# PlanetFitness has a 'philosophy' that is ignorant and potentially dangerous **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 10, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456 "2012-05-10T01:28:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/201 "2012-05-13T13:39:08Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Every month has two new threads from Ambivalid about how he got kicked out of another business establishment by a guy who was _totally freakin’ unreasonable_. He’s a complete jackass. Ambivalid has exactly the reputation he deserves on this board, which is a whining, passive-aggressive bitch with a victim complex. However given the business model of PF I believe him in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/202 "2012-05-13T13:43:12Z")
Thanks to this thread, I’m now going to check out PF. Can’t beat $30 and $10/month. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/203 "2012-05-13T14:03:34Z")
If you follow their philosophy you would be better off staying at home. Almost as much health benefit and it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/204 "2012-05-13T14:03:48Z")
Me too. And I’ll pretend its like Survivor and I’ll live in constant fear of being “voted” off the “island”. Sounds like fun drama to me. Wonder how long I can last? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/205 "2012-05-13T14:15:20Z")
I pay $15 a month at Retro Fitness. I don’t know if the chain is near you. A large cross section of people. Men, women, old, young, serious division I college athletes, over weight people trying to get in shape. Plenty of people like me, middle aged trying to fight off father time. Sensible rules. No stupid philosophy. No drama. My only complaint is the one near me is a little smaller than I’d like. I would rather spend the extra $5 a month for that. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/206 "2012-05-13T14:28:47Z")
Here’s how I imagine the situation might have happened: Regional Manager (RM) walks in and sees Some Dude (SD) dropping weights and grunting and walks over to Planet Fitness Drone (PFD): RM: What’s with that guy in the wheelchair always dropping weights and grunting? PFD: Whenever he does that we turn on the Lunk Alarm but he never takes the hint. Frankly, we’re a bit scared to confront him because he looks like he’ll try to get into a fight with you if you look at him crosswise. Just last month he blocked someone in for parking in the handicapped spot, and followed the dude into the gym and was yelling and screaming and totally off the handle. He almost threw a fit when we caught him trying to modify our equipment in an unsafe manner. RM: But, still, that’s not our policy to allow that, lemme talk to him. […strides over] RM: Excuse me, sir, could you please not drop weights and grunt so loudly? SD: I need to drop the weights as part of the exercise. RM: I understand that some people like to exercise like that, but that’s not our policy at Planet Fitness. When you hear the Lunk Alarm go off, that means that you are against our stated policy. You are not allowed to drop weights here. SD: THIS EXERCISE IS VITAL TO MY WELL BEING! WHY DO YOU HATE THE CRIPPLED? RM: No one here at Planet Fitness is allowed to… SD: I KNOW MY RIGHTS! YOU’RE DISCRIMINATING! I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT! [RM walks over to the counter and proceeds to drop him for violating the Lunk Alarm but also for being a huge touchy d-bag. Then proceeds to ream out PFD for not taking care of this sooner.] ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/207 "2012-05-13T14:37:51Z")
I just popped on to PF website to see if there’s one near me. Happens there is, right up the road. They even had pictures of the facilities…looks nice, if a bit too purple for me. Noticed they have stand-up tanning booths. Now that’s discriminatory. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/208 "2012-05-13T15:13:52Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I just popped on to PF website to see if there’s one near me. Happens there is, right up the road. > > They even had pictures of the facilities…looks nice, if a bit too purple for me. > > Noticed they have stand-up tanning booths. Now that’s discriminatory. You may get kicked out for being too tall. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/209 "2012-05-13T15:32:00Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > … theirs isn’t a gym to go to when you want to get into the best shape of your life. There does not seem to be much disagreement about this. Their business model is catering to the same people who would buy a treadmill and use it twice. Those who scarcely break a sweat but use that as justification for eating a pizza. Yes, I agree it is a strange message to send to people who are wanting to improve their health with exercise. Holding up those who actually take fitness seriously and have results to show for it as objects of ridicule seems like an odd marketing ploy but it does indeed attract the most choice demographic: the both very insecure and unfit who will pay their fee each month and then rarely use the facility, and use it only briefly then. Not so much a fitness club as an unfitness club, and let’s face it, there are more who just want to feel better about being unfit than there are those who want to become fitter. They’ll do well. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/210 "2012-05-13T15:34:36Z")
