Thread: Station Hog

Originally Posted by PirateFromHell

There are three smith machines at my gym. All three were being used by people who were using at least two or three stations at the same time. So these people occupy the smith machine while they are doing other stuff elsewhere and do a set on the smith every 5-10 minutes. Is this generally acceptable? I wouldn't do that. Should I just unrack their weights and kick their water bottle out of my way or what?

I bet those guys dont know theyre being pains, but yeah, if they get off i would take there weights off and MOVE there bottle, not kick it.. lol. it seems like the additude there is first come first serve.

I wouldn't put up with that for a second. Noone can expect for a station to stay open while they leave it for 5-10 minutes. I would love to get to move someone's stuff after they left a station that I needed. I am one of the bigger guys in my gym and would love for one of the scrwany punks to try to argue with me. The big guys all have enough consideration not to hog a station that they aren't at.

Originally Posted by Purdue Power

I wouldn't put up with that for a second. I am one of the bigger guys in my gym and would love for one of the scrwany punks to try to argue with me.

Sounds like you are on cycle, PP. LOL. I wouldn't really kick anyone's stuff out of the way, but I sure felt like I should say something to them. One was a big guy, one smaller than me, and one a hot chick. Working in would have been a real pain because we would have to move the bench, change the weights, change the stops etc. Next time, I will say something. Everyone works out different, but I only use one station at a time, and all these people were leaving the machine for at least 5 minutes between sets while they did other stuff. I understand supersets and the like, but if we share the gym, we should be considerate.

I ran into something similar today. An older guy was using a bench, but had finished and was starting to walk off. I asked if he was done and he went "No!" I said, OK, how many more sets do you have? (Figured I could come back or wait, depending.) He said six. I said no problem and moved on. He then went and got a different bar and started doing arm work (instead of chest). When he paused, I asked if I could slip in a set on the other bench, since he wasn't on it. He got all pissed and said "Just take it!" So I did.

Funny thing was I saw the guy in his car driving off not more than 5 minutes later, and not once did he come back toward the original bench.

I always feel bad about doing circuits, not wanting to tie up the equipment so others can't use it. Shouldn't there be an intro class for gym ettiquette, and if you don't follow the simple ones (wipe down the bench, rack the wieghts, etc.) you get a free ass kicking?

Originally Posted by Pylon

Shouldn't there be an intro class for gym ettiquette

It should be requisite, IMO. Even though I am just using one station I let people work in if they ask. It is possible to circuit training etc without inconveniencing others too much. Just re rack quickly. The only problem is that someone else might be using the station when you come back.

Originally Posted by PirateFromHell

Should I just unrack their weights and kick their water bottle out of my way or what?

No, either nicely ask if you can work in or bring it to the attention of the gym management and let them deal with the person.

I do not do this kind of machine hogging, but if I did and someone unracked my weights or kicked my water bottle, there is no way in hell I am going to let them use the machine now and I would probably hog it even longer to spite you. What you are going to create is more belligerence.

Originally Posted by Egoatdoor

No, either nicely ask if you can work in or bring it to the attention of the gym management and let them deal with the person.

I do not do this kind of machine hogging, but if I did and someone unracked my weights or kicked my water bottle, there is no way in hell I am going to let them use the machine now and I would probably hog it even longer to spite you. What you are going to create is more belligerence.

your right, my bad.. two wrong dont make a right i guess

-Efrin

Can't stand that, there's always at least one ass who feels the need to make a territorial statement with this. Absolutely must have the thing for 3 consecutive minutes because the workout's so intense Basically not working hard or it wouldn't take 3 minutes to reach exhaustion.

First, ask politely to work in. The usual reaction though, is to feign surprise and let you know that they'll be off after a "few MORE sets", as if that's just fine.

At that point you have to be a little more firm in making the share and share alike principle clear and reality. If this doesn't immediately receive cooperation, I'd suggest not pursuing it any further with the ass, because they LIKE the attention and the argument makes you look bad as well, to anyone watching. Intead..

Go to management. This WILL work if they care at all about the customers. If they don't, maybe it's time for another gym.

OK here's one for you guys. Theres a guy @ my gym that reads a magazine while resting on each piece of equipment. I asked him how many set does he have left he says 6, then proceeds to read his woman's day mag. I just turned away in disgust. He did the same thing @ the tredmill, he warmed up for like 20 mins before starting his run. I don't know what his problem is, however I gonna check him the next time I'm waiting and he's reading. What do you guys think? Am I just or not?

Originally Posted by Dutty Bwoy

OK here's one for you guys. Theres a guy @ my gym that reads a magazine while resting on each piece of equipment. I asked him how many set does he have left he says 6, then proceeds to read his woman's day mag. I just turned away in disgust.

I don't turn away. I usually then ask to work in. If someone is then on the machine also, it usually gets these dooffuses off their butts and they do their sets much faster. But what also happens is the person suddenly realizes its not that important that they do that exercise and they leave to go somewhere else. Now you've gotten rid of the problem. And if they say no to letting you work in, go to the gym managers. One of the rules of etiquette is to allow people to work in ( i e share the equipment).

Gym etiquette must be learned sooner rather than later for your average gym-goer. By tossing his water bottle and throwing his towel at him across the room, you are doing more good than harm.

There's a type as you've described in every gym. Basically uses the gym to loiter, kind of a substitute for going to a bar.

