Thread: No! I don't want to spot you. Stop asking!

I switched to machines cuz I hate asking for spots, guys think I'm trying to hit on them.

Sorry dude, I'm not interested..

Why not have fun with it?? I just call people out and then one of two things happend (1) they wont ask me to spot them ever again because they get frustrated with me or (2) they thank me for pushing them to do something that they don't usually do and making them do things correctly and then will ask me a millioin questions everytime they see me (which can be annoying also).

Some of my favorite things to say:

When spotting someone on the bench press if they aren't touching their chest I yell "touch you f*cking chest!! what are you an ametuer?? stop wasting my time!"

For a squat if they aren't going at least to parallel (even though I only consider it a squat if you break parallel) I scream: "Sink it lower!!! What the F*ck are you trying to do squats or curtsies you panzie. This is pathetic!"

I know they sound brutal but they really wake some people up.

What is wrong with asking someone for a spot.
I hate the kind of people that are snobs and can't help another person out

I'm not currently working out in a gym, but there has been many times where I wish I had someone to spot me. That's what lifting is all about, going to the extremes and pushing your limits to encourage hypertrophy. But while doing this, you must also think of safety. If your trying to push your limit on the bench in a gym and you don't have a friend working out with you, I don't see any problem what-so-ever in asking another guy to help you out. That is the problem is so many people are snobs anymore and don't want to help anyone.

Originally Posted by Randy

What is wrong with asking someone for a spot.
I hate the kind of people that are snobs and can't help another person out

there is nothing wrong with asking for a spot!! If you do, no matter what the weight, make sure that you perform the lift correctly otherwise stop wasting the spotters training time.

Originally Posted by P-funk

there is nothing wrong with asking for a spot!! If you do, no matter what the weight, make sure that you perform the lift correctly otherwise stop wasting the spotters training time.

Well maybe if the spotter finds that the person is not lifting correctly, is there any problem with offering him a little bit of helpful advice? Not everyone are seasoned veterans.

Besided the initiator of this thread didn't mention anything about not wanting to spot people that do exercises incorrectly, he said he didn't like to spot people period. But if one was lifting incorrectly, again what is wrong with helping the helping the guy out?

I would sure hate to work out with you P-funk.

Most people ask for a spot. You walk over and they start giving orders..."get closer...I gotta have a lift off...I wanna get...reps..."

or my favorite "You got it?" No dude, I'm gonna drop it on your face. Sheesh.

Just shut up and lift the weight. I'll know when your too weak to do another rep...and don't yell "I want one more" while your lifting." You think your screaming "one more," but what I get is spit in my eye and a sore delt from savin your ass.

I'm not a snob.

As a newbie myself, I ask people how I should conduct a particualr exercise and never have a problem asking for assistance. Seems that you guy's need to remember that you were once in the same position. I don't know if you realise this, but most people would want to emulate you and quite probably hold you as a mentor of sorts. Nothing wrong with putting a little back into the sport once in a while.

I can understand that it's your time too, maybe you could explain that you are currently busy, but hey, if ya wanna wait until I finish, I'll assist ya, but y gotta be preaperd to put in, or go home.

Just my 10 cents.

Stay safe

Jav

Originally Posted by seabee

Most people ask for a spot. You walk over and they start giving orders..."get closer...I gotta have a lift off...I wanna get...reps..."

or my favorite "You got it?" No dude, I'm gonna drop it on your face. Sheesh.

Just shut up and lift the weight. I'll know when your too weak to do another rep...and don't yell "I want one more" while your lifting." You think your screaming "one more," but what I get is spit in my eye and a sore delt from savin your ass.

I'm not a snob.

Seabee,
I don't know where you been lifting, but that certainly hasn't been my experience in all the years I have lifted.

Originally Posted by Jav

As a newbie myself, I ask people how I should conduct a particualr exercise and never have a problem asking for assistance. Seems that you guy's need to remember that you were once in the same position. I don't know if you realise this, but most people would want to emulate you and quite probably hold you as a mentor of sorts. Nothing wrong with putting a little back into the sport once in a while.

I can understand that it's your time too, maybe you could explain that you are currently busy, but hey, if ya wanna wait until I finish, I'll assist ya, but y gotta be preaperd to put in, or go home.

Just my 10 cents.

Stay safe

Jav

I agree whole heartedly Jav

Originally Posted by Randy

Well maybe if the spotter finds that the person is not lifting correctly, is there any problem with offering him a little bit of helpful advice? Not everyone are seasoned veterans.

