Generally, there are some unwritten rules that everybody agrees on in specific places. An example of this is the gym where staying away from others' private space if possible has become an etiquette.
Source: stock.adobe.com
A 27-year-old woman turned to Reddit to ask if she was in the wrong by leaving the gym earlier because of the man on the next elliptical. In response, the internet rallied behind her while condemning the guy.
Posting in the subreddit
AmItheAsshole, she shared her habit of going to the nearby gym later every evening. Her claustrophobia was the main reason she chose nighttime for working out alone at the gym. On the day mentioned, she was on an elliptical when a man entered the empty room. Everything would be fine if the man did not use the machine next to hers instead of dozen of others.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Uneasy due to the guy's presence, the poster decided to cut her workout early. She intended to leave quietly after wiping the machine, but the guy interrupted her with a weird action. After asking and knowing that the woman had finished her exercise, he snapped at her out of the blue. He accused her of “treating him like a predator” which offended him.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
The post has gained over 12,000 upvotes and about 2,300 comments from Redditors. Most guessed that the man in this story must have malignant intentions due to his odd behaviors. They supposed that he would have chosen an elliptical far from the woman unless he had a particular purpose. Besides, his notice about when the woman, a complete stranger, left was unusual. His desperate attempt to prove himself non-threatening seemed even more frightening.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Some people saw his choice of the machine as probably understandable as it might be his habit. However, his reaction when the Redditor left proved otherwise. It was apparent that a non-dangerous guy would have no reason to comment on the length of another’s workout in a gym.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Many agreed that the woman had made the right decision to leave early, and they appreciated her politeness toward the suspicious man. Netizens asserted that she was doing right and there was no need to feel guilty when she followed her survival instinct.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Do you think the man mentioned above was suspicious? What would you do if you were the woman? Do you know any other etiquette people should respect in the gym? Please share your views in the comment below!