AIO for this incident at the gym?
I had a very unpleasant experience at the gym earlier today. This guy I hadn’t run into before was working out next to me while filming himself (on top of that, he had his backpack placed on the floor beside the machine that I was using instead of putting it in a locker). Thing is, I noticed that he kept looking at me while he rested and I was doing my sets, which made me feel uncomfortable. Anyways, when I was done, I moved onto the next exercise and shortly after he walked up to me to tell me that I had done the previous exercise wrong and wanted to show me how it was properly done. I agreed because I thought it would’ve been rude if I hadn’t. While he was explaining how to do the exercise, the men he had been working out with previously started chuckling in the background. When he was done explaining, I thanked him and then he said “oh, btw, you have to get the weights off the barbell”, which I usually do but this time I didn’t because I thought he was using the barbell and I was still startled by the fact that he’d approached me to tell me all that” (I’m not used to this kind of interaction). Anyways, a while later a staff member came to tell me off for not getting the weights off that barbell. I got back to the machine and unloaded the barbell while that guy and his two friends were looking and chuckling in the background. Then I got my stuff and left the gym. I’ve been going to that gym for almost a year to the point where it became a safe space for me. Now I’m considering cancelling my subscription because I wouldn’t like to run into those people ever again and I felt humiliated. Am I overreacting? Am I being overdramatic? What would you do if you had that happen to you?
Thanks for reading and taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it.
Reddit consensus: NOT OVERREACTING (NOR) (94% confidence)
Top comment: “NOR.
That's mean. They shouldn't have done that, but don't let them take your safe space away from you.
If it was me, and they came up to me for a second time, saying something like "you're not using the equipment properly" I'd respond with "And it seems like you're not using your brain properly".
But that's just me. I'm a bit diabolical.”
Notable comment: “NOR for your reaction but YOR for leaving the gym. Stand up to this creep! Arm yourself in advance with some responses so you won't be caught off guard like you were this time. Some suggestions in order of increasing aggressiveness:
\* wear headphones and if he starts to approach you, walk away like you couldn't hear him
\* "Sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush today" and walk away
\* "I've already got a trainer, not interested" and walk away
\* (Pick out buffest guy working out at the time) "Listen, if I'm going to take tips from anyone here, it's going to be him" and walk away
\* "Bud, let me give you a tip for a change: You're getting a reputation around here as the resident creep who's always interrupting workouts. Approach me again and I'm reporting it to management."
\* "Let's take this conversation to the front desk so I can identify you better."
Most importantly, report this conduct. Gyms do not care about keeping guys like this happy, it's not like they make any more money off him than the next customer. Give them a reason to give him the boot. For all you know, many others have reported him already.”
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Originally shared by Advet74 on r/AmIOverreacting on June 5th, 2026 at 6:31 PM UTC. Credit to u/Natural_Cricket_2540 and u/JeepersCreepers74 for the quoted comments.
