AITA? I go to a gym 5x/week. I’m a regular there. My habit is to always wipe down the machines when I’m done, not doomscroll my phone between sets, and generally get in, get it, and get out.
Today was leg day. Started out fine, but there was a guy taking his time on the machine I intended to use next. No big deal. Skip. Finished machine, he’s still on. OK. Skip. Of course using alternate machines. Finally, I’m on the calf raise after having skipped to different machines 3 times. After my set, he comes up to me and asks to work in. I said "No. You’ve been on THAT machine for 30 minutes." In a thick Austrailian accent he says "FACK YEW!!!" Kinda looked like he was roiding out. For context, I’m 70 and he looks to be a rough 50-60 and a lifelong gym rat, which I’m not.
I said nothing at that point, but continued my workout. He muttered something else, but I wasn’t listening.
A staff member witnessed the confrontation, but to my knowlege said and did nothing, which was fine.
AITA?
NTA I hate people like this dude. They are the AH.
Nta. Regardless of your reason you never have to let someone work in with you. With that said, his reaction made him ta here.
You probably could have asked him if he’d be done soon, so that he knew you’re waiting for the machine.
I often will stand there for about minute holding my water bottle, phone, and towel. I realize that’s kinda passive-agressive, but I’m a bit of an introvert, and don’t interact much with people if I can avoid it.
YTA Having anxiety to talk to people is not an excuse for being rude to them though. It may be fair to decline sharing a machine, but doing it out of revenge for him taking his time with the other machine, without even letting him know that you were waiting for it was rude.
You were expecting him to notice that you were waiting, without making it clear to him. People are not all going to notice that, but may be happy to quicken up their pace if they know you’re waiting. You made him feel like an asshole, without letting him have the opportunity to not be one.
ESH. Most people hog machines as they are oblivious. Asking how many sets they have left is a non confrontational way to prompt them that others are waiting. You both over reacted.
This is the way
YTA. He did what you should have done. Next time, politely ask if you can share a machine. He likely had no idea you were waiting to use it. You on the other hand, refused a polite request out of sheer pettiness and are now trying to paint the other person as the villain of the story.
Yeah I’m kind of with you here. Just ask, “hey do you have many sets left?”If somebody knows there’s someone waiting then they’ll usually not sit around on their phone. That’s what I do anyway and never ran into any level of pettiness or negativity in any gym
NTA. Request to work in is just that, a request. Responding to a denial with profanity is uncalled for
In general, I despise people that just sit on a machine while on their phone.
I call bullshit.
An Australian would’ve said “fuck you cont”