Gym Calls Police On Weightlifter Who 'Grunted'

[julianne]

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.

LOL, that made me giggle, Glitch,

I DO agree that way more people pretend to be offended by stuff than they really are.

I would venture to say that anyone who would get offended by a man who made a grunting noise while he was lifting very heavy weights while in a gym needs to most likely be working out a home, alone. I would also venture to say that such a person most likely has many conflicts with the people in their life and quite possibly has too much free time on their hands. If I had to choose which person to work out next to, the "grunter" or the uppity, uptight, person who throws a hissy fit because someone grunted, well give me the "grunter" any day of the week.

 

[BarnGoddess]

AHA !!!!! I just knew it. I posted that someone may be offended about drinking from a water fountain, and they probably had a rule about that too. Well I checked out the link:

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

Sure enough with a certain type of membership you can buy water for 1/2 price.

 

[CyberLaw]

We send out kids to school with bottle water, ever since one of them caught strep when he was in grade 3.

Especially when you have many people or kids who decide to put their lmouth on the fountain, whith no regards for the next person who uses it.

Remember the weightlifter is above the rules, so I am sure there are many other people who feel the same way, who have zero regard for others.

I don't want the kids catching "germs" or whatever virus or god forbit, Hep C, or Menigitis(sp) or what ever.

Their own bottle, is theirs and theirs alone........

 

[BarnGoddess]

Cyber, some people go to extremes, not matter what the issue. I bottle my own water, LOL. We have a well. We are so far out in the country we don't get city water. I guess that growing up when no one had bottled water and we used the school fountains, got our water at home from the tap, etc., makes me a bit cynical when it comes to people walking around with bottles. I work in a car dealership and have even seen people come in with their pocketbook and a bottle of water, just to spend 2 minutes dropping off a check. I mean getting out of their cars and walking about 30 yards to do this. Mind you I haven't yet seen anyone actually drink out of their bottles. There is one town near us noted for terrible tasting water. The wells are artisian and the water tastes awful. I only get bottled water there if I need to have a drink. Most restuarants there serve bottled water. Residents mostly have a water service also.

As to discrimination and harrassment, I have been there and done that. I was in charge of that aspect of the dealership I worked for in Miami. We had one or two cases that ended in our favor. We did everything by the book. We even had a potential customer who sued because she thought the finance manager took a dislike to her and she was turned down for a loan because of that. She wanted the BMW she was trying to buy given to her free and clear to soothe her hurt feelings. When we showed her attorney her credit report, she tried to claim we faked it and made up all that bad information. It cost us several thousand to have our attorneys research and put together a report to prove we did nothing. Well, at least it wasn't sexual harrassment.

I worked in a health club many moons ago. We had body builders, average joes and janes and even one or two who were there to overcome stroke damage. Mostly they were separated by mens and ladies nights, but one night a week was co-ed. The ladies would wait for machines and sit on the carpeted floor doing hip rolls and chat. Men would be nearby on one of the Universal stations doing whatever. Grunting and sweating was going on if I recall, so was laughing and joking and cheering when someone was weighed and measured and lost an inch or two. Didn't seem to intimidate the others that someone was happy about their progress. We've gotten too sensitive about things we blew off for years. We're down to making stupid rules and filing frivilous lawsuits because our feelings were hurt. There's got to be a middle ground somewhere. Too many people are being raised to believe they're entitled to have everything go their way, or there will be hell to pay.

 

[CyberLaw]

But the point is Barn Godess, the Gym is free to make any rules they see fit, that benefits all of their members equally.

Follow the rules or get out of the gym, or stop doing what you are doing and respec the rules. No sensitivity here, it is called "feeling" that you are so entitled and "special" that the rules that apply to this gym just "do not apply" to the little world you live in that you inhabit.