Yesterday I was trying to do some leg curls, and some dude was using the leg curl machine. He curled the weight forward, and the pad that wraps around the arm that is connected to the weight rolls really easily around. So he thought that when you get half way up the curl, you let the rolling 'mechanism' takeover. So he would curl it half way, then let the roller roll all the way up from the back of his knee to just below his calve, then scream at the top. I was seriously like . The guy did like 6 sets with a 1 25 LB plate, then left. Jesus christ that was retarded.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Gym etiquette must be learned sooner rather than later for your average gym-goer. By tossing his water bottle and throwing his towel at him across the room, you are doing more good than harm.

Boy that's real etiquette. Do it a few times and you'll be the one who gets kicked out of the gym.

Its a gym , not the OK Corral.

Originally Posted by Egoatdoor

Boy that's real etiquette. Do it a few times and you'll be the one who gets kicked out of the gym.

Its a gym , not the OK Corral.

i agree, how can this display of rudeness make any good?

-Efrin

I don't think you should have to let people work in, but I almost always do. I take about 60 seconds between sets. Letting someone work in could fuck that up big time. My complaint is people occupying multiple stations at once and purposely leaving all their weights and stuff in the way for over 5 minutes betweens sets while they use other machines. If you are on a machine, it is yours until you leave. I'm not really going to do anything that would piss them off, but I will ask them to let me use the station if they are going to be leaving it for a while.

there is no reason for people to be hogging up multiple stations during peak gym hours if that is the case. I would just jump in and start working out when they leave and put there stuff aside.

Originally Posted by Dutty Bwoy

OK here's one for you guys. Theres a guy @ my gym that reads a magazine while resting on each piece of equipment. I asked him how many set does he have left he says 6, then proceeds to read his woman's day mag. I just turned away in disgust. He did the same thing @ the tredmill, he warmed up for like 20 mins before starting his run. I don't know what his problem is, however I gonna check him the next time I'm waiting and he's reading. What do you guys think? Am I just or not?

Okay, I've been guilty of this one (though I usually keep an eye out to see if anyone's eyeing the equipment I'm sitting on). Just ask to work in. If it were me, I'd let you hop in and I'd probably toss my magazine aside for later to speed myself up.
BTW, I don't read Woman's Day.

I prefer if someone doesn't try to work in only because some are so damn slow in setting up, let alone doing the set. If they would just get to it, it's easy to work in with someone. If you try to say something to get them to understand that time is of essence, the annoyed, don't-have-a-clue reaction to your perceived pushiness is all but assured.

The problem is, some won't leave the station, prefering to do lite reps that permits them to do 5 minute sets..

Originally Posted by LAM

there is no reason for people to be hogging up multiple stations during peak gym hours if that is the case. I would just jump in and start working out when they leave and put there stuff aside.

Well, it wasn't peak hours when this happened the other day, but all three smith machines were being used. And everyone of those three people were hoggin' Guess I'll just say something or hop in next time. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't off base in thinking this was not generally acceptable. I try to be nice guy, after all.

Originally Posted by PirateFromHell

Well, it wasn't peak hours when this happened the other day, but all three smith machines were being used. And everyone of those three people were hoggin' Guess I'll just say something or hop in next time. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't off base in thinking this was not generally acceptable. I try to be nice guy, after all.

People should NOT be hogging multiple machines during peak hours.

It is surprising that all three were being hogged at the same time in a non peak hour. My gym has 3 Smith Machines and though they all may be being used at one time, I have never seen it where all 3 had people leaving the station to go somewhere else to do a set.

Hogging is not totally against the rules if it is a slow time. I will admit I was hogging early last Sunday morning. I was doing giant sets for calves, one of which was doing calf raises on the Smith. The other two machines were real close by and there were very few people in the gym as it just opened. If it was a weeknight, out of common sense, I would never have done this.

But if someone had needed to use the machine, I would have let them as long as they let me set my weight and do my set when it was time.

This happened to me before.. Except it was in the squat rack, and power racks. I needed to do squats, and there were some guys doing bicep curls, and one doing shrugs. I asked them all nicely, if they could move somewhere else.. but none did. Fucking bitches.

If I had money and land, I'd get my own set-up at home. That would be sweet. No hot chicks to look at, though. Well, unless I had even more money.

Originally Posted by PirateFromHell

Well, it wasn't peak hours when this happened the other day, but all three smith machines were being used. And everyone of those three people were hoggin' Guess I'll just say something or hop in next time. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't off base in thinking this was not generally acceptable. I try to be nice guy, after all.

Look, all you gotta do is be like:

"Arrrrr... Avast Ye Smith Machine Lubber. C'mon lad, this machine be for all me weight room mateys! Aye, if ye don't stop hoggin' the machine, I will make ye walk the plank to hell!"

Originally Posted by PreMier

This happened to me before.. Except it was in the squat rack, and power racks. I needed to do squats, and there were some guys doing bicep curls, and one doing shrugs. I asked them all nicely, if they could move somewhere else.. but none did. Fucking bitches.

I would never "move somewhere else" if someone said that to me. I would say "OK" if they asked instead to work in.

Its a good idea to add to "Can I work in" with "using a separate bar". That way they are less inclined to say "No" because they do not want the hassle of changing the weights on their barbell.

Well, guess what. Fuck you, if you do BB curls in a squat rack.. your a fucking tard. People should know better, and next time something like that happens, im going to be an ass.

Originally Posted by 419Para_Dice

your right, my bad.. two wrong dont make a right i guess

-Efrin

but 3 lefts make a right...

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

but 3 lefts make a right...

4 lefts make a square. Don't want to be one of those, do you?