Besided the initiator of this thread didn't mention anything about not wanting to spot people that do exercises incorrectly, he said he didn't like to spot people period. But if one was lifting incorrectly, again what is wrong with helping the helping the guy out?

I would sure hate to work out with you P-funk.

Nothing is wrong with helping people out. If I am spotting some and things are going south I let them know. Just ask some of the guys that train with me or my clients. Yes, at times I can get brutal but I expect it back when I am getting critized after my set and I usually get it form my training partner..."Man, you were sloppy as shit on the deadlift, your back was all over the place." or my other trianing partner "what the f*ck is your problem??? keep you damn herad up!! straighten your spine!! you are a p*ssy!! lift the weight!! what the hell are you doing!!" you get my point.

Don't make me out to be an asshole here. I am always very helpful to people in the gym and at first glance i may be a bit intimidating when I am working out because when my training partner and I trian it is no nonsense, we are there to do business but I am pretty down to earth.

Most people do hate working out with my becuase my trianing partners and I really try and push the limits every time we train.

Originally Posted by P-funk

Nothing is wrong with helping people out. If I am spotting some and things are going south I let them know. Just ask some of the guys that train with me or my clients. Yes, at times I can get brutal but I expect it back when I am getting critized after my set and I usually get it form my training partner..."Man, you were sloppy as shit on the deadlift, your back was all over the place." or my other trianing partner "what the f*ck is your problem??? keep you damn herad up!! straighten your spine!! you are a p*ssy!! lift the weight!! what the hell are you doing!!" you get my point.

Don't make me out to be an asshole here.


I'm not making you out to be an asshole, you seemed to do that just fine yourself in your previous response.


I am always very helpful to people in the gym

Could have fooled me by your previous post


and at first glance i may be a bit intimidating when I am working out because when my training partner and I trian it is no nonsense, we are there to do business but I am pretty down to earth. Most people do hate working out with my becuase my trianing partners and I really try and push the limits every time we train.


Intimidation and working hard, intense, and pushing the limits have nothing to do with the subject of offering someone a spot when they need it. You stated your opinion, and now your trying to change it? No need to.

........

[QUOTE=P-funk
Most people do hate working out with my becuase my trianing partners and I really try and push the limits every time we train.[/QUOTE]

That's the way to do it !!
And you can't really push the limits without a spot sometimes.
If you can't go till failure then "Leave my damn gym"

P-funk- I think you'd make a great spotter. I wish I had people like you spotting me rather than grabbing the bar off of me once I start to struggle a bit! I don't think you came across as an a**hole!

Seabee- I think you've got a pretty crappy attitude! I love to help and spot people in the gym. We are supposed to be there for each other. Randy is right, the gym is where you push yourself and it helps to have a spotter sometimes. Get over yourself man!

Originally Posted by seabee

Most people ask for a spot. You walk over and they start giving orders..."get closer...I gotta have a lift off...I wanna get...reps..."

or my favorite "You got it?" No dude, I'm gonna drop it on your face. Sheesh.

Just shut up and lift the weight. I'll know when your too weak to do another rep...and don't yell "I want one more" while your lifting." You think your screaming "one more," but what I get is spit in my eye and a sore delt from savin your ass.

I'm not a snob.

Don't take it personally. Some people just don't really know how to spot right. Sometimes people will spot me and they will be touching the bar the entire duration of the lift. Usually I will be too nice to say "get your damned hands off the bar unless I actually need help." People just want to make sure you're on the same wavelength; communication is important.

If I'm unsure about the weight on the bench, I'll go grab a couple of 120 lb dumbells instead and find out my limitations, and be better and stronger for it.

Try it.

A lot of a good spotter depends on the goals you have set for that day. I know when Im doing my regular heavy-to-failure routine, I love when I get pushed by someone. However, when I was doing something like HST, and I had a certain number of reps to get and NO MORE, even if it looked easy, and this guy is saying. ONE MORE! ONE MORE!.... it gets annoying.

I know they are trying to help, but I know what I'm doing, and if I needed someone to help my training and give me advice, I'd hire a trainer. ...like PFUNK!

Originally Posted by seabee

If I'm unsure about the weight on the bench, I'll go grab a couple of 120 lb dumbells instead and find out my limitations, and be better and stronger for it.

Try it.

Well thank God not everybody is you!

Originally Posted by seabee

If I'm unsure about the weight on the bench, I'll go grab a couple of 120 lb dumbells instead and find out my limitations, and be better and stronger for it.

Try it.

You sound like a very selfish, cold-hearted person to me.

