The biggest people at the gym are usually the least rude; it's the insecure, out-of-shape ones who act tough for no reason. amirite?

I disagree. Out of shape people are embarrassed a lot of time and don't want people to really notice them being there (I was one). The worst people in the gym are the random trade (I'm assuming) guys who show up every 2 months in jeans. Tries to ego lift 1 set on bench and don't re rack the weights. Or the group of 17 year olds that show up in packs of 4 to 6 guys that take over bench, squat rack, etc.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I could talk for hours about people who train ineffectively I genuinely love when you see a person who's trained terribly for 30 years and actually built a semi decent physique There's this one older guy who puts his entire body weight into hammer curls with a set of 80's (he prob weighs 160 lol) but damn if he doesn't have some decent biceps Survivorship bias in real life!

by dinoabshire 1 week ago

I mean.. that's a weird af workout but how is that rude? Also how do you even know that? Are you watching people and memorizing their whole workout plan?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Oh I see. Fair point.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Or the group of 17 year olds that show up in packs of 4 to 6 guys that take over bench, squat rack, etc. Honestly, if they only take up one rack, I'm kinda ok with that. Obviously they'll be busy for a while, but imagine if they cook 4-6 pieces of equipment.

by deron02 1 week ago

I don't know man. I can get in line if it's one person. But more than 3 on the same equipment you will be sitting there for 30 minutes it seems like.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Most commercial gyms don't have many racks, so during evening rush hour it can be annoying.

by mikeschroeder 1 week ago

I timed it over the course of a week once. I spent 121 minutes waiting for equipment. That's over 8 hours a month waiting for equipment at the gym. The combined time cost and monthly fees were enough to convince my wife to get on board with me building a home gym.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Most of the time they're just chilling though

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is simply not true. The majority of people at the gym are extremely courteous and supportive of each other. The jerks are few and far between....

by NoTadpole7873 1 week ago

Yup. And in my life experience the jerks are jerks whether they're jacked or not. Same in any other walk of life. Rich/poor, black/white, men/women, fat/thin, old/young, jerks will always find a way to be jerks and decent people will find a way to be decent. Caveat that we all have our off-days and misunderstandings, and even jerks can be nice people when it suits them.

by Dickileta 1 week ago

I completely agree with this. I find zero correlation in the gym between someone's body type (or races or gender) and their manners in the gym.

by Majestic-One 1 week ago

I agree. Gym people really are the best people. Very rare not to see someone who is supportive of anyone who is working on self improvement.

by Brice61 1 week ago

Definitely. I have been going to various gyms for the last 30+ years and really can't think many people who were jerks. Most are off in their own little world - like myself.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is the truth.

by Ramona83 1 week ago

My experience as well

by Feillemuel 1 week ago

The jerks go every night though because every morning when I hit the gym they left their weights on various bars and machines. Sometimes it's actually convenient, my warm up weight is already there... But they deserve to be slapped behind the head.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've worked at a gym and you're wrong. The big dudes are the ones making all the noise. Dropping weights where ever and not reracking.

by Neat-Cartoonist 1 week ago

My first serious relationship was with a big buff bodybuilder and honestly he's still one of the nicest humans ever. I was so surprised to learn someone who looks like a Greek statue can have insecurities but getting to know him closely over the years, his perception was that basically people were 50-50 split between either awkwardly avoiding him because they assume he's an arrogant meathead, or they are interested in hooking up and pretend to be super friendly. I kinda agreed with him that it was really hard for him to make genuine and lasting connections. Ultimately we didn't last mainly because he spent all his waking hours revolving around his gym lifestyle and I was busy with an engineering career and we basically had no overlap of interests. However, it was still a valuable lesson about how people are judged by their appearances.

by Majestic-One 1 week ago

People being rude at the gym isn't anywhere near as common as people think. Videos of people being rude at the gym have skewed non gym goers perception.

