the stereo so loud in the aerobics room that I couldn’t hear the music on my headphones in the weight room. I went to the front desk and asked if they could do something about it. The girl apologized and said she couldn’t. I started back to my workout and one of the mothers (who had been watching TV at the front desk) lambasted me with profanity for daring to question the kids’ activities. I mentioned that they’re probably damaging their hearing and walked off. The next day, I cancelled my membership. The gym I’m using now seems to be following the same course. There is rarely any staff visible after 7:00. About half of the cardio machines no longer work. A few times, they’ve had the music up so load I can’t hear the sound from my ear buds. It’s a shame because this place is close to home and convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/98 "2009-01-08T18:25:17Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I guess I’m a January kinda guy but I don’t want to be, so I’m trying to get my head around this “working in” concept since I plan to do a workout circuit (as advised by one of the folks who work at the gym) every other day. 2 sets of 12 reps with a 30-sec break in between sets, then move on. Is there a “working in” window there or am I doing the right thing? I would talk to a different personal trainer; that’s an odd amount of sets (I’ve never seen a plan with less than 3 sets per exercise), and an odd amount of rest (I don’t recall ever seeing a plan that called for less than 60 seconds rest between the same exercise). You’re not really getting enough rest in 30 seconds to justify the break, and if you’re doing 12 reps, you can probably do 15 with the same amount of weight. That said, I’m not sure what you’re training for, and based on how many reps you’re doing, I probably don’t know what I’m talking about for your fitness goals. On the other hand, if you’re only taking a 30 second break, you’re only on the machine for two minutes, so you’re not one of “those guys”. I was reading an article on 5x5 training yesterday, which stated: > [@](#): > > For a focus on strength, take three-minute breaks in between each set. For a focus on size, try ninety-second breaks in between each set. Finally, for the middle path, try two-minute breaks in between each set. … > **[Shop Supplements, Vitamins, Workout Accessories and More!](https://shop.bodybuilding.com/)** > > Shop our wide selection of supplements including protein powder, pre workout, vitamins, BCAAs, and more with free shipping on qualified orders! ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/99 "2009-01-08T18:35:45Z")
I’m chiming in on the loud music thing. I shopped around a lot for a gym/fitness center. Most of them think they need to have loud, shrieky, pounding noise (I refuse to call it “music”) to motivate people. To which I say bullshit. If one needs loud, shrieky, pounding sound to energize yourself, get a set of dam earphones and deafen yourself as much as you like. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160/100 "2009-01-08T18:46:50Z")
The idea that gym rats have perfect gym etiquette is believable only to retarded gym rats. I’m speaking from some years of experience as a weightlifting coach and membership in a number of gyms. If gym rats had perfect gym etiquette 1. gym employees wouldn’t spend nearly as much time re-racking plates and dumbells that meatheads were apparently strong enough to get out but not strong enough to put back. 2. gym rats would realize that supersetting doesn’t mean you own every fucking piece of equipment in the gym for the duration of your workout. 3. gym rats would realize that encouraging your workout partner doesn’t constantly have to be done at a scream. 4. gym rats would realize that asking for a spot isn’t the same as asking for a critique of form. 5. buckeyes [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-weight-machine-not-a-park-bench/480160.md?page=6)