Fighting with "grunters" at the gym

[jaehwan]

I saw this entertaining article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/nyregion/29spin.html

I don't know. I think I actually side with the guy who beat up the grunter. Those people can get really annoying. When someone asks you to stop making stupid noises, you should stop.

[ellencho]

Oh man! I've wanted to do that a zillion times myself. I can't stand grunters at the gym. It's distracting and sounds ugly.

And I also hate the huge "clang!" sound that people make when they drop huge piles of weight at the machines. If you aren't strong enough to put the weight down slowly and quietly then train on lower weights until you can.

[SamuraiJack]

That's why most gyms have TVs or radios on. Everyone grunts when they work out, some louder than others... this guy probably grunted over the TV and radio noise.

[Speaker4TheDead]

And I also hate the huge "clang!" sound that people make when they drop huge piles of weight at the machines. If you aren't strong enough to put the weight down slowly and quietly then train on lower weights until you can.

Oh hell yeah. There's a buttload of those types at our gym, and it's annoying as fuck. Especially when it's all a pissing contest between meatheads who just want to "max out" or show-off how much they can lift.

What's funny is that in most cases, the morons aren't even lifting the weights properly.

[Liang]

That's why I always bring my iPod. But what's worse than the grunters are the motherfuckers who are drenched in sweat after like 10 situps. Then after they borrow my bench there is a fucking POOL on the headrest. Repulsive.

[jaehwan]

They're continuing to discuss it here:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/worked-up-about-workout-grunting/#comment-331628

It looks like there are a lot of people who agree with us.

And Liang is right. It's always the old, sweaty, out of shape dudes who war whoop the loudest and who drop the weights, as Ellen remarked. Sometimes I just want to say, "You give the gym a bad name, so please try to be invisible."

[nottyboy]

That's why I always bring my iPod. But what's worse than the grunters are the motherfuckers who are drenched in sweat after like 10 situps. Then after they borrow my bench there is a fucking POOL on the headrest. Repulsive.

I always carry two towels, just in case that happens. It doesn't bother me as much as people who are downright rank, though, as if they haven't washed their gym clothes in a month. Sometimes I have to stop my set, just so I can breathe somewhere else.

[elliott20]

now a days the work out experience is just as much a social event as going to a fucking club. You see it all the damn time. guys will go in, talk to their friends, then lift a little bit, all the while talking about how much weight they can lift with their dick, and try to shoot glances at the women.

the women, on the other hand, now instead of come in practical gym cloths, come in little outfits design to show off curves more than work out, they'd wear make up, and they try their best to show off their feathers.

It's like going to a bar but replacing the alcohol with protien shakes and gatorade.

[minbo]

Dropping weights is bad form, not only because it is disruptive and noisy, but can damage the facilities and equipment. As well, as has been mentioned, if you have to then you probably have bad form and/or were pushing yourself far enough outside your limits without a spotter to be very unsafe.

Not cleaning after yourself is nasty because it is unhygienic and just plain gross.

I do not condemn all "grunting" or exhalations made under physical stress when lifting weights. If you are close to your limit, which is the driving goal of many people who go to gyms, it happens. There is a difference between a forced noisy exhale due to physical exertion and excessive grunting for theatrical effects. Irregardless, this guy was not a "grunter", he was a yelling things like "Woohoo!' "Great song!" "Good burn!" and "You go girl!", which is beyond excessive grunting or dropping weights.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05282008/news/regionalnews/grunt_and_center_112895.htm

I think the best lesson of the story is not gym etiquette, but that if some guy starts asking "Please stop making so much noise" which is ignored, then escalates to shouting "Shut up" then proceeds to "Shut the fuck up" and ends with "Shut the fuck up or I'm getting off my bike", one should not respond "Don't be a baby, make me!" without a reasonable expectation that they might come over to try to make you.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08252007/news/regionalnews/psycho_spin_out.htm

[jaehwan]

If someone says, "Make me," does that imply consent? I guess there's no technical specification on how Carter would "make [him]" shut up, but it seems to me that there was some form of consent to take some course of action in the effort to "make" Sugarman stop grunting and hooting like a monkey.

If I were Carter's lawyer, that's the defense I would use. "Your honor, he told me to make him stfu!"

In any case, I think Carter was provoked. It may be wrong to physically assault someone, but there are definitely some extenuating circumstances that the jury needs to hear.

[evil_FUX]

If someone says, "Make me," does that imply consent? I guess there's no technical specification on how Carter would "make [him]" shut up, but it seems to me that there was some form of consent to take some course of action in the effort to "make" Sugarman stop grunting and hooting like a monkey.

If I were Carter's lawyer, that's the defense I would use. "Your honor, he told me to make him stfu!"

In any case, I think Carter was provoked. It may be wrong to physically assault someone, but there are definitely some extenuating circumstances that the jury needs to hear.

Haha that's inventive jaehwan. I don't think this guy has any kind of defense though. Unless I'm mistaken he'd have to disprove that he had the required intent.

On another note, it's al those reason that you people have mentioned that I think you all need to workout at home.