Gym Behavior 101: A question about gym etiquette - weigh in with your opinion

[Norsun]

I have 2 questions for the reader. Both questions will appear at the end of this post. This matter deals with gym etiquette. For reference, here's how the dictionary defines etiquette:

a) the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life

b) conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion

c) the practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority

This incident that took place in a local gym and was at times heated and dramatic. At first the conversation was civil and proper, and then later it devolved into a full blown confrontation. I was a witness to it. After the two parties went their seperate ways, after the incident was diffused, I questioned a gym employee at length as to the details involving the matter. This incident involved 3 people, a party of two and one isolated individual. For reference, I'll be referring to the party of two as "double-guys". I'll be referring to the single individual as "single-guy". I'll first give a general synopsis as to what took place. And then I'll give a detailed account of what I saw and heard and what a club employee, the desk attendant on duty that morning, later related to me.

Synopsis:

It's 5:30 am on a weekday morning. Both double-guys are working out on a leg press machine. There is only one leg press machine of this type in the entire gym. Single-guy walks up and politely asks if they would allow him to work in on the machine. Both double-guys tell single-guy "No", that he'll have to wait and come back later when they're finished using the leg press.

Details:

After both double-guys tell single-guy that he can't work in on the unit, double-guys add that they need to keep their heart rate up and that is why single-guy should wait until they're done. Single-guy tells them that time is crucial, he points out that it's 5:30am, and that he has to be at work soon. Double-guys instruct single-guy to go use another machine elsewhere in the gym. Double-guys tell single-guy that "we're only gonna be on this machine for just 3 minutes and only 3 minutes."

Single-guy states that he can't use any other machine for his legs. Single-guy states that "This is the only leg press in the gym, and I need to use it, too. I can't use any other machine in the gym. This is my last excercise for the day". Both double-guys are adamant, they refuse to let single-guy work in on the leg press. And then double-guy #1 points to the clock and says, "You need to get to the gym earlier. And you need to go use another machine."

Single-guy then states, "Alright, so let me get this straight, you're blocking me from using the leg-press, right?" Double-guy #1 says, "That's right, we're blocking you." Single-guy states, "Well you know that's rude." Single-guy then turns around and walks away. Minutes later, single-guy returns accompanied by the gyms early morning desk attendant. Double-guys are still at the same machine exercising their quads, the same machine single-guy has a desire to use. Single-guy asks the gym attendant if he would instruct both double-guys to share the machine with him. The gym employee proceeds to question both parties as to the circumstances of the argument.

Follow up:

Much later, when both parties had gone their seperate ways, I had a conversation with the desk attendant. Single-guy stated to the eary morning desk attendant that he was under the care of a physical therapist for a recent knee injury. He had not had surgery, but was instead addressing the injury with physical therapy. Single-guy stated that he had seen a physical therapist 3 or 4 weeks prior to this incident. At the clinic, his p.t. gave him 4 or 5 excercises to perform. The bulk of those excercises were exercises that he could perform at home, without equipment. Two of those exercises involved gym equipment.

Of those two exercises, on the morning of the confrontation, single-guy had already performed one of them before he confronted double-guys. Of those two exercises, the second exercise required the use of the machine he asked the double-guys to share with him. Single-guy stated to the desk attendant that he had observed double-guys performing mulitiple sets of 10-12 repetitions on the machine that he was attempting to use.

At no time during the actual incident did I hear single-guy tell either double-guy #1 or double-guy #2 that he was rehabilitating a knee injury. Single-guy was not in a wheelchair, nor was he seen using crutches or a cane. Single-guy was not limping nor did his gait appear to be in any way affected by anything negative or out of the ordinary.

The desk attendant instructed single-guy to file a complaint to the gym manager during regular business hours. Single-guy stated that he wasn't sure if he would follow through with a formal complaint, but if he did, single-guy stated that, if asked, he would provide proof that he was under the care of a state board certified physical therapist, that he was in the early stages of a knee rehabilitation program, and that at this point in his rehabilitation program he was instructed to use only two types of gym equipment for his leg work.

Single-guy told the desk attendant that if someone was blocking an upper body exercise machine, he would have used any one of the many other upper body machines in the facility, willingly and without hesitation. Single-guy stated that today was his leg day, and using an upper body machine was out of the question.

Single-guy asked the early morning desk attendant if blocking a leg machine for any reason whatsoever was tolerated, including that for the reason of keeping your heart rate up. The desk attendant informed single-guy that he wasn't sure what the gym policy was on blocking a piece of equipment and that is why he instructed single-guy to file a complaint with the gym manager when the g.m. shows up for work at 9am.

Question #1: How long have you been working out in gyms that cater to the public?

Question #2: Given the circumstances, do you think a gym should allow two (or maybe more) of their members to block another gym user who has a desire to use the same machine, in this case a leg press machine, for the sole purpose of keeping their heart rate up? Or, is blocking a machine for any reason permissable?

