Not being aware that others might want to use the equipment - staying with one piece too long!

Being on a piece of equipment but instead of using it they talk on their phone.

I am massively irritated when someone near me chats endlessly on their cell phone.

I second not wiping down the equipment

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Are you massively irritated or find it bothersome when they're chatting endlessly with someone who is present?

Why is this different? What about it is inherently wrong? This is one I totally don't understand. I'd like to! :)

I have no idea but would like to comment on the cell phone thing. The problem Rob is when someone chats on their cell phone (as opposed to chatting live and in person, for some unknown reason, they feel like they have to talk extremely loud...most annoying!

Rob, I spend quite a bit of time at the fitness center, in several different locations. I have honestly never known any chatting between people other than friendly greetings, when actively exercising.

But to answer your question....it's not different! :-)

Exercise, no matter which kind, requires concentration, focus on breathing at the very least, and an almost meditative state at the most fullfilling.

If people can yak while doing their turns on the gym machines, something is missing. If working on cardio, chatting is difficult if you're breathing properly. If doing muscle work, it's hard to keep track of reps and to focus on muscle contractions when chitchatting. Even the personal trainers speak softly and as little as possible so not to disrupt the focus of others.

It goes without saying, that yoga and pilates require peace and quiet, period! Cell phones aren't allowed, must be turned off or put on vibration.

Now, there's plenty of loud talking and laughing in the pool (water aerobics tends to be a hoot), in the walking and jogging areas where people sometimes pair up, and in the plentiful seating areas outside of the various exercise rooms.

Cell phone users have been asked to take their conversations to the hallways...they lose their turn on the machine that they're on if they choose to do so. I keep my cell phone stowed away with my handbag in my locked locker.

I attend a large university fitness center, it's quite busy much of the time. Good manners are essential in order to keep everybody happy.

So talking in general at the gym. Cool. I was totally confused! I won't go to a gym even though I need to. My son and I do yoga at home, or I do my cario-exercise tapes. Or we bicycle... I could really use a gym. Honestly, I wouldn't take a phone in. I also don't take it into the theater, or church, or any place you'd need to silence your phone.

I'm still wondering why they have to leave? What if it's loud music that you can hear coming from their headphones? That'd be worse, I think. Not good manners there. But just talking? Really? (I too have a university fitness center, so it should be mirrored! I have no idea what they do there)

not wiping down the equipment

not working in with someone if you're using the same equipment

not putting away the equipment when finished

I stopped going to the community gyms because of the yahoos and their grunting and groaning and dropping the equipment. I now go to a private gym that doesn't allow for drop-ins so you are always under the guide of a trainer either privately or in a small class. Absolutely no cell phones are allowed, period.

No cell phones great. No music either?

The trainers play their own play list which can make for an interesting workout! But you can't have your own headphones otherwise you can't hear the workout routine. And, really, I am so concentrated on my own workout I don't even hear the music.

This may be a guy thing only - I'm not sure if it bothers women as much - but I absolutely hate guys who prance around naked in the locker room. Naked brushing teeth. Naked hair combing. Naked lotioning. And the worst: naked eye contact.

So music yes, human voices no. I'm more perplexed than ever before. It seems discriminatory? but to each their own. Glad I don't frequent gyms. Swimming pools are more my speed.

Lol, I think you're being a bit obtuse on purpose, lol. Or I am doing an awful job of explaining myself....more than likely. Let me put it another way. Cell phone conversations aren't welcomed in the exercise areas. People who try to carry on their business in the midst of everyone will be asked to finish their conversation in the halls or common areas.

Of course there's no rules against the human voice! That most people want to work out (remember, focus, breathe, concentrate) without carrying on a conversation is simply a given. There is no enforcement other than the quiet which is self imposed. Lots of people work out plugged into their own music; I've never been so close that I could hear it, though.

AJ, that is pretty darned icky!

No I'm not. I think it's asinine one conversation is ok, the other is wrong, music is fine... so arbitrary! People need to get over cellphones. If they want to carry on their business in person and you won't throw them out, so why would you on a phone? I don't do it, but I don't fault those who do.

I know this thought process isn't going to change, but it's still a silly sticking point. See if you mind it next time someone is standing and talking with someone at the gym? Do you feel that way if they talk an equal amount of time and/or voice level (no one shouts any more) on a cellphone? It's just a conversation, like they would've had, had the person been standing there. I think those who get torqued up over it are way to focused on things they don't need to worry about. But that's just me.

Rob!

Chill!

Jim! I can have an opinion?

People staring at you at the gym.

At our gym talking on cell phones is prohibited on equipment . You can text. Loud talking isn't allowed but my pet peeve is people who sit on equipment and text and not use the equipment.

Hi Rob,

Sorry that you're troubled over this.

Sometimes it bothers me, some, too - not very often.

While I find it to be true sometimes when the talk is loud ... maybe they haven't gotten used to the phone-in-the-hand yet, and figure that they're shouting to the recipient who's a quarter of a mile/(kilometer) or so away.

Sometimes I wonder whether it may be some frustration at being unable to hear the other half of the conversation. Not that such is one tiny whit of being any of my business!

ole joyful