Gym Calls Police On Weightlifter Who 'Grunted'

[Melisinde]

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Oh FFS. I think every time I have grunted when I exerted myself physically, it was an involuntary thing. I can't think of the word I want to use right now, but I never did it on purpose. It just always kind of... came out.

As far as offending some women??? Sorry, Cyber. I like a lot of the things you post but... this one is just :doh: . I almost want to set up a poll and find out how many people would actually be offended if they heard a man grunt. (I say grunt, because when I've heard anyone make a noise at the gym as they lifted, it was usually just one.) I thought all the politically correct bullish was over in the 90's- but now grunts hurt people's feelings? Geez... there are all women gyms now if people are that sensitive.

 

[hipmamajen]

Hell, I grunt at the gym when lifting 30 pounds, if I am tired.

I grunt sometimes when I'm getting out the recliner! I feel old these days... :crazy:

 

[Gozgals]

I grunt sometimes when I'm getting out the recliner! I feel old these days... :crazy:

I agree:dance: :dance:

but also, I grunt when I think of the gym owner. I wonder if sweating is allowed?:bang:

 

[BarnGoddess]

Quote Gozgals:

Wonder if in their policies after one hoists 500lbs if they are allowed a drink of water?

Opps, that's probably a no-no too, I mean a grunt or noise is not allowed here. Must all be fit and strong. Geez

Well, that depends. Since you can't grunt there, then it might offend someone if you drink water out of a fountain that's nearby. They might get sick thinking of any impurities that may have come through the pipes. They probably require you to drink only their brand of designer water sold there at a grossly inflated price.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I wonder if their bathrooms have the same policy...

 

[Gozgals]

:crazy:

I wonder if their bathrooms have the same policy...

LMAO-- Who said the bathrooms could be used for anything but applying MAKE-UP or combing hair....

Gozgals

 

[CyberLaw]

I checked today, and grunting can be "be seen" as sexual harassment and guess who would be liable for the "human rights violation", no not the weighlifter, but the gym, That would be why they have a posted policy. Because no one could claim that they did not "know" and it releases the gym from liability, because the policy is posted and they have to act upon any violation of the policy.

If one women is offended, or "feels" degraded or what ever, and the policy is not posted, and the guy did nothing, then they could up for a mega bucks human rights violation.

You see there is always a reason for rules.........just because one person does not agree with them or thinks that they are stupid, does not mean that the person who made the rule does not see or experience the benefit of it. After all it their gym............

 

[2sisters]

I checked today, and grunting can be "be seen" as sexual harassment and guess who would be liable for the "human rights violation", no not the weighlifter, but the gym, That would be why they have a posted policy. Because no one could claim that they did not "know" and it releases the gym from liability, because the policy is posted and they have to act upon any violation of the policy.

If one women is offended, or "feels" degraded or what ever, and the policy is not posted, and the guy did nothing, then they could up for a mega bucks human rights violation.

You see there is always a reason for rules.........just because one person does not agree with them or thinks that they are stupid, does not mean that the person who made the rule does not see or experience the benefit of it. After all it their gym............

But why was he grunting? it depends on the context of the grunt. Did a woman walk by while he was leaning against a wall and then he started to grunt or was he in the middle of lifting weights, stretching or putting his weights down. I just don't get how grunting in a gym is offensive. back in my leaner days when I went to the gym all I heard was grunting. It could have been directed at my sexy treadmilling and not an exertion grunt though:innocent:

 

[CyberLaw]

It does not depend on the context, it depends on how a "women" in the vicinity feel and is affected by the grunting.

For example: Another women is sexually harassed at work. The second women is not sexually harassed. But it is the entire environment, that the second women has to "work" in an witness, this is called second and third party.

A man has a "racy" calendar up on the wall, the women has to see it and work in this "environment" that is not equal to all, men and women.

So sexual harassment or an "offensive" environment does not have to direct, it is how it makes a women feel which is the "crux" of the situation.

So lets just say: A man grunts, and does so quite loudly, it is not the grunt, it is how it makes the "other females" in the gym feel by listening and experiencing it. The women do not "grunt" lifting weights, so why should they be subject to this behavoir of the men.

