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 advi

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.