Today I want to briefly bellow about something that really gets under my skin. I suppose you can place my grievance under the umbrella of proper gym etiquette if you’re into that sort of thing. I have a few stories along with my reasons as to why I think talking on your cell phone should be banned from the training floor. Alright, you can keep your cell in your pocket but please, for the love of my Siamese felines, do not blabber on the phone while you are around others who are training. If you absolutely must take a call, you are fully capable of moving to another room to continue your conversation. I would never say ban cell phones completely as life emergencies happen and thankfully we live in a day and age where it’s possible to be reached whilst being almost anywhere.
Two stories.
Unnecessary Shoulder Complications
In the gym I frequent, the free weight area is a little cramped. When it gets really busy we all have to make a conscious effort not to step on each others toes. This is no big deal as everyone is generally pretty cool and considerate. One night I was training around 5pm and there were so many people stuffed in that tiny excuse for a weight room, it had to have been breaking fire code. It also happened to be Monday which we all know is national bench press day. Since there are only 2 benches in the place, there were quite a few people working in together. I was on the other side of the gym training legs when I noticed someone preparing for a max effort lift. I was watching from afar as this was one of the better known power lifters(we’ll call him Reggie) who has been training at this particular gym for years(way before I was even thought of).
Right behind this bench there is a TV and some jerkoff decides he has to make a phone call. He had been standing back there watching the tube and talking on the phone for a few minutes. By this time he has lost all interest in the exercise he was attempting and is now just babbling like a 14 year old girl at home on a school night. While he chatters endlessly he is unconsciously backing up while staring at the TV. Meanwhile Reggie is setting up for a triple with more weight than he has ever used raw. While he has a few spotters nearby, they are so focused on him that they don’t realize the bozo behind them. So Reggie sets up, squashes the first 2 reps and is slowly grinding the third one up.
About that time Mr. Jerkoff decides to spin around and bolt out of the gym, however he didn’t realize how close he was to the bench behind him. As he makes the quick move he runs right into the barbell while Reggie is mid rep! Needless to say the bar came crashing down and if it weren’t for the spotters, it would have been much worse. I heard a loud yelp as Reggie grabbed his right shoulder in agony. He immediately went home and I didn’t see him for a few weeks. He finally popped into the gym with a sling on and a nice new labral tear he will be rehabbing for the next 6 months. All of this thanks to some idiot who was too concerned with chatting on his phone. I hope Reggie ate him for dinner.
You Should Have Seen Her (Butt)Cheeks
While this story is not near as severe, it’s still worthy of attention. This girl always did a high-rep fat loss circuit on the machines. We had 12 different machines(ones with open weight stacks) and she would go down the line and do 3×12 on each for her routine. I will never forget this for as long as I live. She had just gotten done with her second super set and was exhausted. She was taking a little breather and while resting she decided to answer a call. She was propped up against one of the machines while chatting away and as time went on, another trainee came over to use the machine she was resting up against.
They asked her permission and she gave them the “okay” waive. They didn’t seem to mind her resting on the machine as it wouldn’t affect their set/workload, so whatever. Keep in mind the weight stack is open and for that very reason has a blatant warning that reads: KEEP AWAY FROM ALL MOVING PARTS. I remember watching this and being so far away that I could not do a thing but watch her eyes get really big and hear her scream bloody murder. She got too close to the weight stack, lost her balance and fell backwards a bit. At the same time the weights were coming back down and right as her rear end met the weight stack the descending plates met the rest of the stack. Her cheeks were pinched in between the freaking plates!
I remember her crying and screaming at the top of her lungs as we ran over to her. As the shock subsided we took a look at the affected area. It was a bloody, bruised mess but thankfully it was not as bad as I imagined it would be. Have a nice time explaining that scar to your significant other, darling.
Just a Distraction
Now I know that these incidents could have just as easily happened without a cell phone being involved. All I am trying to say is that they are a distraction and should be left in your bag, pocket or at home. If I was running a gym, I would make a policy to leave all phones at the door. I would designate a person to answer all calls and screen for emergencies. If it’s not an emergency, they would be required to make a note to tell the person on their way out they missed a call from so and so. That’s just how I would do it.
wow, that is awesome.
@Dawn : Yea, I used to go to a gym that was huge and empty most of the time. I think it only seemed empty because of how big it was. It also had 24 hour access which was very nice. Lots of equipment and no worries of tripping over each other.
I usually carry my phone around the gym with me but rarely use it. I’m worried that DD will get locked out or have some other mini crisis. Normally it’s a text, and on the rare occasion I have to talk, I take it over by the door, which is the only place there’s decent reception anyway. The more I read about people’s various gym situations the more thankful I am for mine, which is spacious, has two squat racks (and two smiths) and is fairly empty when I’m there in the middle of the day.
@Yum Yucky: No doubt about Reggie. You should have seen her rump. Swollen for days.
@Miguel: Blog audit coming to a store near you(or your email).
JC,
haha, I feel ya bro. This was something that bothered me as well. People, please, stop talking and get to work!
Hey man, I’m a bit behind with the 30 Days BBB challenge because of final exams but I’m looking for someone to do a blog audit for me?
-Mig
I feel sorry for the guy in the 1st story, but that butt cheek story is funny. I’m lmao just picturing the entrapped booty.
There is actually a sign in the YMCA that reads No Cell Phones but of course, no one pays any attention.
haha Just have a sign saying stand away from equipment when you’re on the phone.
Man, I totally agree. Well put.