That is why: The no "grunting" rule is in effect, because it makes the environment, less "comfortable" and less equal for women.

A man walks into a meeting: There is one women present. He tells her "she looks" very pretty today, well that "lone" comment" would diminish per "professionalism" and the 'view" of her professionalism to both herself and the other men present.

 

[docwho3]

We actually need to hear from some pro body builders and pro weight lifters on this one. I know a couple and there are reasons for the grunting or not grunting. This sounds more like a case of people in a gym that was not for serious weight lifters encountering some serious weightlifters and the lack of knowledge about serious weight lifting may have conributed to what hapened, almost like a culture clash.

 

[2sisters]

A racy calendar and someone grunting at the gym are 2 differnet things. This is so ridiculous that I am not even going to discuss it anymore. This is whats wrong with this world , everyone is offended by something and it is always someone elses fault. I find nothing offensive by someone saying "you look pretty today", hell i welcome it but if they saw "wow you look pretty today I want to nail "you now, that's different. Grow up. OMG someone grunted at the gym have him registered as a sex offender.

 

[CyberLaw]

Men and women are equal. they deserve to be treated equally. No question about that. For a judge to say: Well I want you to "dress" properly in my court, which consist of a skirt, is to "undermind" my professionalism, especially if that Judge says that to me, and or in front of the "other side". The comment shows his "bias" and attitude about women. Enough said.

For a mixed Gym, where both men and women work out. It does not matter if the "men are professional" bodybuilders, serious bodybuilder, heck, Atlas for all I care. The fact is that the environment is not equal if women are subjected to the "behaviour" of men who grunt. Women do not grunt. So why on earth sould a women "work" out in an enviornment(where she pays the same amount of $ that the men do) and be subject to a "different" enviornment.

A recent case. A gym had a "superior" facility for men. They had showers, saunas, a whirlpool, a nice change area. O.K. This cost men more, which they "gladly" paid.

When women wanted to join. They were not able to take advantage of any superior area. Because there was not any. They had a change room and showers. Even though the women "wanted" the same facilities as men, and could easily pay more, they were not given the same "opportunity".

So it went to the Human Rights Tribunal. The gym was ordered to "build" equal facilities for women as the men had. They were ordered to offer women equal treatment and opportunities.

It is all about equality, it does not matter if 100 women do not "mind" grunting, all it takes is one women, to lodge a complaint, and proceed to the Human Rights Tribunal. It again, will not the the "grunter" who will be before a board of inquiry, but the Gym. The Board of Inquiry will rule, that this offended this women, as it is a "standard" of a reasonable women standard(which is held by the courts) and that the gym must post and take measure to enfore the "no grunting" rule, equal to both men and women. The gym will have to post a policy and enforce that policy.

We are talking about rights, dignity and law. It is not a "simple" matter of grunting...........

As soon as you treat women differently then men in any public place, restaurant, gym, store, etc, then you violate humans rights. Human rights are about fundamental dignity and equality.

i don't know how better to explain this, I really don't.

 

[Gozgals]

A racy calendar and someone grunting at the gym are 2 differnet things. This is so ridiculous that I am not even going to discuss it anymore. This is whats wrong with this world , everyone is offended by something and it is always someone elses fault. I find nothing offensive by someone saying "you look pretty today", hell i welcome it but if they saw "wow you look pretty today I want to nail "you now, that's different. Grow up. OMG someone grunted at the gym have him registered as a sex offender.

I agree 2sisters.....

Cyber, gotta love you but this is bordering on toooo bizarre!

Gozgals

 

[julianne]

Cyber,

Twice now you have said that "women do not grunt." Have you ever lifted weights? I have, and I am a woman, and in lifting those weights, if they were heavy enough and caused enough strain on me........I GRUNTED.

"Grunting" is not exclusive to men. I would go as far as to say that MOST, if not ALL, HUMANS make noises of exasperation or "grunting" when involved in something that is extremely physically demanding and difficult.

I'd bet a million dollars that if any woman took a case to court because she felt "sexually harrassed" because a weightlifter in her gym made a grunting noise while he was lifting those weights, that it would be thrown out in a millisecond.

