[Neo]

I had an interesting event happen to me about a week ago that surprised me in a few ways. Here's the story.

I do the starting strength program, and it's the day that I bench. I get to the gym and see that all the benches are taken. I look around and see one that has two ten pound weights on each side. I don't see anyone, so I ask this guy if anyone's on there and he says he hasn't seen anyone on it.

I go ahead, unrack the weight, and start warming up. I get through three warm up sets which took me a little more than five minutes. As I get up and put on more weight, this girl comes out of nowhere and starts yapping. I can see her out of the corner of my eye coming and I think nothing of it.

She says 'You took the weight off this bench right?'

'Yeah'

'Well I was using it.'

'I didn't see anyone here for while and there's a free one that just opened up over there that you can use.'

'No, take your weight off and put mine back on'

That comment and her tone of voice just made me enraged.

I had seen this girl at my gym before, she looked like she was in college or maybe her mid twenties, chubby blonde but not terrible looking. I also noticed that she would always talk with a few guys, who I assumed were her coworkers or classmates.

'No I'm staying right here, you can go use that bench over there.'

Now she started to really flip out.

'You don't know jack shit, blah blah blah' She was yelling loud. She grabs two ten pound weights and starts walking towards the free bench while muttering some shit I didn't understand. I seriously wondered if this girl had some sort of mental condition.

So then I see two of her supposed fanboys come over towards us cause they wanted to know what all the fuss is about. I'm thinking to myself, 'Shit I've never been in a fight at a gym, yet alone a group fight, this could be a first.'

I work out dolo, so I would have nobody to back me up if these guys decided they wanted to try to fuck me up. And these weren't some skinny beta types, these guys were pretty big.

So anyway she's still yelling at me and flipping out, then she starts to calm down while still talking to herself.

I'm about to forget about it and go back to my workout as one of the guys she knows comes up to me. I'm all expecting to have words with this guy because he's trying to be a white knight and all...

'I saw what happened, I should have told her to just shut the fuck up cause she could be a real bitch.'

'Dude let's be real here, she wasn't using this bench, and I don't understand what the fuck her problem is.'

'Not at all she was gone for like 10 minutes at least, she was completely wrong to start talking to you like that.'

I talk to him for a bit, finish out my workout and take off.

Two things:

1) Are things really getting so bad with the girls here that you got bitches like this flipping out while sober in public?

2) Are guys starting to wake up and realize that being a white knight and protecting women when they behave poorly is pointless?

[polymath]

1) Fat women don't know how to act.

2) The girl was clearly in the wrong. The fact that the guys were big was actually a good thing, since they probably lift enough to know gym etiquette.

I remember once I was deadlifting at a squat rack on the ground floor of a multimillion-dollar gym at a state school, and after my set a little girl from the gym staff came over and said "can you not drop the weights like that?" I gave her an aggressive expression because I had just pulled like 400lbs and I was a little dizzy, and she smiled fearfully and said "our floor can't take the weight."

I could have explained that I wasn't dropping the weights, and that I'm working on a 3" thick rubber-and-plywood mat on the ground floor of the gym, and that it's called a deadlift because the weight is supposed to be dead before and after the lift. Instead, I just nodded. She left, and I ignored her request on the next set.

Maybe she was worried about earthquakes.

[Runnin]

Such things can really suck. It is always the average looking women who have these issues, never the beautiful looking ones. You were not in the wrong and nice to see that a lot of men out there have some sense. The girl was just looking for attention.

[Hannibal]

It's probably because the free weights in the gym are the men's domain. You don't see too many guys being dipshits about who takes what bench press station where because it's not that big of a deal. We are much better at ignoring our emotions for diplomatic reasons, mostly because if we say something stupid (like "I'm gonna kick your ass"), we might actually have to put our money where our mouth is.

Maybe the guys in the gym you were talking about realize that if women start to act like men, they can get treated like them, too.

Oh, and she wasn't hot enough for them to white knight for her. The guys who work out (in general) have better options than the guys who don't. I'm not trying to say that muscle is a replacement for game, but the fact that it boosts most of your secondary sex characteristic means that it will probably make you more attractive to the ladies. I know there's a lot of guys who shit on muscle game, but it does lower the threshhold for a man's game if he makes his target look effeminate by comparison.

[el mechanico]

"She says 'You took the weight off this bench right?'"

You say....
Daaaaaaaaang!!! There's enough of my phone number to go around for YOU and all your girls. Relax. I'll get it to you go play with the girl weights. I saw some pink colored ones over there....

