Thread: Am I the asshole here?

Originally Posted by meatneck71

Honestly dude, you HAVE every right to remove his towel if he walks off and starts working on a machine. If he comes back and asks why you removed his towel, just say, "Sorry bro, I thought you walked off and forgot your towel since I seen you started working out on that other machine. But if you don't mind, let's work out together so we can be both efficient and kick some ass this morning.." Something cheesy to put him off, but if he came back with attitude, tell him after you tell him the first part, you either are working out on this machine or that, or we're both working out together. Can't have it both ways. And just continue repping. We have so many of these pricks in our gym, whether it's female or male, mostly male, that superset and leave their bags at one machine while working on the other. Sorry, that's just poor etiquette. I'll usually ask them politely, "are you still working out here?" then proceed to ask how many sets you got left and wait impatiently around the machine or ask to work in. If they give attitude then I'll give it back. Douches gonna douche.

​Well, that's definitely cheesy lol but it's also very friendly and non-confrontational and would be very hard to say no to unless of course he is in fact a douche.

No, demanding other do what is right doesn't make you and asshole. You handled this better than I would have so good job.

You’re an asshole but not for this. JK. Dude you’re fine.

Originally Posted by Jozifp103

I just need to know if I'm the a-hole in this situation...

Ok so this happened friday morning at the gym. I had a bit of a late start so I was about 15 mins late getting to the gym. I managed to get through my workout fast and I was on my last workout which was T-Bar rows. Only problem is there's only one and there happens to be somebody on it. Totally fine, a bit frustrated as it's my last workout but I have no right to be angry with anyone. So I perch up nearby, make it clear that I'm waiting for that equipment without actually confronting him. Figure I'd just stand a reasonable distance and wait without lingering too close and being annoying. That awkward "Yes I'm waiting for this machine but I'm going to look in a different direction as to not seem like I'm being pushy." situation.

So he takes notice that I'm waiting. So far no words are spoken. No tension at this point.

Then he walks away but leaves his towel hanging from the machine. I didn't watch where he went but he was gone for about 2 mins. I grew impatient and went to remove his towel and use the machine. Just then he comes back and does another set. Then disappears. This time I watch him go to the cable machine and do a set of lateral pull-downs followed by a set of weak ass swinging pull-ups.

So now he's SUPER-SETTING 3 DIFFERENT MACHINES.

I think super-setting in the weight room is poor etiquette in itself unless there's an area for circuit training; let alone 3 machines. Not to mention he still takes an additional 30-45 second rest once he gets to the next machine. I'm sorry but if you're gonna super-set then your walk to the next machine is your break. You're already taking up enough time.

So now I'm officially running late and this guy has done 3 laps already and I haven't said a word. I begin to act visually impatient by staring at him in the mirror, shaking my head, and continuously checking my watch (normally I'm much more passive and this is uncharacteristic of me).

He's un-phased and finishes his set, leaves his towel and goes for another lap. At this point I'm done. I take his towel off, place it gently in a cubby which happens to be 3 feet away, load on some more weight , and begin a set. He comes back and the conversation goes as follows;

-BadGuy: "Hey was there a towel here when you started using this?"

Me: "Yea it's over in that cubby."

-Bad Guy: "It was on here because I was using this."

Me: "Sir, you are officially occupying 3 pieces of equipment at once. There's only one of these and I'm late for work. If you wouldn't mind me working in with you I'd appreciate it."

-Bad Guy: "All set bud, next time maybe wait for the person to be finished."

Me: "Again sir, you're super-setting which is already frowned upon. Not to mention you're doing it on 3 pieces of equipment at once which means you're occupying 3 pieces of equipment for 3 times as long as if you just used them individually. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that's poor etiquette. Not just gym etiquette, this logic applies anywhere. If there's things that multiple people want to use, have some awareness and try to be efficient so we can all do what we need to do."

-Bad Guy: "I'll tell you what, it's all yours." walks away frustrated and seemingly embarrassed as it's a quiet gym and people definitely overheard.

I know I could have done my rows on a different machine like cables or something....but I'm a man of routine and it pains me to break it. The t-bar rows are part of my routine and I'd rather wait then break routine.


Am I the asshole in this situation? Lay it on me I can take it.

Nope. I would've taken that machine a lot sooner than you did.

Super setting.. that's a different story. I super set. But I am also considerate about the people around me. Meaning. If someone jacks the machine, whatever. I'll figure something else out. Just dont high jack the squat rack on me. Usually if it's a important exercise, I leave my phone behind and, if someone wants to work in, by all means.

I like at the end how he thinks hes doing you a favour. I would've ignored him. Petty motherfucker

Originally Posted by Big Joe

I have some input about this situation.. first off at anytime that I feel a need to jump on equipment being used by someone super setting I always ask if I can jump in I dont want to be the asshole that jumped on a machine without waiting my turn ... also I myself enjoy super setting that's why I workout at 5am when nobody is around so I can jump to 3 diff pieces.. I keep my heart rate high during my workouts.. it's what I enjoy.. but u see the difference here is I would hv approached u and said if u want to jump in.. hope it makes sense been awake since 2am...lol

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

i agree with u on this brother,i train late aF bein that im a family man and usually my kids keep me busy (6 of them)so training around 9pm keeps the gym fairly empty so i can superset most of my workouts.but there has been times that theres other dudes there and if there in my way i normally ask if they mind me jumping in.usually after i say that they leave LOL.

On another note i dont think u came acrossed him wrong at all JOZ.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by balin

My 1 membership allows me to train on 1 piece of equipment at a time IMO. My rule is when you walk away to another machine it means you are done with the one you left. When I managed a gym I didn't have rule that you could dibs a machine. If you want a realistic answer, go to the gym manager and ask how many pieces of equipment a person can claim and control and kick people off of.

Agreed. I've honestly changed my workout hours just do to these losers in the gym. I go in about 8 or 9 at night when it's dead in there and I have the freedom to use whatever whenever. Less ass but I do my thing and get out of there

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I would have right away asked if I could jump in with him. Often they say they only have one more set and I can have it. Never have I been told no.

When he became testy you should not have called him sir. By doing that you are using a subservient vernacular. Being blunt and to the point let's the other person know you have authority in life and you are transitioning that authority to the conversation.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by AvidFisherman

I would have right away asked if I could jump in with him. Often they say they only have one more set and I can have it. Never have I been told no.

When he became testy you should not have called him sir. By doing that you are using a subservient vernacular. Being blunt and to the point let's the other person know you have authority in life and you are transitioning that authority to the conversation.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

Gotta disagree with the last part. Saying Sir doesn’t make you subservient. “Sir put your hands behind your back you’re under arrest.” Obviously the person saying Sir still maintained their authority.

I've done worse in the gym but reading this over I don't see an issue
You probably could have just spoken to him the first or second time and mentioned if you could work in and get a few sets out of the tbar station while hes doing something else
This also kind of triggered me a little bit, i dont know what it is but just about every gym I've been to the chest support tbar row machine or the regular tbar row setup every fucking gym only has one or TWO at the maximum
They are really that short in spending the money to add another one or expand? These are very large gyms with plenty of room but for some reason they'll have hundreds of cardio equipment but ask for another piece of equipment and its a NO!

I've actually had my position in the gym "stolen" before but tbh it was probably not right of me in the first place to mark my spot when i wont even be there for 15 minutes anyway

Brother he knew you wanted to use it. He should have said hey brother jump in and get you a set instead of hogging the mother fucker. Lol and he put that towel on the equipment like he owned it lol.