Queston #2 might be a tough question to answer. I'm having a tough time answering it. In arriving at an answer, I have to ask myself: is this issue primarily and solely a blocking issue? If so, then I would have to consider things like common courtesy, civility, manners and etiquette to arrive at an answer. Or is this issue more about personal goals? Specifically stated, a personal goal that involves the need for a person to keep their heart rate up during a specific exercise. If so, the aformentioned traits of common courtesy, civility and etiquette might still come into play. I'm still trying to formulate an answer to question #2. It's a tough one...

[martialartspeon]

Why do these etiquette questions keep coming up? I'm at the gym every day and I try and be respectful but people need to chill out when the weights weren't put back or someone doesn't get up off a machine during a reps. It really isn't that big of a deal and there are much more important things to worry about.

[Mike Brewer]

I've always thought it was good etiquette to allow a guy to work in. You can keep your heart rate up in any number of ways, including just doing jumping jacks right there next to the machine. Not letting a guy work in when there's only one piece of equipment for a given lift is just childish.

And it doesn't matter if the guy was rehab'ing an injury or not.

[FitnessRubber]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

I've always thought it was good etiquette to allow a guy to work in. You can keep your heart rate up in any number of ways, including just doing jumping jacks right there next to the machine. Not letting a guy work in when there's only one piece of equipment for a given lift is just childish.

And it doesn't matter if the guy was rehab'ing an injury or not.

exactly - and besides, the point of physical therapy is to strengthen so that the crutches/cane/wheelchair/surgery aren't needed, so why would that be relevant?

[DickHardman]

ive been working out in gyms since i was like 14.

inmop, i think single guy was out of line. working in with someone is fine, but there are already 2 people sharing 1 machine. the heart rate excuse was just to get the guy to leave them alone. if someone is using a machine, he does not have to let you work in if he doesnt want to, unless there is a specific sign posted on the machine by gym management that says the machine must be shared with others while you are resting. sometimes when you go to the gym, machines and weights you want to use may be occupied, you have to deal with it and come up with alternatives. im not gonna go cry to a staff member if someone has been using a machine i want for a long time lol.......sometimes you will ask someone if you can work in and they will say something like "i just have 3 more sets, and ill be done", letting you know they dont want to let you work in. its no big deal, just work on something else till they are done.

[Norsun]

Originally Posted by DickHardman

im not gonna go cry to a staff member if someone has been using a machine i want for a long time lol.......

Disputes happen in the gym. So if you're "not gonna go cry to a staff member", and the dispute is one that becomes argumentative, whatta ya gonna do, lay the guy out with a karate chop?

As I wrote in the thread starter, I had a good conversation with the desk attendant. He's been there for several years. I put the question to him. I asked him how often conflicts occur between gym members. I was totally surprised by his answer. He said "alot." I'm surprised because I never see any conflicts, relatively speaking. I then asked a personal trainer who works for 24hr. Fitness and he said the same darn thing, that it happens "alot", and that there are some gym members that just don't get along. I still have a hard time believing that, but hey, I don't work there 6 to 8 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week like they do.

If you are involved in a conflict at the gym, the proper thing to do is to go get a staff member to report what is happening. Many gyms have surveillance cameras in place. Most of the ones in San Diego do. Don't be stupid and try to act all macho by handling a conflict at the gym on your own. Not unless you want to wind up in criminal court. Of course there will be people who are totally oblivous to common sense and will try and act all hard anyway. Go ahead. See where that gets you. If you think criminal court is bad, just wait until the victim you beat up shows the judge the surveillance video of you assaulting your adversary. Then the judge will order you to pay a large amount of money. They call that a settlement. No problem. If you won the lotto, just ignore the surveillance cameras when things turn argumentative and feel free to commence with the ass whoopin'. See you in court!

[DickHardman]

conflicts happen everywhere. it should be no surprise that a place were people on all kinds of steroids and supplements, with inflated egos and heightened insecurities congregate, will see its fair share of conflicts.....

however, i personally would not turn the issue of not being able to use a particular machine the exact moment i want into a "conflict". some people are perfectly fine with ruining their own day, that is there choice. single guy in your post sounds like a wanker who just cant stand not having his way.

when i have to stand in line at the bank it sucks, but that doesnt mean im going to try to walk to up the person at the front and beg them to let me in, and then go cry to the bank manager when the dude didnt let me cut in line.

[Norsun]

Originally Posted by DickHardman

when i have to stand in line at the bank it sucks, but that doesnt mean im going to try to walk to up the person at the front and beg them to let me in, and then go cry to the bank manager when the dude didnt let me cut in line.

How many times in your life have you seen someone walk up to a person in the front of a line at a bank and ask them if they could "cut in line"? What's that you say? You hear that once or twice every time you go to the bank? Yeah right. Good for you. Whatever your answer is I don't believe you. No one ever cuts in line at the bank. Bank guards wouldn't allow that nonsense.