by Economy_Dependent609 1 week ago

Ehhh YMMV those guys also are some of the most peacock, weight hoarding, yellers for no reason

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yeah. Not all of the big dudes are d-bags, but the biggest d-bag in my gym is a juiced up meathead. Playing music on a speaker, yelling all the time, always lifting directly in front of the dumbbell rack, always taking off his shirt (against the rules) and strutting around, saw him piss in the parking lot one time next to his lifted pickup, he's literally all the things. He seems kinda friendly with a decent amount of people but I think it's more peacocking than truly friendly behavior.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Does he skip leg day?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

It's funny how this never skip leg day nonsense is always parroted by people who never squatted in their life.

by Zealousideal-Egg6518 6 days ago

Never said he did or didn't. Just asked.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Sorry, didn't mean you in this case, more about what i noticed IRL quite a few times.

by Zealousideal-Egg6518 6 days ago

No worries.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I dated a gym bro. He was one of the most self absorbed people I've ever dated.

by Temporary_Total_4245 6 days ago

Am I old? What does YMMV mean?

by Objective_Sink1366 6 days ago

Lol no. It means your mileage may vary. I had to look it up after seeing it several times 🤣

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I find your statement humorous bc it's an acronym that has been used online since at least as far back as the early 2000s, which isn't super long ago in lifespans but is in internet culture

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Your Mileage May Vary

by mack61 6 days ago

It's very very old internet slang, only old people know about it.

by Altruistic-Pace 6 days ago

Nah big guys can be just as rude because no one wants to step up to them. All of the worst things at my gym are frequently done by the biggest guys (all bald roided midlife meatheads). Admittedly it is a small number of the same guys but they are obvious and repeat offenders Sreaming loudly, smashing weights on the floor, playing music out loud on speakers, using all the plates and then not cleaning them up, parking in the fire lane next to the door, parking in the handicapped spots next to the door, parking in the spots reserved for the emergency health clinic, using 4+ pieces of equipment at once (bench, leg press, smith machine, dumbells, etc), yelling at themselves to psyche up before a lift, using smelling salts and then screaming, etc.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I agree. The biggest / most fit people are the ones that have the most self-discipline. They usually keep to themselves and look menacing, but in reality are the nicest people ever. It's the ego-validation chasers that are the toxic ones.

by Alexander92 6 days ago

I've only ever encountered one rude person at my gym, but he was like on a whole different level. He would come in demanding certain equipment and rooms be saved for him and yell at the staff to put on his own obnoxious soundtrack instead of whatever was playing. He was much older but also weirdly always came in with this high school age boy who was clearly not related to him…it was beyond strange. I found out later after he was eventually banned that he was the gym owner's attorney (surprise), thus the entitlement and that he did a lot of steroids and was unpleasant when on them. Otherwise I never experienced anything but politeness or just being ignored by anyone else.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I have almost never had any problems at the gym. The ones I have had have been extremely minor. Like someone setting their phone or bag on a bench, using 3 or 4 machines at once or not putting weights up. I have been going for well over 20 years.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

The roided out ones are also rude due to them being insecure. So you gotta watch out for that. In general I think most of the younger people at the gym are rude, regardless of strength. Just from personal experience

by Anonymous 6 days ago

This isn't an opinion or unpopular

by CalmCandidate2897 6 days ago

Steve why don't you explain to me how this is not an opinion. An opinion is a belief not necessarily held in fact. My opinion is that jacked people are less rude then less experienced people at the gym. Enlighten me how this is not an opinion.

by Objective_Sink1366 6 days ago

It's an observation.

by CalmCandidate2897 6 days ago

I think it's not the "type" it's just people in general. I've seen all sizes and shapes be polite or douchy. thankfully most people are polite and respectful.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

just like Rich people and poor people. you put your life at risk in poor neighborhoods vs rich neighborhoods

by gabe15 6 days ago

Well exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands.

