Phase two of “appropriate behavior at the gym: the do’s and don’ts, according to a guy with an opinion about anything and everything”

 
2. Don’t: Don’t just jump on a piece of equipment and think it is open
 -There are two scenarios where this applies: the first scenario is simply just not asking to work in on a set. I can’t tell you how many times I will be standing two feet away from the machine or bench that I am using and someone will just come up and start doing sets on it, like nobody’s business. And then to make matters worse they just sit there when they are done like you were never really there. Finally when you let them know that you were using it they respond, “oh…well you can work in if you want.” NO, NO, NO, that is not how it works. You can in fact work in with me and go at my pace. I know it may sound selfish but what it really boils down to is once again a lack of common respect and social understanding. Everyone uses the equipment at the gym that is why they are there. So given this blatantly obvious fact, it should naturally occur to people to maybe survey the situation just a little before they jump on a machine – ten extra seconds of their time is all that is really needed. It is not very hard to see that the person standing right by the machine that you are about to use, might in fact be using it at this current moment. It is like the guy at the club or bar that immediately approaches the girl at the table before realizing that she has a 250 pound line backer boyfriend named Lazer who was getting her a beer and who doesn’t like people rudely invading his space. This in turn brings me to scenario number two: not asking people if they are done with the machine.

 People do in fact go to the drinking fountain or walk around to circulate the blood in between sets. And if you are waiting for the machine and you see them leave it, why don’t you just ask if they are done using it before you hop on it? What’s the worst that could happen, they say no? People are not going to get frustrated or upset at you if you simply ask, but they are going to get annoyed and peeved when you just butt in on their sets without asking. You know why, because now you are putting them into a socially awkward situation, where they have to confront you to do something that they were already engaged in. Now there is a disclaimer on this one: if you leave your machine or equipment for a long period of time, you cannot be upset if someone does in fact jump on it. But that is a whole different topic. You have essentially at this point turned something very simple into an unnecessary, complex, psychological interaction which often times creates uneasiness and aggravated or agitated behavior. When you go to the gym you should feel at ease and comfortable in your surroundings, as should those around you and hopping on a machine when it is not yours to hop on and without asking first completely negates this level of ease.
 2. Do: Survey and ASK
 -The biggest “do” in this scenario is a truly obvious one: be observant. As a human being living in a world where technically, you are never completely 100% secure in anything you might do, you should be somewhat good at surveying your surroundings. Look around, do you see someone hovering close by the equipment you want to use; is there a towel or a set of keys or a water bottle right there as well? If there is simply just wait a second and see if anyone comes back in the next couple of minutes and if not, go ahead and start using the machine. If someone happens to come back it’s no big deal. Simply excuse yourself and let them know that you did not think anyone was on it because no-one was around. Then just see if they mind if you work in with them. It’s a very simple system of social exchange, yet it is amazing to me to see all of the different people that completely ignore it altogether. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if you can work in with them. In most situations they will need to take a break in between sets and that should be more than ample time for you to get a set in. This also revolves around simple patience. Wait a couple seconds before just jumping on that machine or grabbing those weights, if it looks like someone is using them. If you don’t have a second to waste or you absolutely don’t want to work in with someone, go use another machine and if that doesn’t work then simply chill out on the ephedrine because you are getting a little too crazy.