I had furniture delivered the other day---one piece was extremely heavy and made out of granite. Both of the furniture movers "grunted", huffed, and breathed heavily while moving it. Are you trying to tell me that I could accuse these men of sexually harrassing me???? Nah...I aint buying it.

 

[cynpat2000]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Gym Calls Police On Weightlifter Who 'Grunted'

Man Made Noise While Lifting 500 Pounds

http://www.ktvu.com/news/10232266/detail.htmlPOSTED: 4:48 am PST November 3, 2006


<!--startindex-->ALBANY, N.Y. -- You could forgive a guy for grunting while lifting 500 pounds -- unless you're the owners of a place called Planet Fitness.


It turns out that grunting isn't allowed in their universe.


Corrections officer Albert Argibay learned that the hard way this week. He was hoisting 500 pounds on a machine at the Wappingers Falls, N.Y., gym when the manager said he grunted -- in violation of the Planet Fitness rules.


Argibay said whether or not he grunted is "open to interpretation." What's crystal clear is that police were called to escort him out after the manager came over and there was an argument.


The gym said they don't allow grunting because it conflicts with the non-intimidating atmosphere they strive for.


The gym, which refers to itself as the judge-free zone, has the following statement on its Web site: See rest on link.*

I find this truly amazing and a waste of Police manpower. I say he should have gotten the whole gym to grunt.

Gozgals

 

[fivekidz4me]

It seems obvious that this gym doesn't allow grunting. It is also obvious that the person wasn't escorted out for "grunting", but because he was arguing with the manager. The police were probably called in because the grunter became unruly after being asked to stop grunting. I suppose we should allow people to bully those who enforce the rules? The headline of the story is misleading which doesn't suprise me...
This has nothing to do with sexual noises or equal rights...it's about enforcing the rules that the whole gym is based on.

http://www.planetfitness.com/wappingersfalls/?s=1042&c=10059&x=0

Planet Fitness® strives to promote health in a respectful atmosphere. For over a decade, Planet Fitness® has gone to great lengths to provide its members with a friendly space to work out. We call it the Judgment Free Zone. We discourage weight dropping and obnoxious grunting so you can focus on your own workout and not the person next to you.

 

[CyberLaw]

Respectfuly atmosphere says it all......

Thank you fivekidz4me, a voice of reason.........

A verbal arguement with a "man who can lift 500 lbs in a public place, who does not respect the rules who starts a fight, is not a good situation, to be in for the manger or for the other gym users...........

it can easily escalate.........since this man does not respect rules anyways....

 

[Melisinde]

:banghead:

Seriously, weight dropping too? Crap- I've dropped weights once or twice on accident because my hand got too sweaty! Look, I can understand the guy was asked to leave because of the verbal argument. I still believe that this "no grunting" is complete b.s. Grunting is 99% of the time an involuntary reaction. Wonder what happens if someone sneezes while in the gym, or farts... it's the same thing. I wonder if me sighing loudly could constitute sexual harassment. I mean, some people exhale pretty deeply after sex.

The line has to be drawn somewhere. Anyone who would complain they were being sexually harassed because a guy grunted when lifting 500 lbs. needs to get the heck off my planet. They're obviously from another one anyways. Either that, or wear a damn pair of headphones like most of the people at the gym do anyways.

 

[CyberLaw]

it is not the behavoir that is always sexual harassment, it the "poison" atmosphere, it just just one comment, just gesture, one incident and the environment can be deemed hostile and poisoned.

A hey sexy, may may seem harmless to some, and to others it is not........

Grunting may seem harmless to some and not to others......

Reepectful is the key word, this is one in ones home, this is a pulbic place where everyone pays the same price for a gym membership.........

If you want to grunt, do it in the privacy of your own home, not a public gym.

No leering allowed either at women in gym clothes either...........

 

[GlitchWizard]

No leering allowed either at women in gym clothes either...........

If the rest of the women wore the same tattered shorts and concert t's that I do, no one would leer. On ocassion, I mistake the cleavage in the skin tight spandex as the basketball hoop at my gym.

I think way more people pretend to be offended by stuff than really are.