Thread: Am I the asshole here?

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.

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.

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

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