You don't have much gym experience. If you did you'd know that the words "How many more sets do you have?" is code for "I want to work in either right now or when you are finished." You would know that 2 or 3 strangers sharing a machine together is commonplace. Especially in big cities.

Those words are part of our culture. As are the words, "Do you mind if I work in with you on this machine?" I hear those words EVERY TIME I GO TO THE GYM. But then I live 2 blocks from the beach in beautiful San Diego, a part of the world where working out is a lifestyle. People who live in highly desirable areas have to deal with a crowded gym at 6pm/quitting time.

Yep, standing in line sucks for someone like you who can't muster up the guts to ask someone if they'd allow you to work in with them on a machine. Not to mention all of the beautiful women that are passing you by all because you didn't have the guts to ask her if she'd let you work in with her.

Whatta man. Feel free to delete my account, fool.

[Mike Brewer]

Well, Dick can't delete your account, but maybe you're taking things a little personally?

Working in was always common courtesy where I've trained as well. It's not impatience or "cutting." It's just the way most gyms do business. I have never seen any problem with allowing someone to work in on a set, and it strikes me as odd that someone would.

[eXcessiveForce]

seems a bit of a strange situation.

If someone tells you they need 3 more minutes, back off and wait 3 minutes. It probably wasted more time to go get the attendant and go through all the hassle.

Some people are helpful some are not. As a former gym owner, I had relatively few incidents in my gym, but I'd probably have told the guy, "sorry about that" If you have additional problems in the future let me know.

If it was a pattern with the two guys, that I might talk to them and try to get them to be a bit more helpful. If the guy was full of complaints I might just not renew his membership.

I had one guy that wouldn't rerack his weights and worse leave weight on the bars so that's what I did, no renewal of membership,

[DickHardman]

Originally Posted by Norsun

How many times in your life have you seen someone walk up to a person in the front of a line at a bank and ask them if they could "cut in line"? What's that you say? You hear that once or twice every time you go to the bank? Yeah right. Good for you. Whatever your answer is I don't believe you. No one ever cuts in line at the bank. Bank guards wouldn't allow that nonsense.

You don't have much gym experience. If you did you'd know that the words "How many more sets do you have?" is code for "I want to work in either right now or when you are finished." You would know that 2 or 3 strangers sharing a machine together is commonplace. Especially in big cities.

Those words are part of our culture. As are the words, "Do you mind if I work in with you on this machine?" I hear those words EVERY TIME I GO TO THE GYM. But then I live 2 blocks from the beach in beautiful San Diego, a part of the world where working out is a lifestyle. People who live in highly desirable areas have to deal with a crowded gym at 6pm/quitting time.

Yep, standing in line sucks for someone like you who can't muster up the guts to ask someone if they'd allow you to work in with them on a machine. Not to mention all of the beautiful women that are passing you by all because you didn't have the guts to ask her if she'd let you work in with her.

Whatta man. Feel free to delete my account, fool.

well at least we know who "single guy" is now

hey just cause you didnt schedule your gym time appropriately and 2 guys that were already sharing one machine didnt want to let you in, it doesnt mean you have the right to push people off. just cause you are impatient and cant stand to not get what you want the moment you want it, it doesnt mean others share your impatience and bad attitude. if a machine you want is busy, the time you spend crying like a girl to management can be spent doing an alternative exercise.

[Mike Brewer]

Working in is not "pushing them off." It's sharingthe machine. It's allowing them to do what they were doing while you work into the sets between. You're not telling them to piss off and wait til you're done - you're just working in.

Dick, I have to say, if you're not willing to let a guy work in on a machine (especially if it's the only one at the gym), I think it's you that's rude. It's pretty common in every gym I've ever belonged to for people to be able to ask to work in. I don't see how you think it's a big deal, or how it's akin to "cutting in line."

[DickHardman]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Working in is not "pushing them off." It's sharingthe machine. It's allowing them to do what they were doing while you work into the sets between. You're not telling them to piss off and wait til you're done - you're just working in.

Dick, I have to say, if you're not willing to let a guy work in on a machine (especially if it's the only one at the gym), I think it's you that's rude. It's pretty common in every gym I've ever belonged to for people to be able to ask to work in. I don't see how you think it's a big deal, or how it's akin to "cutting in line."

yes its very common for people to ask to work in. its also common for people to deny when you ask. its your choice to make a big deal about it, and turn it into a "conflict". i myself would simply just choose to do a different exercise instead of wasting time i should be spending working out to go find a guy, complain to him, have him go talk to another party, etc..... ive been denied many times before when i wanted to work in with people, it wasnt a big deal at all. this guy trying to say he couldnt have gone away and done couple more sets of situps, or a few more pushups instead of wastning his already very limited time complaining??

[Mike Brewer]

I don't see how pushups would have helped him rehab a knee injury...

[DickHardman]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

I don't see how pushups would have helped him rehab a knee injury...

the point is he would have spent the remainder of his time exercising and getting stronger and healthier instead of wasting it complaining and moaning.