Man Escorted Out of Gym for Grunting

AnneMarble · Nov 3, 2006

As mentioned here, a man was escorted out of a gym by cops for grunting. It turns out that the gym has a policy against grunting! The man can neither confirm nor deny that he grunted.

But he was, after all, lifting 500 pounds, so he's probably allowed a grunt. It turns out that the chain (Planet Fitness) has a policy against "intimidating" behaviors. (This is because they have marketed themselves as being a gym for novices, where people can feel comfortable.) As a result, they don't allow grunting, dropping weights, wearing bandanas, etc. The CEO says "When somebody's in there and they grunt and they grunt loud, it's trying to bring attention to themselves to show everyone how strong they are." Gee, or maybe it proves that they're, uhm, exerting themselves? (And if wearing bandanas is scary, I'll have to run away from my father next time he mows the lawn on a hot day. :scared:

)

Another customer confronted the alleged grunter, and he was escorted out by police. OK, maybe the guy became a jerk during the argument (I have no way of knowing), but doesn't the company think they could have prevented it from going that far? And how do we know the woman who confronted him wasn't, well you know, confrontational? Doesn't sound like she was intimidated at all.

I haven't been in a fitness center for years. (I get my exercise by shopping.

) Are anti-grunting policies common? Don't people often grunt when lifting weights? And not just on purpose (to impress people) but because weights are, by definition, heavy? And I thought people often dropped weights by accident, not to "confront" people...

Tracy · Nov 3, 2006

That sounds mad. PC-ness gone too far. Tell you what though, I wouldn't be telling a man who could lift 500lb to leave! It's like that joke - where does a gorilla sit? A: Anywhere he likes!

robeiae · Nov 3, 2006

Why didn't they have this policy in the WTA when Seles was playing?

SC Harrison · Nov 3, 2006

"Mooom! Billy's showing off again!"

"Billy, go to your room this minute!"

"Aww, that's not fair! I was just showing her I could stand on one leg like the Karate Kid!"

"I've told you before about such demonstrations. It's not fair to the kids who can't do those things to show them you can. Now, go to your room!"

TheGaffer · Nov 3, 2006

That sounds mad. PC-ness gone too far.

PC-ness? How is this anything to do with PC-ness?

I mean, it's possibly a very dumb policy, but PC has nothing to do with it.

alleycat · Nov 3, 2006

You should see how they handle someone who farts. I thought those Indian clubs were just for exercise . . .

rtilryarms · Nov 3, 2006

Sine Alleycat stole my fart line, I'll only add that we have gone too far with rules and regulations in all aspects of Government and Private affairs.

karo.ambrose · Nov 3, 2006

Um, grunting doesn't mean you're showing off, its a natural tendency when you exert strength. I could see it as showing off if afterwards you start pounding your chest, but this is just retarded. When you do a rep you breathe out, and with your neck muscles tightened as you lift something that's challenging, of course there's gonna be restriction of airflow.

AnneMarble · Nov 3, 2006

TheGaffer said:
PC-ness? How is this anything to do with PC-ness?

I mean, it's possibly a very dumb policy, but PC has nothing to do with it.

It could be seen in a PC way. Sort of. Maybe the neophytes are intimidated by people who grunt and drop the weights (and wear bandanas) because they can't lift as much as those people. So it's bad for their self-esteem. (Aww, pat pat pat.)

We'll know that it's a self-esteem issue when the gym next institutes a policy that if you can lift more than 200 pounds, you have to wear extra weights around your arms so that you won't be able to lift more pounds than the weaker people. And wait until they open a dance studio where they make the dancers wear heavy weights...

alleycat · Nov 3, 2006

rtilryarms said:
Sine Alleycat stole my fart line, I'll only add that we have gone too far with rules and regulations in all aspects of Government and Private affairs.

I didn't steal it, I borrowed it!

TheGaffer · Nov 3, 2006

It could be seen in a PC way. Sort of. Maybe the neophytes are intimidated by people who grunt and drop the weights (and wear bandanas) because they can't lift as much as those people. So it's bad for their self-esteem. (Aww, pat pat pat.)