by Beneficial_Ask4679 6 days ago

From my own personal experience, this is very much not true. It's the buff dudes who record themselves and take mirror selfies that are rude. It's the out of shape people that don't want to be noticed and keep to themselves. The rude ones are few and far between but they are almost always the buff dudes who need constant validation and attention.

by Powlowskialena 6 days ago

What type of gladiator school do you work out at? Good grief.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

They usually don't have the time for it.

by Romanhilpert 6 days ago

Ok but what if youre big AND out of shape, does it cancel out to a normie?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Yes Source: it me

by Anonymous 6 days ago

What were the 'right things' to look for btw?

by Dull-Elephant1580 6 days ago

one thing i learned while being friends with a professional body builder is, they are too tired and sore to kick your ass.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

My fear is someone attacking me after leg day or a few days after leg day. I'd be so useless.

by Objective_Sink1366 6 days ago

I never had anyone who was just starting be rude to me but the muscle men are always glaring and putting their stuff on several machines and grunt like enraged monkeys if u dare to use it

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Yup, that's true.

by Conroyrocio 6 days ago

Doesn't mean anything. All for ego.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

They've still got something to prove.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Naw, it's the professional athletes and the influencers that are rude.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I agree that most people are pretty courteous at the gym. I personally don't want anyone talking to me at all when I'm working out. I don't want to answer questions and I definitely don't want any advice etc. I can understand people getting frustrated when being approached.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Telling someone you just started isn't rude. lol

by Anonymous 6 days ago

By itself no it's not rude you're right. The person usually doesn't just say that there's usually a very tense air that accompanies it or in the cases I mentioned usually has an attitude. I just started also doesn't answer the question. Typically people are done with equipment between 3-4 sets. That gives a little bit of an idea how long the person will take, so someone can go around and come back in like 4 sets.

by Objective_Sink1366 6 days ago

I don't know if being in shape or out of shape is the decider of gym etiquette - imo it's just whoever is the most hopped up on testosterone or steroids, which can be anyone. Also other kinds of gym people who are rude in less aggressive ways.

by Drewschmeler 6 days ago

Lol do y'all be going to the Sprit airways of gyms or something? I don't remember if I've ever met a verbally rude person at the gym. Everybody is just minding their own business with their headphones in.

by Puzzled_Concept_9271 6 days ago

I have think it's a mix. The grunters are usually jacked dudes. I hate grunters

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I feel like the biggest douchebags are usually the intermediate lifters with 1-3 years experience. It's the skinny fat guy that put on a little muscle and now thinks he's the next Chris Bumstead. They still don't know what they're doing, but have just enough results to be over confident.

by Delicious-Opinion625 6 days ago

I disagree. Walking up to a stranger and asking them how much they've done is rude, and a lot of people only ask that to the ones who are visibly fat. They are not obligated to be nice to you in those situations.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Not my experience in 8+ yrs of regular gym attendance. At private/commercial alike, the biggest people are usually just the ones who push the envelope the most with steroid usage and train like total morons, taking up multiple machines and benches at once. Then they get insanely loud with their clique and have a chip on their shoulder.

by Intrepid-Sir 6 days ago

I don't think jerk behavior has anything to do with physique. An asshole who is in shape is no less of an asshole than one who isn't.

by No-Lengthiness 6 days ago

Only to an extent. I'll gladly spot you or answer a quick question, but I'm not going to be your personal trainer. I'm not messing up my set timing cause you're clueless and/or talkative.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I used to go to a notorious(maybe too strong of a word) powerlifting gym that was near me in Chicago. I was not in super shape. I was surprised how nice and helpful all the huge men and women there were to me.

by Odd_Habit 6 days ago

I started seeing a personal trainer back in November and I have been pleasantly surprised how nice people have been. I've always felt bad at the gym because like I'm just barely into an obese BMI (5'2" 162lbs.), so I waver between feeling like I'm thin enough the heavier people think I have no business being there taking up space from people who need it, and heavy enough the thinner people think I'm such a lard butt and getting in the way of the people who will actually stick with it.