Ambivalid, I have no idea of your living space or whatsoever, but rather than having continual problems would you be able to set up your own home gym? (I have no knowledge of the machines you use or the cost involved.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/211 "2012-05-13T15:38:44Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > There does not seem to be much disagreement about this. > > Their business model is catering to the same people who would buy a treadmill and use it twice. Those who scarcely break a sweat but use that as justification for eating a pizza. Yes, I agree it is a strange message to send to people who are wanting to improve their health with exercise. Holding up those who actually take fitness seriously and have results to show for it as objects of ridicule seems like an odd marketing ploy but it does indeed attract the most choice demographic: the both very insecure and unfit who will pay their fee each month and then rarely use the facility, and use it only briefly then. > > Not so much a fitness club as an unfitness club, and let’s face it, there are more who just want to feel better about being unfit than there are those who want to become fitter. > > They’ll do well. Well most gyms hope to have many more customers than those that show up regularly. But you have said it perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/212 "2012-05-13T16:06:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > So no business should ever cater to those with serious social and health disorders? Isn’t the problem that they’re already locked in their basements? Maybe Planet Fitness should issue workout clothes that are the only authorized clothing in their facility. Then no one will be offended by someone else’s shoes. If you are so socially broken that you can’t handle someone else’s running shoes you have much larger problems than being out of shape. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/213 "2012-05-13T16:20:06Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > If you are so socially broken that you can’t handle someone else’s running shoes you have much larger problems than being out of shape. Maybe you do and maybe you don’t. On the other hand, getting in shape might make a huge difference in addressing one or more of those problems. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/214 "2012-05-13T16:20:14Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Ambivalid, I have no idea of your living space or whatsoever, but rather than having continual problems would you be able to set up your own home gym? (I have no knowledge of the machines you use or the cost involved.) Yeah, but then who’d marvel at his bulging veins and wheelchair pullups? He’d have to set up a bunch of cardboard cut-outs like Rupert Pupkin. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/215 "2012-05-13T16:59:35Z")
**Loach** I suspect you are correct about most gyms. I also wonder why our op just doesn’t create a home gym. It really does not need to cost much if he has any reasonable space. I know he has otherwise found a good facility but I also wonder if a crossfit gym might be more to his liking. Many have already adapted their work outs to those in wheelchairs (given their commitment to disabled vets). In any case a gym seriously concerned about their client’s fitness, staffed by professionals, might also object to someone jerry-rigging a set-up, but instead of kicking the client out would work on figuring out how to alternatively accomplish the fitness goal in a manner they saw as safer. Even if the client was an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/216 "2012-05-13T17:49:40Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Every month has two new threads from Ambivalid about how he got kicked out of another business establishment by a guy who was _totally freakin’ unreasonable_. He’s a complete jackass. Ambivalid has exactly the reputation he deserves on this board, which is a whining, passive-aggressive bitch with a victim complex. Yeeeaaaaah. For the LAST motherfuckin time: This thread IS NOT about **me** getting kicked out. It’s about the ridiculous, bass-ackwards policies and business model of PF. Me getting booted was the clear example of this model. I am not trying to get my membership back; I am not fighting this expulsion. I don’t care enough and I don’t want to return to an environment that is so hostile to fitness-driven individuals. My point in illustrating _my_ situation was to highlight the attitude of this business. And I’ve only been kicked out of _one_ establishment **ever** prior to the PF ordeal. And trust me, I _knew_ I’d be getting plenty of crap when I posted this because of my prior troubles at my old gym. If I didn’t want to deal with any of that, I wouldn’t have posted this story in the first place. But I felt that I needed to because of the insane business practices of PF. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/217 "2012-05-13T18:27:11Z")
Although I agree their apparent philosophy is idiotic, as a business it is only insane if they are not making money. It appears like they are making plenty of money. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/218 "2012-05-13T18:32:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Although I agree their apparent philosophy is idiotic, as a business it is only insane if they are not making money. It appears like they are making plenty of money. Ok then-let’s agree on _idiotic_ to describe the philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/219 "2012-05-13T18:39:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Although I agree their apparent philosophy is idiotic, as a business it is only insane if they are not making money. It appears like they are making plenty of money. And it seems that they are getting an awful lot of bad PR from their ‘policies’, so their profitable business-model may not be sustainable. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456/220 "2012-05-13T18:54:39Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > And it seems that they are getting an awful lot of bad PR from their ‘policies’, so their profitable business-model may not be sustainable. . It’s only bad PR if you are a grunting, weight-dropping lunk. Others may be attracted by this publicity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planetfitness-has-a-philosophy-that-is-ignorant-and-potentially-dangerous/621456.md?page=12)