Going to the gym is already difficult enough.
The last thing anyone needs is rude behavior.
Why can’t people share more?
It’s one of the first things we’re taught as children.
Right?
Case in point…
Redditor notdealingwithurbs wanted to discuss her story for some feedback. So naturally she came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
She asked:
“AITA for snitching on a gym machine hog?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I’ve recently joined this local new gym that I love because it’s large, has great amenities, and it’s clean since it’s new.”
“However, I don’t care for the atmosphere.”
“I’m a young female adult and I’ve found that the ones who hog equipment are the ‘bodybuilders.'”
“This one guy put his duffle gym bag on a sitting weight machine which was a machine I wanted to use.”
“And I figured whoever’s bag it was would return so I waited 5 minutes and no one came back.”
“So I put the bag on the floor and used the machine.”
“He walked over from using another machine and told me he was using it saying he’ll let me use it if I give him my number.”
“I told him no and he asked me to move since his stuff was there.”
“Which meant it was taken and that I touched his personal belongings which is trespassing.”
“I refused to move until I was done since I told him he wasn’t actively there using it.”
“I only wanted to do 50 reps on the machine which would take me about 4 minutes.”
“He then belittled me saying I can’t do the weight he had it set to and I did yet he’s a ‘bodybuilder.'”
“He wasn’t even between sets he was using another machine.”
“He got loud calling me a *itch saying that I’m acting like an entitled brat when his stuff was there.”
“After I was done I left and went to the front desk telling them he was hogging the machine and walked them to the person.”
“When we went over to him he was changing into his workout clothes on the weight chair machine and we have a full locker room.”
“They told him he needs to put his bag in the locker if he doesn’t want anyone touching his stuff.”
“He called me a snitching *itch.”
“AITA?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA?:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Redditors declared our OP was NOT the A**hole.
It’s a tricky situation.
Let’s hear some thoughts…
“NTA because he was using machines as storage and harassing you while you were just trying to do your workout.”
“People can carry their stuff around at the gym.
“Some people don’t trust lockers for various reasons, but don’t leave it on equipment you aren’t using or where people can trip.” ~ _Sniffin_
“Talk about a sense of entitlement to hog the machine with your gym bag so nobody else can use it.”
“And then have the audacity to ‘allow’ OP to use it if she gives him her number.”
“As if he’s now the boss of the machine and in a position to give ultimatums.”
“That guy > massive bag of a**holes.” ~ Academic_Snow_7680
“I carry my little bag with me all through the gym.”
“It’s only a tiny thing so I can have a towel, deodorant and I stick my car keys and purse in there.”
“But I don’t go leaving it on machines I’m not using and then harass other people.”
“Like Jesus, OP you did nothing wrong he was being a fool. NTA.” ~ CaptainShortA**OG
“I’m a bodybuilder who uses weight machines daily and do supersets with different machines.”
“However, if someone else wants to use the machine I’m using, I make it clear that I’m willing to let them work in between sets and share the machine.”
“It’s not my personal machine, it’s the gym’s, and it’s meant to be used by everyone.”
“I don’t use them to ask for gym members’ numbers, that’s just creepy.”
“Nor do I belittle other members for not being able to lift as much, that’s an AH move. NTA.” ~ anm313
“NTA. Pretty sick of these gym bros making it hard for others to work out.”
“Good for reporting him.” ~ sugarintheboots
“There’s no calling dibs on equipment you’re not actively using.”
“He crossed the line trying to hold the machine hostage for your number.”
“He crossed the line again when he called you a *itch.”
“People like that guy hope people will be intimidated and adhere to some sort of unspoken and nonexistent ‘gym rules’ out of deference to what they think they are.”
“You didn’t even snitch, you just reminded him that the gym doesn’t belong to him. NTA.” ~ printneptune
“NTA. You don’t get to call dibs on machines with your stuff when you’re somewhere else, ‘bodybuilder’ or not.”
“Unless there’s a signup board, but doesn’t sound like there is here.” ~ epithet_grey
“NTA of course. You pay to use the gym.”
“You can’t plop **it down and tie up multiple machines to make your workout more convenient.”
“Only a complete piece of trash does that.” ~ LetMeTellThee
“You shouldn’t have reported him for ‘hogging a machine,’ you should have reported him for harassment and intimidation.”
“Seriously, the switching between insults and asking for your number.”
“And calling you a *itch when he doesn’t get his way?”
“This man was either not raised right from the get-go or he’s got a serious case of ‘roid rage.” ~ hbtfdrckbck
“Ah, an entitled gym bro, truly the finest of God’s a**holes.”
“First, NTA, second, I don’t know how familiar you are with gym etiquette, but for virtually every gym I’ve ever been in you aren’t using a machine unless you’re on it.”
“Resting between sets or changing the weight.”
“You did nothing wrong.” ~ TerrisKagi
“NTA I’ve dealt with people like this.”
“This ‘super setting’ thing is bulls**t.”
“I don’t care what you call it, I don’t care how many of your belongs you put on a machine.”
“Unless you are in the machine you aren’t using it and anyone can use it.”
“I will move your stuff and I have every right to.” ~ hoennhorizon
“NTA.”
“Did you also tell them he harassed you and told them you could only use the machine, if you gave them his number and then called you a *itch?”
“You also need to report him again, for calling you a bitch a second time?”
“Now he is just being abusive.”
“Report him and say that you think there should be consequences for him harassing you twice.” ~ KarenMaca
“NTA. I’ve worked at multiple gyms and the name calling would have resulted in revoking his membership.”
“He’s the A.” ~ JicamaImportant1394
“NTA, poor gym etiquette by this guy.”
“I’m a guy that works out 5 days a week and this is just a big douche move.”
“If anything, he got what he deserved and maybe they will revoke his membership.” ~ ReelChill26
“NTA.”
“As a ‘gym junkie’ one of my biggest pet peeves is machine hogs especially in a small gym and will happily have a go at any.”
“I’m here to workout and leave not sit around for half an hour waiting.”
“Eff his ego.” ~ Goodsie4
“NTA. NTA. NTA.”
“I go to the gym frequently and the amount of times I’ve started using a machine and had an a**hole come half way across the gym saying ‘they were using it’ is too much to count f**k that dude.” ~ arfva
“NTA. I hate it when someone tries to ‘reserve’ one piece of equipment while they’re using another.”
“Taking this guy’s attitude to its logical conclusion, you could bring a bunch of bags to the gym, turn up 5 minutes before him, and ‘reserve’ the whole damn lot for the rest of the day.”
“Good for you for sticking up for yourself.” ~ KrtekJim
“NTA. Wow, what a d-bag.”
“As a body builder, I hate these machine hogs who either socialize for 45 minutes while hogging the sole machine in the gym and not allowing anyone to use it when they’re ‘still using it.'”
“And then having the audacity to state that he’ll let you use it if you give him your number.”
“I hate these types of people when I’m at the gym, get out of the way and let people be.”
“Now, I have used a set of dumbbells with a machine and will superset back and forth but when someone asks me if I’m using the machine I tell them ‘Yes, but we can switch back and forth.'”
“Unless they turn me down since they want to use it themselves, they then just wait for me to finish.” ~ jaynvius
“NTA in the slightest.”
“The people, half the time, are the worst part about going to the gym.”
“So many people do crap like that and just not putting their weights back once they are finished.”
“Good on you for calling him out!” ~ Crocky1
OP it sounds like you’re in the clear.
Rude is rude.
This is why people avoid the gym.
Keep going strong OP.
No one is going to mess with you.