# Weird guy at gym (mind my own business?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200 "2011-09-05T00:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/121 "2011-09-06T19:19:29Z")
> [@Plumbkrazy](#): > > In other words, you didn’t really have a point. You just rolled out of the rack with religious descrimination and racism on the brain this morning, I suppose. Yes, OK. If you say so. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/122 "2011-09-06T19:20:33Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Is this really something people do? I’m asking seriously. The only time I’ve ever seen anything like it is between members of the same sports team, going on or coming off the field. Or working out together in a gym. I dunno. I wasn’t there. It sounds sure as hell possible, though. I just think the possibility of these people knowing each other sounds more and more likely as I read the thread. It’s certainly the simplest explanation. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/123 "2011-09-06T19:23:08Z")
Like I said earlier, I go to the gym a lot. I’ve never seen people shoulder-bumping on purpose, not even people who are there working out together. That’s why I asked if this is a normal thing. I agree that it is physically possible to shoulder-bump someone. 😉 That’s not my question, though. ---
**Author:** ![Plumbkrazy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Plumbkrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumbkrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/124 "2011-09-06T19:25:30Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Yes, OK. If you say so. :rolleyes: I’m disappointed. You go from babbling about Muslims and African-Americans to little more than a smilie. You had such potential for entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/125 "2011-09-06T19:29:52Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Or working out together in a gym. > > I dunno. I wasn’t there. It sounds sure as hell possible, though. I just think the possibility of these people knowing each other sounds more and more likely as I read the thread. It’s certainly the simplest explanation. Or possibly even a group of guys playing some sort of silly game. Whoever collects the most checks wins. Double points for getting a girl. :rolleyes: It’s certainly plausible. I’ve seen dumber games at the gym. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/126 "2011-09-06T19:31:40Z")
> [@Plumbkrazy](#): > > I’m disappointed. You go from babbling about Muslims and African-Americans to little more than a smilie. You had such potential for entertainment. Sir, the other patron clearly doesn’t want to continue the conversation with you. Please stop following him around. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/127 "2011-09-06T19:36:58Z")
> [@Plumbkrazy](#): > > I’m disappointed. You go from babbling about Muslims and African-Americans to little more than a smilie. You had such potential for entertainment. You’re an aggressive little puppy, aren’t you? Look, I tried to make a point about sweeping statements, and you went ballistic. Not worth it. You go be angry at someone else; I’m not looking for a fight, and you’re not interested in my point. ---
**Author:** ![Plumbkrazy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Plumbkrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumbkrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/128 "2011-09-06T19:37:00Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Sir, the other patron clearly doesn’t want to continue the conversation with you. Please stop **following him around**. Following him around? That’s odd…this _seems_ like the same topic in which he introduced himself to me by insulting me. I didn’t realize the kid’s mother was also posting on this topic. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/129 "2011-09-06T19:38:17Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Like I said earlier, I go to the gym a lot. I’ve never seen people shoulder-bumping on purpose, not even people who are there working out together. That’s why I asked if this is a normal thing. I agree that it is physically possible to shoulder-bump someone. 😉 That’s not my question, though. I’ve certainly seen groups of guys doing it to each other. I don’t think they’d care particularly that they were in a gym - especially if they were the competitive sort. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/130 "2011-09-06T19:39:18Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > You go be angry at someone else; I’m not looking for a fight, and you’re not interested in my point. So you call the guy a racist, which was evidently your point, but you don’t want a fight? For the record, it was a stupid “point” you were attempting. ETA: Yes, I know your point was not that he was racist. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/131 "2011-09-06T19:42:09Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > So you call the guy a racist, which was evidently your point, but you don’t want a fight? For the record, it was a stupid “point” you were attempting. I didn’t call him a racist. I drew an analogy between various types of sweeping comments about different groups. You’re welcome to debate that it’s a weak analogy, and why - and I’d be interested to hear your opinion. I feel it’s a reasonable analogy which illustrates why sweeping generalisations are a bad thing. You may think it’s a stupid point, but I’d be interested in hearing why - I feel it’s a valid point. > [@](#): > > ETA: Yes, I know your point was not that he was racist. The why did you just say that I called him a racist? This thread is fast descending into Bizzaro-Land. I’m happy to debate the sweeping-statements analogy on its face; I’m not willing to trade insults. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/132 "2011-09-06T19:43:53Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I didn’t call him a racist. I drew an analogy between various types of sweeping comments about different groups. You’re welcome to debate that it’s a weak analogy, and why - and I’d be interested to hear your opinion. I feel it’s a reasonable analogy which illustrates why sweeping generalisations are a bad thing. So your response to his generalization is “all generalizations are bad”? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/133 "2011-09-06T19:51:02Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > So your response to his generalization is “all generalizations are bad”? It was that I think that that particular generalization is as bad as the other couple I mentioned, and that one should try to avoid them. It was a small point, which has been escalated. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/134 "2011-09-06T19:52:52Z")
So particular generalizations probably ought to be debated on their own merits, instead of ridiculously conflating them with inflammatorily racist analogies. Like I said before, it was a stupid “point” you were attempting to make. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/135 "2011-09-06T19:57:30Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > So particular generalizations probably ought to be debated on their own merits, instead of ridiculously conflating them with inflammatorily racist analogies. Like I said before, it was a stupid “point” you were attempting to make. So you disagree that gender-based generalizations are as bad as ethnicity-based generalizations? Look, I’m _trying_ to debate this with you. I’m trying hard. If you get that anger-monkey off your shoulder, it could be a decent discussion. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/136 "2011-09-06T19:59:53Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > So you disagree that gender-based generalizations are as bad as ethnicity-based generalizations? > > Look, I’m _trying_ to debate this with you. I’m trying hard. If you get that anger-monkey off your shoulder, it could be a decent discussion. Then PM me, or start a new thread, because this continued hijack probably isn’t beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/137 "2011-09-06T20:19:30Z")
* * * M \* Y \* O \* B * * * Nobody made you the “Gym Police”. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/138 "2011-09-06T20:21:58Z")
Can I be the Posting Annoyingly Large Boldface Letters in Threads police? Because damn, dude, that was grapist-level annoying. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/139 "2011-09-06T20:23:34Z")
Yeah, someone badly needs his shoulder bumped. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-guy-at-gym-mind-my-own-business/595200/140 "2011-09-06T20:53:37Z")
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