4 ms·

I don't recommend approaching people at the gym while they're working out, that is considered creepy/socially awkward.

hd95489 4y ago
Meh people not wearing phones are social between sets or especially in group classes
quickthrower2 4y ago
I agree, I don't do this at a gym. I was curious about this and observed others, and found nobody else does. The only time I spoke to someone was when I decided to use the unused yoga room to meditate, and a conversation naturally occured with a guy doing similar. A quick but interesting one about why prayer is different to meditation! Each gym is a subreddit though - try to observe the status quo there yours might be different.
- deafpolygon 4y ago
  > Each gym is a subreddit though Do I need to say "based comment"?
- legerdemain 4y ago
  People at my gym also only talk to people they've brought with them (i.e., adult couples working out together, groups of teenage boys). I did get this suggestion a lot from other people on HN, so I thought I'd throw it in.
- mindcrime 4y ago
  I was curious about this and observed others, and found nobody else does. Meh. I wouldn't say "never" do that. I've made friends from talking to people at the gym, but there's an etiquette to it. And it's not something you can force, IME. But if somebody is doing heavy deadlifts (for example) and you likewise do a lot of deadlifting, and the two of you are among a small group of people who do that (which is common at many commercial gyms) you might well find yourselves striking up a conversation. It could be a simple as "Hey man, I saw you pulling some heavy deads. Do you compete, or you just lift for your own satisfaction, or what?" And a simple thing like that often leads to a conversation and the beginnings of an acquaintanceship and maybe eventually real friendship. That said, I wouldn't go to the gym for the purpose of "meeting people." I'd go because I genuinely wanted to work out and get fit, and look at those chance connections as something that might or might not happen.
mindcrime 4y ago
I think it depends a lot on the context. Asking somebody for lifting advice, for example, can be well received, because most people want to feel like their advice is valued and their knowledge respect. OTOH, offering people unsolicited advice can be very off-putting to some people. It really varies from person to person a lot though. Some people are just really "intense" when in the gym, they have Slayer jamming in their earbuds, are on a hardcore adrenaline trip, and all they care about is hitting a PR on their next lift because they have a power-lifting meet coming up. Other people are just there to get a casual workout in and don't mind a little chatting. Learning to "read" people and know who might be amenable to a little chatting and who not to bother is a real skill.

Meh people not wearing phones are social between sets or especially in group classes

I agree, I don't do this at a gym. I was curious about this and observed others, and found nobody else does. The only time I spoke to someone was when I decided to use the unused yoga room to meditate, and a conversation naturally occured with a guy doing similar. A quick but interesting one about why prayer is different to meditation! Each gym is a subreddit though - try to observe the status quo there yours might be different.

deafpolygon 4y ago
> Each gym is a subreddit though Do I need to say "based comment"?
legerdemain 4y ago
People at my gym also only talk to people they've brought with them (i.e., adult couples working out together, groups of teenage boys). I did get this suggestion a lot from other people on HN, so I thought I'd throw it in.
mindcrime 4y ago
I was curious about this and observed others, and found nobody else does. Meh. I wouldn't say "never" do that. I've made friends from talking to people at the gym, but there's an etiquette to it. And it's not something you can force, IME. But if somebody is doing heavy deadlifts (for example) and you likewise do a lot of deadlifting, and the two of you are among a small group of people who do that (which is common at many commercial gyms) you might well find yourselves striking up a conversation. It could be a simple as "Hey man, I saw you pulling some heavy deads. Do you compete, or you just lift for your own satisfaction, or what?" And a simple thing like that often leads to a conversation and the beginnings of an acquaintanceship and maybe eventually real friendship. That said, I wouldn't go to the gym for the purpose of "meeting people." I'd go because I genuinely wanted to work out and get fit, and look at those chance connections as something that might or might not happen.

mindcrime 4y ago

I think it depends a lot on the context. Asking somebody for lifting advice, for example, can be well received, because most people want to feel like their advice is valued and their knowledge respect. OTOH, offering people unsolicited advice can be very off-putting to some people. It really varies from person to person a lot though. Some people are just really "intense" when in the gym, they have Slayer jamming in their earbuds, are on a hardcore adrenaline trip, and all they care about is hitting a PR on their next lift because they have a power-lifting meet coming up. Other people are just there to get a casual workout in and don't mind a little chatting. Learning to "read" people and know who might be amenable to a little chatting and who not to bother is a real skill.