"I'm about to forget about it and go back to my workout as one of the guys she knows comes up to me. I'm all expecting to have words with this guy because he's trying to be a white knight and all'

You talk first.
What's up?
He: Takes frame hot or cold
You if hot: We're going to fight now ok?
You if cold: No problems

[MikeCF]

When walking on the sidewalk, more women have begun walking into my "lane." It's a very territorial, aggressive move that few guys even do. These "women" expect me to, "Move, bitch, get out the way."

I've shoulder checked the fuck out of a few.

If you want to get a feel for how "American women" are going to behave, look at how black women behave.

Black women will not move to let you by. They are fat and will walk in groups of 2 or 3, hogging the sidewalk. You must push them aside to walk past them.

Soon enough, that will be all women.

[Tuthmosis]

(08-06-2012 07:19 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

When walking on the sidewalk, more women have begun walking into my "lane." It's a very territorial, aggressive move that few guys even do. These "women" expect me to, "Move, bitch, get out the way."

I've shoulder checked the fuck out of a few.

If you want to get a feel for how "American women" are going to behave, look at how black women behave.

Black women will not move to let you by. They are fat and will walk in groups of 2 or 3, hogging the sidewalk. You must push them aside to walk past them.

Soon enough, that will be all women.

I've written about this shit around here before. More and more bitches are playing chicken with you on the sidewalk than ever. They expect you to move because other wimps do. The sluttier they're dressed they are, the bigger their strut. Guys will shimmy out of each other's way, even alpha-looking big dudes.

Needless to say, I just stay the course. I tighten the delts and remind them who's the fucking boss. I've had so many chicks bounce off of me it's hilarious.

[Gmac]

I put a bitch in her place yesterday. She was trying to police the pool by telling me I couldn't swim where she was and that I had to wait my turn to swim at all (it was open lanes and adult swim - she was slow as fuck). I just smiled at her the whole time and kept it up... this went on for about 10 minutes everytime I'd do a length (just chillin'). Some older woman (who was crazy and maybe hitting on me?), a foreigner that looked to be from EE, thought it was just as hilarious. The girl eventually flipped out on me saying "I waited here and you have to too!" I don't want some random asshole kicking me in the stomach. Stop it."

I just laughed at her, "Not a chance pool nazi."

I don't think the tide is turning though. I'm afraid it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

[Maximus]

I think you were in the wrong. If someone used that bench and there were weights left and asked you to give it back, you do. Thats the etiquette. If I go to the bathroom and I return, I do expect the person to remove their weight when if I was using the bench.

[Roosh]

(08-06-2012 07:19 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

When walking on the sidewalk, more women have begun walking into my "lane." It's a very territorial, aggressive move that few guys even do. These "women" expect me to, "Move, bitch, get out the way."

I've shoulder checked the fuck out of a few.

If you want to get a feel for how "American women" are going to behave, look at how black women behave.

Black women will not move to let you by. They are fat and will walk in groups of 2 or 3, hogging the sidewalk. You must push them aside to walk past them.

Soon enough, that will be all women.

Hah I don't play games with this. If there is a girl approaching, I do not move. I stare straight ahead and maintain my gait.

What I notice is that most girls move at the very last millisecond. It's a game of chicken, really. I had the biggest problem with this in Argentina, oddly enough.

[Roosh]

(08-06-2012 08:17 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I think you were in the wrong. If someone used that bench and there were weights left and asked you to give it back, you do. Thats the etiquette.

Says who? If you're in a bodybuilding gym and doing 5 minute rests because you want to do your 1-rep max, okay, but if you're dicking around and going to the bathroom in the middle of an exercise then you relinquished the machine and probably shouldn't be in the gym in the first place. If you use a machine you stay next to it.

[Maximus]

(08-06-2012 08:21 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

(08-06-2012 08:17 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I think you were in the wrong. If someone used that bench and there were weights left and asked you to give it back, you do. Thats the etiquette.

Says who? If you're in a bodybuilding gym and doing 5 minute rests because you want to do your 1-rep max, okay, but if you're dicking around and going to the bathroom in the middle of an exercise then you relinquished the machine and probably shouldn't be in the gym in the first place. If you use a machine you stay next to it.

There is nothing official, but to me the etiquette is that you relinquish the bench if someone returns. That being said, I do use benches that have weights left on it but no one on. Usually no one claims, but if they do, I give it up because it was their set. I know that if I was squatting and went to get water and someone took the rack I wouldn't like it because I'm not waiting for one of the few racks to open up again.

I'm betting good money if this was a big dude who came back or a real hot girl, he would give up the bench. He thought he could punk a chubby girl so thats why he didn't give it up.