At every gym I've worked out at, it's been a very pleasant environment. I will usually spot people when I can see that they need a bit of help, and I've picked up a lot of friends that way. On Chest, Leg, and for my military presses I always find someone to spot me. I might not even know them, but most people are happy to help. As long as you are ready to do the lift, and you don't waste their time, it's just good fun.

I will ask anyone to spot me on military press and bench, just if they have never spotted me before, I'll let them know, I want to work very hard, let me rep out the last couple very slowly. But, only a few select people are trustworthy enough to spot me on squats.

There used to be a guy who would visit the gym that I used to work out at. He would come in a couple times a week and do benches. He would do his warm ups, and then load the bar with 550lbs . There was always guys who would gladly volunteer to spot him, me being one. With the amount of weight he lifted, it took 2 spotters, one on each side of the bar to safely spot him.

Actually, I'm quite friendly. I love animals and kids. I just don't want to spot you.

Originally Posted by seabee

Actually, I'm quite friendly. I love animals and kids. I just don't want to spot you.

At least you're good for something

p.s I wouldn't ask you for a spot

Some of my favorite things to say:

When spotting someone on the bench press if they aren't touching their chest I yell "touch you f*cking chest!! what are you an ametuer?? stop wasting my time!"

For a squat if they aren't going at least to parallel (even though I only consider it a squat if you break parallel) I scream: "Sink it lower!!! What the F*ck are you trying to do squats or curtsies you panzie. This is pathetic!"

Lauging my As* off!!

Originally Posted by rock4832

P-funk- I think you'd make a great spotter. I wish I had people like you spotting me rather than grabbing the bar off of me once I start to struggle a bit! I don't think you came across as an a**hole!

Seabee- I think you've got a pretty crappy attitude! I love to help and spot people in the gym. We are supposed to be there for each other. Randy is right, the gym is where you push yourself and it helps to have a spotter sometimes. Get over yourself man!

What Rock said. I didn't take P's comments as being an ass either. If I'm using lousy form, I want to know about it!

Seabee - spotting is part of the game. Sure sometimes you don't 'feel' like it, but the trade off is that when YOU need a spot, someone will return the favor. I typically go to complete failure on at least one set of bench press for instance. I don't always use a spotter, but when I do, usually I can eek out one more rep knowing I won't get stuck if I'm unsure about doing one more. So according to you, I should switch to DBs for that last set? That really makes a lot of sense.

Never get into to powerlifting BTW. With that attitude, someone will leave your ass pinned under a bar.

P-funk- I think you'd make a great spotter. I wish I had people like you spotting me rather than grabbing the bar off of me once I start to struggle a bit! I don't think you came across as an a**hole!

thanks rock, that is what I am trying to say. I even don't like to ask people that I don't know to spot me because most people don't know the correct way of spotting and they get nervous and end up screwing me up more than helping me. That is why I workout with the guys that I do (who are really serious trainers and are going to make sure to keep me honest when I lift).

What Rock said. I didn't take P's comments as being an ass either. If I'm using lousy form, I want to know about it!

Exactley. I mean, if you aren't doing the lift correctly and you are just wasting your time and cheating yourself why bother? As much as it sucks when someone puts you in your place (believe me I have been there too) it feels good once you get it right (even if your weights take a dive and your ego takes a hit). Usually when I am in the middle of a set you will even hear me yell things out to my partner because I want to know, right there and then, not after the set....."is my back straight?", "Is my scapula protracted?", "are my elbows flaring out?", "How is my depth today?", "Am I popping my hips enough?"....etc...

My partner knows how to spot me, but sometimes befire the lift I'll give him special instructions. For example he knows to just help the minimal amount to get me past my sticking point if I get stuck, but sometimes if I am going for a max I might say "No forced reps, If I miss it just grab it" It all depends on your energy levels and your goals for the day.

If you are asking for a spot, be specific about what you want. Help on the last rep only? A couple of forced reps? Maybe just help past a sticking point?

If you are asked for a spot without specific instructions, ask the person what they want. Get it straight before the set starts.

And for seabee, you need to get a workout shirt that says "No Spot for You!"

Originally Posted by JerseyDevil

Seabee - spotting is part of the game. Sure sometimes you don't 'feel' like it, but the trade off is that when YOU need a spot, someone will return the favor. I typically go to complete failure on at least one set of bench press for instance. I don't always use a spotter, but when I do, usually I can eek out one more rep knowing I won't get stuck if I'm unsure about doing one more. So according to you, I should switch to DBs for that last set? That really makes a lot of sense.

Never get into to powerlifting BTW. With that attitude, someone will leave your ass pinned under a bar.

Now that last sentence was hillarious, but true