by mack61 6 days ago

I think you take things too personally or are projecting or just whatever if you're getting passive aggression from "I just started."

by Fit_Sherbert 6 days ago

I've never experienced anyone being rude in the gym unless you count someone kind of hogging a machine but that happens.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I have been going to the gym for 15 years and have never had a negative experience with another person.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Not necessarily, I've met rude jacked guys at the gym and nice fat people at the gym. People are still people in the gym and out of the gym.

by Far-Departure-8424 6 days ago

It's all just anecdotes and stereotypes. I've seen assholes who were fit and not so fit. Assholedom is not based on physical fitness. I've only seen like one or two jerks at the gym, for the most part, it's just people after work trying to get their sets done and minding their own business.

by Flatleycedrick 6 days ago

Started the gym in september, only had one bad interaction and it was with a group of 3 obnoxious big guys who were rude to everybody around them. I know my experience doesn't represent reality as a whole but I'll share it anyway.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

It varies depending on where you live.

by Friendly_Fun_1185 6 days ago

Not true in the old days where I worked out in a local Toronto Y....the big guys would yell at anyone talking or messing around, wasting time or distracting them from their lifts.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Or you're just generalizing people based on a few interactions

by Anonymous 6 days ago

In my experience it's the people with all the overmatched gear and unnecessary accessories. Not in the best shape. They are there to be seen. Especially in groups, hogging machines. Talking loud etc. I turn up my headphones.

by Wittingtristian 6 days ago

Not from my experience..

by binsjustyn 6 days ago

I would say it the biggest, most roided out people who are the most insecure. They have the most fragile egos and you have to walk on eggshells. I will say this seems to get better with age. The coolest people I know are the elder gym crowd.

by mellienicolas 6 days ago

Yea, way more problems with roid ragers wearing maga gear and the influencers than some out of shape person. Not enough Joey Swolls out there.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Yeah they also take it seriously, so the etiquette is usually a bit better. They might do what seems to be like 10 sets sometimes, but at least they're using the equipment and not just sitting there.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

At my County gym, definitely. I did have one kid recently try to bump me off of the lat pull-down machine in the middle of a set. I told him I had 5 more reps to do, then he could use the machine. I didn't see him after that, so it seems he was just messing with me. The really jacked guys are back with the free weights. Never an issue, and that includes me using the water fountain that's near the free weights. I like that gym because I'm never the most fit, and rarely the least fit, and everybody's there to try to improve their strength. Sure there are mirrors but most of us use them to check our form, not our results. :)

by Anonymous 6 days ago

From my experience, I've never seen anyone act rude at the gym. They're all pretty chill. It's just online you'll see people making an ass of themselves for likes.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

That has not been my experience.

by Puzzled_Ad_9667 6 days ago

You know I don't believe I've ever paid the slightest bit of attention to what anyone else in the gym is doing.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

It varies. There are people having a bad day or roid raging or they just got their machine stole or something. It could be all sorts of size people.

by Ywyman 6 days ago

That's why they're there. The way they act in life has got them into a few sticky situations so they're trying to get strong to handle it better.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

In my experience the worst, by far, are the fat guys who think they are strong/powerlifters. Especially fat guys on gear. Actual jabba the huts, trudging along the gym leaving a trail of sweat. Taking 30 minutes per machine too usually.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

The real unpopular opinion from this is that asking how many sets someone has left is the actual rude and passive aggressive response. What benefit to you get from asking that question? Everytime someone ask me that question they just stand there and make me feel rushed and awkward. If a machine or bench is taken I just find another exercise or just hang out until they are done.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

As someone who worked at a gym lol...Whatever you say bud

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I would say this is true for nattys only, the ones on TRT are aggressive.

by Santos72 6 days ago