[j r]

(08-06-2012 08:25 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I'm betting good money if this was a big dude who came back or a real hot girl, he would give up the bench. He thought he could punk a chubby girl so thats why he didn't give it up.

Those are pretty big assumptions to make. On what are you basing them?

[Enfant_Terrible]

@Maximus

...and chances are that big dude or the OP would initiate to work something out without drama.

This is has been consistent with me at any gym I've worked out.

[Gmac]

(08-06-2012 08:17 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I think you were in the wrong. If someone used that bench and there were weights left and asked you to give it back, you do. Thats the etiquette. If I go to the bathroom and I return, I do expect the person to remove their weight when if I was using the bench.

Never in my life have I ever seen this or expected it at a gym. The moment you leave a piece of equipment you should expect to have to add or remove weight once someone else starts using it. No one's name is on the equipment, and it's not like they said anything to anyone. You can't reserve what's open to everyone.

Welcome to Earth.

[Newb#3]

(08-06-2012 06:34 PM)polymath Wrote:  

The fact that the guys were big was actually a good thing, since they probably lift enough to know gym etiquette.

good point here

the longer you've been in the gym the more you start to notice that the bigger guys are usually the cooler ones. more likely to be understanding and cooperate

[Maximus]

(08-06-2012 08:35 PM)j r Wrote:  

(08-06-2012 08:25 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I'm betting good money if this was a big dude who came back or a real hot girl, he would give up the bench. He thought he could punk a chubby girl so thats why he didn't give it up.

Those are pretty big assumptions to make. On what are you basing them?

Well the fact that he mentioned her friends were bigger than him which means he isn't probably bigger and the fact that he mentioned that he was worried that he could get beat up by those dudes. In my time at a gym, I have never seen a big guy return and the other person not relinquish it. I guarantee if that was Ronnie Coleman asking for it back, he gives it back. But in this case its a chubby girl so hes not worried about her.

[MikeCF]

(08-06-2012 08:25 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

There is nothing official, but to me the etiquette is that you relinquish the bench if someone returns.

No. You "work in."

Here is a conversation had many times by men who lift:

"I was on that."
"Oh, my bad. Mind if I work in?"
"Sure."

Or, what I actually do:

"Hey, man, I was on that. But you're welcome to work in."

Pretty simple way to avoid gym drama, and it works 100% (when dealing with men, anyway).

[Maximus]

(08-06-2012 08:47 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

(08-06-2012 08:25 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

There is nothing official, but to me the etiquette is that you relinquish the bench if someone returns.

No. You "work in."

Here is a conversation had many times by men who lift:

"I was on that."
"Oh, my bad. Mind if I work in?"
"Sure."

Or, what I actually do:

"Hey, man, I was on that. But you're welcome to work in."

Pretty simple way to avoid gym drama, and it works 100% (when dealing with men, anyway).

I agree thats what I usually do. But I doubt the OP was thinking about letting her work in.

[j r]

(08-06-2012 08:43 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

(08-06-2012 08:35 PM)j r Wrote:  

(08-06-2012 08:25 PM)Maximus Wrote:  

I'm betting good money if this was a big dude who came back or a real hot girl, he would give up the bench. He thought he could punk a chubby girl so thats why he didn't give it up.

Those are pretty big assumptions to make. On what are you basing them?

Well the fact that he mentioned her friends were bigger than him which means he isn't probably bigger and the fact that he mentioned that he was worried that he could get beat up by those dudes. In my time at a gym, I have never seen a big guy return and the other person not relinquish it. I guarantee if that was Ronnie Coleman asking for it back, he gives it back. But in this case its a chubby girl so hes not worried about her.

And yet her friends were on his side. That should settle it right there.

[Maximus]

(08-06-2012 08:50 PM)j r Wrote:  

And yet her friends were on his side. That should settle it right there.

I didn't say she wasn't in the wrong. She acted like a cunt, but both were wrong. He should have asked her if he could use the weight, and she should have politely told him that she was using rather than throwing a childish temper tantrum.

[Tuthmosis]

Same scenario.

Tuthmosis: You should really learn some gym etiquette. This isn't your personal exercise room. Go ask up front.

Just ruined her week without losing my temper.

[el mechanico]

(08-06-2012 08:56 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

Same scenario.

Tuthmosis: You should really learn some gym etiquette. This isn't your personal exercise room. Go ask up front.

Just ruined her week without losing my temper.

That wouldn't work here. You have to be a dick nobody cares about the front desk. It's on until the cops come always so go for the gold or silver at least

[mistermister]

(08-06-2012 05:32 PM)Neo Wrote:  

'No, take your weight off and put mine back on'

that's all the way fucked up.

one of you should have offered to work in.

[Screwston]