Holy Shit, I ran on my college’s cross and track team. Most aggravating thing ever. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve either ran into people or had to juke through two people because they were just standing on the track, while I was practicing. Arggh…..

I need to go punch a wall now.

That was a smart-alec thing to say.

I’ll go away quietly now : )

As you said yourself – when you see somebody doing the things that you don’t like, then you glare at them and make sure that they know that you don’t like it.

I think that THAT’S poor ettiquette – expecting others to have already agreed to *your* rules, without even knowing what they are.

Which is something that I just fell into myself – not being aware that this comment section was really just for “hey, man, make sure that you cuss, gripe, and sound like you’ve already had four or five beers before you type anything – actual thought or rationality will be dismissed unless it supports my position”.

I love your writing. And now that I’ve learned that folks like me aren’t welcome in the dialogue, I’ll keep reading and keep quiet

The stars are aligning!

Gentlemen, start your couches, we’re just 10 days away!

Spoken like a true non-swimmer. Make sure you show up to the lane with those water wings. It’ll help build your confidence while in the water. Maybe you can impressively flex your biceps while hanging on to the lane rope.

[/fucktard'd]

Most of this list is just “I don’t want to see or hear or smell things that I don’t want to see or hear or smell” – in other words, “Please make sure that I do not experience any sensory input that offends me”.

Of course, this is the word of Political Correctness, where (sadly) the most neurotic person very often wins.

I think that the only real crime in a gym is camping – i.e. occupying a piece of equipment in between sets, such that no one else can work in. That’s the only real infringement on liberties or purchased privilege – or at least the only one that I see often enough to wish to have enforced by the GymBosses.

The rest all seem to me to be a set ofwhiney “Gee, I spilled hot coffee in my lap. I’m gonna sue McDonald’s” demands to be protected against one’s own unhealthy dependencies – and a cry to hear that others, too, have the same childishness, thus having one’s neurosis propped up by having found others just as whiney.

Secondly, in the words of the inestimable Mark Rippetoe — “Insufficient yelling in the gym causes bad form.” So, to the extent necessary to honor Coach Rippetoe, and to remain true to my own occasional yelp, I take issue with point 8. [Except for anyone who grunts or groans while doing curls. Those guys are retards.] Otherwise, ’tis all true.

Bravo to Dictate #2 – There is a guy at my gym who is always there when I arrive and is still there when I leave, every time. He does a few sets of various exercises and spends the rest of his time walking around correcting people on their form, technique, etc. One time, I saw the following exchange take place: a guy was doing some butterflies and was struggling a bit, so Mr. Personal Trainer asked him what the problem was:

Guy: “My shoulder’s kinda hurting me.”

Douchebag: “Did you sleep on it?”

Guy: “Yeah.”

Douchebag: “Sleep on your back, you should never sleep on your shoulders.”

Yes, this fellow had ventured from the realm of lifting technique and was now giving directions on proper sleeping form.