Is it just me, or is this a bunch of snobby attitude? I mean I know this is Testosterone, Muscle With Attitude, MWA fo life, yo, but does anyone else notice that more and more people are segregating themselves into an imaginary group of intelligent, elitist lifters?
Observe the simple loading of a barbell. Some dumbass will always chime in and point out that you’re supposed to put the numbered side of the plate facing in. I’m sorry to burst your bubble, pal, but this makes no difference at all. And what if both sides of the plate are numbered? What then, is there a rule that only elite lifters know? Is there a special lifting manual that I didn’t read? A secret handshake?
People get so wrapped up in this intelligent and relentless pursuit of muscle, they start thinking they are some kind of tough shit.
No curling in the squat rack. That’s a big one. “Oh no, I saw this 130 lb wigger in a wifebeater curling in the squat rack today! His arms were so tiny, and his form was AWFUL. Doesn’t he know that the gym is SERIOUS BUSINESS?”
See, it’s not srs bsns for everyone. It is for me, and I don’t curl in the rack, but if I see someone doing it, I don’t get all pissy about it and it won’t ruin my day. He paid the membership just like me, and he’ll pay with his lower back for that godawful form he’s using. But he has an absolutely given right to do handstands in the rack if he wishes so. What do I do when I see that the rack is occupied by a moron? I replace the exercise.
I also hate it when someone says that so-and-so is squatting a lot of weight, but for one quarter of the range of motion. Am I the only person in the gym who minds his own business? Who gives a crap if the guy next to me is breaking parallel or not? It’s his thing, if it makes him feel big and strong, I say go for it.
So he’s grinding his knees into a pulp. What do I care? You all can be good Samaritans and try and educate the poor soul (not that he’ll listen), but I’d just like to get my squat, bench and dl done in under an hour. It doesn’t make me any better than quarter-repper over there, though. I do my thing, he does his.
Oh and that crap about someone walking nearby while you’re performing a heavy lift. I swear, most people act like a slight breeze will knock them over while they’re getting that 400 lbs out of the hole. Newsflash: it won’t. If you’re blaming someone who dared to be in your general area while you failed your 1RM, you’re kidding yourself. A proper 1 RM requires so much focus that I, personally, don’t even notice other people during those 30 seconds. Someone would have to literally bump into me in order to ruin my lift.
People wearing perfume. Uh-oh. My uncle is from Canada and he’s telling me that perfumes, colognes and deodorants are getting banned from gyms and workplaces there. Why? People are bothered by the smell. Where I live (southern Europe), this is unheard of. People here stink or smell sweet around the clock, no questions asked.
If you told someone from around here that his/her cologne is bothering you, all you’d get would be an odd look. Stop being such nancy boys, for Christ’s sake. So it smells strong, it’s not chlorophorme.
Want more? “They don’t let me deadlift/clean and jerk/farmer walk in my gym. The place is so clean and full of non-elite lifters. It doesn’t cater to my hardcore bodybuilding needs at all! And the personal trainer there DARED to question my form. Like I could ever hurt my back pulling 500 lbs off the floor!”
This sort of attitude sucks. Reality check: it’s a private gym. That means that it’s owned by someone. Someone who paid a lot of money for the space and the equipment and the staff. That someone can play Alanis Morissette all day and furnish the gym with pink dumbbells exclusively. Your rules do not apply in a privately owned gym. If they say no deadlifting, respect their rules or find another gym that suits you.
You know who’s elite? Someone who gets paid to be strong or look a certain way. For the rest of us, this is a hobby, a lifestyle. Ronnie Coleman has every right to fuss if the dumbbells don’t go over 200 lbs in his gym. As for the rest, shut the fuck up already!
