Re: OMG... True story

BradandBrooks wrote:

> Was at "the gym" (World Health) yesterday. I was doing squats. Pretty much
> the only guy in there doing any big lifts (besides bench...lol).
>
> So, I'm tired. Did deads the day before, but wanted to get my leg workout in
> before the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend so I can relax and eat like a
> horse - a very fat horse. lol
>
> I got out one set of squats. Then two - barely (my legs were tired). On the
> third set, on the last rep I said, 'uh oh' and dropped the weight onto the
> safties in the cage. You all know what kind of sound that makes, even from
> a few inches up....
>
> So I take a break. 10 minutes later I go back.
>
> This time, front squats. Got one set out. On the first rep of the second
> set, yip, I dropped it. Another big sound followed.
>
> Then, just as I'm taking the weights off the bar, two 'guys' come up to me.
> One says 'You shouldn't drop the weights like that'. I smile and tell them
> that today is my heavy day and I did deads yesterday trying to squish it all
> in before the long weekend, and my legs are burnt, but what the hey... at
> least I tried and got a few sets in...
>
> Then, one 'guy' says, "I don't know if you're a tough guy trying to impress
> people or just draw attention to yourself but it's really annoying when you
> make that noise"....
>
> I stood there for a sec, processing this. Then I realized they were serious.
> So I said, sorry, but I'm going heavy today and it dropped. Then the
> 'impress people' part hit me. So I said, 'No, I'm not (WTF?), but this
> happens from time to time', and for some reason then I said, 'looking at
> your legs, you'd best try doing some squats some day too.'
>
> Well, shit, the fight was on. Both of these guys started beaking me off
> loudly in the gym. I didn't really care. I just said that the "girls'
> workout area" was on the other side of the gym and if the noise scared them,
> I suggested they go over there. For a second I thought I might have to drop
> the mitts, so to speak.
>
> These guys beaked on for a few seconds and then turned and walked away -
> thankfully.
>
> I was just stunned.
>
> Anyone else ever have this happen to them? I'm no Arnold. I weigh about
> 190lbs and was squatting a deep 250lbs at 8 reps. Not exactly the 'big boys
> club'. lol... But I'm in there, working hard, unlike 90% of the others who
> just work pecs and bis. I am seriously wanting to join another gym with guys
> who take this serious and work hard, but of course there is the financial
> hit I'd take plus I don't want to be anywhere around drugs.
>
> If this has happened to others I'll write it off as two morons... but I
> don't know of a good, affordable, local gym where 250lb squats is not the
> drug induced warm-up on the way to 500lbs.
>
> Man, the weightlifting culture can be pretty fucked-up. I feel stuck between
> the local gym and the hardcore stuff.
>
> Brad

Brad,
The best thing to do next time is just to say, "thank you for your input" and
leave it at that. No matter what you say, these morons will not listen. I have
been in gyms for over 30 years and there will ALWAYS be assholes no matter where
you train. I actually even had a guy tell me that I was breaking his
concentration when I dropped a dumb bell by accident in Venice Gold's of all
places! :-) It is never worth your time to respond to these people and NEVER
give out advice even if someone is going to paralyze themselves by what they are
doing. EVERY TIME I have tried to make a constructive criticism of someone's
technique etc., they get VERY offended and even if they have 12" thighs, they
act like they are fucking Dorian Yates. :-) THE only time to give out advice is
if you are asked and even then sometimes you will catch shit if you don't tell
them what they wanted to hear. ;-) It happens everywhere, so don't lose any
sleep over it. Training hard is ALWAYS the correct thing to do, so just ignore
that morons and keep training!! I have actually noticed that gym etiquete seems
to be at an all time low as of late. I have asked quite a few people if I could
work in with them on certain machines etc. as of late and almost every time they
seem to take offense to it. It is always either a big fat woman, a big fat man
or some real weasel. I keep to myself, don't talk to anyone and try to be
courteous in the gym, but I have really been shocked that people think that
working in is such a terrible thing to do. Gyms should start handing out a sheet
that tells people the basics about gym etiquete when they join. I remember when
I started training at a pretty hard core gym in Phoenix back in the early 80s.
When the owner gave me a tour, he just told me what was what and in that gym,
EVERYONE took care of business. The weights were always put back with the
markings facing in. People wiped down their machines when they were done.
Working in was never a problem unless they already had a bunch of people going
at once and the locker rooms always stayed spotless. That probably was the best
atmosphere of any gym that I have trained in from that point of view. The only
other time I had more fun and inspiration was the year I spent in LA working out
at Venice Gold's and World Gym down the street. Training next to the guys
getting ready for shows like the Mr. Olympia etc. was always inspiration to do
that extra rep or extra set! :-) Don't let the morons get you down.


--
Robert Schuh
"Everything that elevates an individual above the herd and
intimidates the neighbour is henceforth called evil; and
the fair, modest, submissive and conforming mentality,
the mediocrity of desires attains moral designations and honors"
- Nietzsche

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