Like w funeral today, a "wonderful wife and mother, great marriage, wonderful person, 4 kids ages 3-9, out for a jog, who was hit by a drunk driver going 70km over the speed limit. He held himself above the rules of society, felt entitled to do what ever he wants, when he wants, and who cares about anyone else.

People have to remember that their actions affect others......that they have to be considerate and respect others.

You cannot "quote" a case that in your opinion was done in bad faith.

These rules are in good faith, they are for everyone, who knows if this particular weighlifer is "so special" that he easily breaks the law and rules, because he feels entitled to do so because again he feels entitled and sooooo special.

 

[BarnGoddess]

Sorry Cyber but grunting is sometimes unavoidable when lifting 500 lbs. It's a natural reaction. Sometimes it just comes out. Ever hear a weightlifter? Watch the Olympics sometime. If the gym bans all grunting, then perhaps they should limit the weight an indiviual is allowed to lift. I was grunting and groaning last night. The BarnGod came home with a truck load of very heavy bales of oat hay. I needed my help getting them off so he could stack them. In the vein of this thread, I really tried to be silent, but instinct got the best of me, and it seemed an easier task when I grunted as I lifted them.

 

[Nova]

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.

And Cyber's post sums up everything that is wrong with sexual harassment law.

 

[2sisters]

And Cyber's post sums up everything that is wrong with sexual harassment law.

Yes, b/c now even a simple comment can be misunderstood. We could be at work and I could come up to you and tell you how good your new suit looks on you, that it really flatters you, and that could be considered sexual harrasment. Silly as it would sound someone would be offended by that remark. say a woman comes to work who has been excersizing and dieting and a coworker comments that they look really good, is that sexual harrasment?

 

[GlitchWizard]

My daily trips to the gym are SO MUCH more fun, now that I pay attention to the grunting.

 

[Nova]

Yes, b/c now even a simple comment can be misunderstood. We could be at work and I could come up to you and tell you how good your new suit looks on you, that it really flatters you, and that could be considered sexual harrasment. Silly as it would sound someone would be offended by that remark. say a woman comes to work who has been excersizing and dieting and a coworker comments that they look really good, is that sexual harrasment?

I have a problem with any law where the "offense" is defined entirely by the subjective impression of the purported victim. I feel the same about some obscenity laws. (My language is a crime if and only if you decide it is.) But I'm not sure "obscenity" is still defined in that manner.

This isn't to say there should be no protection against sexual harassment, just that harassment needs to be more objectively defined.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

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.

My husband is a former competitive bodybuilder. There have never been any rules in the gym regarding the weights except that they're not allowed to "drop" them on the floor and they need to wipe their sweat before they leave a bench. If they can't put the weight down normally, they need to lighten their load. I've been in the gym a million times either lifting or watching and to tell you the truth, I've probably done my fair share of grunting. However, I can tell you that when a bodybuilder or power lifter has hundreds of pounds of weights in the air, they're concerned with their lift and not who else is in the vicinity. If any female thinks that grunt is for her, she'll be let down entirely. They're lifting more than their own body weight. They've got better things at that moment to think about.

 

[2sisters]

I am thinking this gym isn't for body bulders or really even for serious working out. It sounds like a "meet market". Any serious gym wouldn't have rules on whether or not you can grunt.

 

[Gozgals]

And Cyber's post sums up everything that is wrong with sexual harassment law.

I guess now we have become a world where a man can't even compliment a woman without being afraid of sexual harassment. This is insane.

I guess one would rather hear, "My, you look like your azz is getting fatter lately!!"

I personally don't mind a good compliment from time to time, but I guess I'm different and don't consider being complimented a form of sexual harassment.

Jeana, thanks for the voice of reason.
If you gotta grunt while exercising, it is a normal function of the body. I doubt these guys are lurking while lifting!

Gozgals

 

[Nova]

I personally don't mind a good compliment from time to time, but I guess I'm different and don't consider being complimented a form of sexual harassment.

