Quote Originally Posted by ny biker View Post
Really to me this is an example of a larger problem that is really getting to me. So many people are just so wrapped up in their belief that they are the center of the universe that they are not capable of being courteous to or thoughtful of the people around them. It's not just at the gym. . . . So much rudeness and lack of respect and it's all small stuff but it just builds up after a while.

I know there are nice people out there too but for some reason the rude ones are the ones who stand out. And it's hard to just shrug them off because that's just like giving up and accepting the world is a crappy place full of people who don't give a crap about anyone but themselves. It seems we should be capable of more than that.

I have at times felt the same frustration. And it can build up and make you feel very unhappy about so many aspects of life. e.g., my current job, but that's getting off topic . . .

Years ago when DH and I lived in a certain city where the economy was booming it seemed that people were getting ruder to each other all the time. Housing was scarce and expensive, parking was scarce and expensive, and people were always honking at you at intersections when you stopped to let a pedestrian cross, which you are supposed to do in CA. I sometimes wonder whether times of high stress cause people to throw civility out the window. The economy could be robust and people will convince themselves that their needs and problems outweigh everyone else's. And right now the economy is not-so-healthy and maybe this, too, leads to people becoming self-focused.

I hope if your gym situation doesn't improve that you'll be able to find a gym you're happier with. Any gym worth its salt should have plenty of spray bottles and towels handy, as well as rules of usage posted on the wall, regarding everything that others have posted in this thread -- spraying down, allowing others to work in, re-racking weights when finished with equipment, etc. It should not be your job to clean up after others before you get to start your workout. You are paying the same amount of money as other gym-users; unless they're paying for the privilege to not clean up after themselves, your gym management needs to figure out a way to convince them to be courteous of other users. Like, threaten to revoke their membership?