Maybe, but self-esteem and PC aren't the same thing.

dclary · Nov 3, 2006

Self-esteem is VERY MUCH a PC issue, Gaffer. It is becoming almost illegal to require people to have self-esteem for reason like... actually being worthy.

For instance, more and more teachers are required to give students good grades regardless of quality of work, because giving them high self-esteem is more important than ensuring they know the material.

I have always held that a person's self-esteem must be driven by something. If I write well, I can feel good about that. If I have a loving family who appreciates me, I can feel good about that. But I shouldn't just be told I have value no matter what I do if what I do sucks. This only builds hollow people with no skills and no bedrock of character.

Unique · Nov 3, 2006

And a sense of entitlement, dclary. You forgot their sense of entitlement.

TheGaffer · Nov 3, 2006

Ok, i'm in agreement there with your thoughts, Clary, but I still don't have an easy time connecting this to PC. I find it a tenuous link, is all.

C.bronco · Nov 3, 2006

C.bronco · Nov 3, 2006

I only grunt when something is really heavy.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Nov 3, 2006

I keep thinking I've heard it all. And I'm always wrong.

eldragon · Nov 3, 2006

I've belonged to gyms that have that kind of policy, but there are usually more MANLY gyms available (GOLDS?) for men who grunt to patronize.

I would think a police escort out was probably due to the grunters attitude and the fact that he can lift 500 pounds. I think I'd rather just ignore the grunting, myself.

There are also rules against profuse sweating. Especially because some of the serious body builders do not seem to carry a towell around with them to wipe it up.

My husband, a former bodybuilding champion, used to sweat all over the place and walk away. Good thing I called him on it, or we might have been fined.

veinglory · Nov 3, 2006

I quietly suspect the man was being as *** and the grunting was a good excuse to get rid of him. I mean it's not like people like to call in the police and turf out paying customers just for fun.

English Dave · Nov 3, 2006

If Planet Fitness is supposed to be for novices and the guy was lifting 500 pounds then I'm not surprised he was grunting. Ruptures are painful.

zarch · Nov 3, 2006

Goofy as this is, a club has every right to set guidelines or rules. This guy certainly knew he wasn't allowed to grunt.

Having said that...what a stupid rule.

billythrilly7th · Nov 3, 2006

SC Harrison said:
"Mooom! Billy's showing off again!"

"Billy, go to your room this minute!"

"Aww, that's not fair! I was just showing her I could stand on one leg like the Karate Kid!"

"I've told you before about such demonstrations. It's not fair to the kids who can't do those things to show them you can. Now, go to your room!"

How did you know I can do that?

I've actually practiced that for years in the hopes that someday I will be a major league pitcher and when a guy charges the mound after I bean him, I'd drop my glove and go right into Karate Kid stance and then I'd kick him in the head.

And regardless if I got the kick in, they would play that highlight for the rest of history.

I'd be immortalized.

I come up with a lot of stuff. It's the follow through area I have problems with.

Damn.

Sad.

English Dave · Nov 3, 2006

I'm a member of the David LLoyd club. As far as I'm aware they don't have a 'no grunt' rule. Do the steroid soaked pituatory cases lifting weights in the corner upset or intimidate me .

Nope.

They have their own agenda. Good luck to them.

billythrilly7th · Nov 3, 2006

There's nothing more annoying than some musclehead going "AHHHHH!! AHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH!" while I and others are trying to work out.

He should be sent to Gitmo if you want my honest opinion.

eldragon · Nov 3, 2006

The thing about grunting is that they don't just do it once. They do it every single time they lift.

It gets annoying, it interferes with other people's ability to work-out.

Bodybuilders can work out for a solid hour - grunt. Grunt. Grunt. Grunt. For a solid hour.

Guys like that are perfectly welcome at other gyms. Some places cater to grunters.

(Other places have juice bars.)

Man Escorted Out of Gym for Grunting

Nefarious Ghost Fan

Touch and go

Dances With Hamsters

Docking Bay 94

Still around

Crossbows and Handgonnes

._.

Nefarious Ghost Fan

Still around

Docking Bay 94

Unabashed Mercenary

Agent of Doom

Docking Bay 94

I have plans...

I have plans...

Hand? What hand?

in a van down by the river

volitare nequeo

GOML.

in a van down by the river