Actually, I think you are quite normal in this respect. Which is why such draconian restrictions are so silly.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I guess now we have become a world where a man can't even compliment a woman without being afraid of sexual harassment. This is insane.

As a former school teacher, now programmer, I don't report sexual harrassment when it occurs.... but I do GRADE it.

 

[CyberLaw]

If these guys want to grunt to their hearts content, let them go to a "private" male guym, not a public, gym, co-ed gym. I am getting the "jibe" here that these "guys" rule the gym with their grunting, while the women are doing yoga and aerobics.

Fairness to all, equality to all.

I guess it all depends on who is making the comment and to what extent if they are your boss, equal co-worker, a male, a superior.

If a man says: I love short skirts, yours in just short enough. Yeah, well can he say the same thing, in the same context to a man.

Or if he "undermindes" your professional status in a meeting, boardroom, well ask yourself if he has said the same comment to a man.

Any comment said to a women, should look at the context if that man said it to another man...........it is much different when a man says it to a women, especially if it "is meant" to judge her on what she looks like not on what she does. A "you look so pretty" today, is much different then "you are a very smart women". One has to do with sex and looks, the other intelligence. I know which one I would prefer........

The no grunting rules applies, the gym has their own rules, they enforce those rules, if you don't like those rules, go to a gym that allows grunting and please do no allow to hit your backside on the way out.

Respect the rules, or leave.....if you don't leave.....then the cops will be called....if you "argue" and attempt to assert your "perceived" authority or control over staff, and start a fight, then the cops will be called.

After all you don't work at the gym, you don't own it, you don't get paid to work out there, you pay to enjoy the gym like any other person who pays also and RESPECTS the rules.

So why should you ignore the rules that apply to everyone else...oh I forgot, you don't agree with them, therefore they don't apply to you.

BTW, my oldest is under the impression that "anyone" can be sued, like his Mom and Dad for him not going out to an all age club. Cruel and unusual, etc.

Go ahead, son, I have heard that many, many times before, I know you are ticked off, go ahead sue, what is your cause of action exactly.

What a cause of action, Mom? He asks.......

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Any female who thinks that a man holding 500 pounds of weights is taking the time to "grunt" at her, she's got to be one desperate female. Someone earlier said that this wasn't a real gym anyway and I'm starting to think that's the truth. Its obviously some pansy ass, juice selling, elipical machine owning pick up joint. The guy will do better to get as far away from there as humanly possible.

 

[Annie]

I went to a female high school powerlifting event and I heard plenty of grunting. It was unbelievable how much weight some of those girls were lifting. And some of them grunted. No big deal. I couldn't begin to lift what some of them were lifting.

 

[2sisters]

I can not belive that grunting while working out is offensive. My god what is this world coming to. Just for all of you i am going to go do my workout now and I am going to grunt so loud at you the neighbors hear me!

 

[julianne]

A "you look so pretty" today, is much different then "you are a very smart women". One has to do with sex and looks, the other intelligence. I know which one I would prefer........

Am I the only woman in this sue-happy, lawsuit-loving day and age that isn't offended when a man says "You look pretty today."????? I totally disagree that a man telling me that I look pretty is about sex!!! That is so hilarious to me.

Now, if a man said to me "Nice ass, I'd love to grab me some of that...", THAT is sexual, and although it wouldn't OFFEND me, it would piss me off and I'd have no problem speaking up and telling him so.

If a man tells me I am pretty, and says so in a respectable way, I take that as a compliment. Some people, mainly women, don't take compliments well, but that doesn't mean that a compliment then should be turned into something it isn't.

In defense of all men, the day all compliments to women turn into sexual harrassment is a sad day in the world!

As far as "rules are rules" and the need to respect them, I say there have many rules that have been changed and overturned because they were later deemed to be ridiculous, unecessary and discriminatory. That applies to public AND private businesses. Just because something is labeled a "rule", it doesn't automatically earn my agreeance, acceptance and me blindly following it because someone else says I have to.