Creepy/Weird guy at the gym

Thoughts_Arrive

Creepy/Weird that always tries to chat with me comes and uses the treadmill next to me at the gym when there are 10 other treadmills to choose from and tries to have a chat with me. "Do you like Football (Aussie Rules)/Soccer?" (I lied and said NO to both sports questions to try and end the conversation) "Do you watch Married at first sight?" "Fucking Lesbians they make me sick" "I've been here for 4 hours, you know, to get the blood up"

That was some of what went on the other day.
I was alone in the treadmill room in the gym and he comes next to me. He also kept checking out my screen to see what pace I was running and at the end of his run he said he could do better, like as if he was competing with me.
Previously he always says hi and wants to chat, he does this to other people to.

Should I be worried? Report him to management?

Malroth

I'll stop talking to anybody I guess.

MayDay10

Headphones?

ledvedderman

Dude sounds like a total creep. Try headphones like someone suggested. If those don't work, I'd definitely either confront him on it (not fun) or report him.

FoxyRedLa

Change your cologne you mange to always attract creepers

Thoughts_Arrive

Not a fan of headphones whilst working out. Plus I don't have any suitable for gym.
I normally don't talk to anyone as I am there to work out not socialise.
This guy the other day, I am struggling to breathe as I am running hard and he's asking me all these questions.

He also has this aggressive demeanour and way of speaking, it's very odd.
And to spend 4 hrs at the gym each time he goes?

Thoughts_Arrive

FoxyRedLa said:

Change your cologne you mange to always attract creepers

I do unfortunately :(

Thoughts_Arrive

ledvedderman said:

Dude sounds like a total creep. Try headphones like someone suggested. If those don't work, I'd definitely either confront him on it (not fun) or report him.

My friend suggested I say "look mate, no disrespect but I'm here to work out, I have no interest in chatting to you"
I like that one but I feel uncomfortable saying it because he looks like a psycho.

On the treadmill the other day I kept looking behind me hoping other people would be on a treadmill.
I was frightened with him next to me.

He says things to himself as he hops on machines.
Mental issues?

deadendp

Is there another gym in the area you could go to or perhaps a different time slot at this one? Is there some track you could run on instead of a treadmill? Is there a friend you could bring to deter conversation?

This is why my husband works out at home. He has a gym in the basement. He does not enjoy gym people. He tried but kept having gym experiences like you or had gym bullies mad that he used the weights.

FoxyRedLa

deadendp said:

Is there another gym in the area you could go to or perhaps a different time slot at this one? Is there some track you could run on instead of a treadmill? Is there a friend you could bring to deter conversation?

This is why my husband works out at home. He has a gym in the basement. He does not enjoy gym people. He tried but kept having gym experiences like you or had gym bullies mad that he used the weights.

Yikes. Wth. Nice to have a set up at home tho

Thoughts_Arrive

deadendp said:

Is there another gym in the area you could go to or perhaps a different time slot at this one? Is there some track you could run on instead of a treadmill? Is there a friend you could bring to deter conversation?

This is why my husband works out at home. He has a gym in the basement. He does not enjoy gym people. He tried but kept having gym experiences like you or had gym bullies mad that he used the weights.

I paid my yearly membership, so another gym is not an option.
No friend to go with.
I have bad knees and shin issues when road running so treadmill is the best.
The times this guy goes is unpredictable. I've seen him early mornings and lunchtimes.
I wish I had the space and money for my own home gym.

Thoughts_Arrive

I am off to the gym, it is almost lunchtime here. Hopefully I won't see him.

Dr. Delight

Headphones.
Do you not like headphones more than the constant driveling of a stranger in your ear?
Headphones.

PJfanwillneverleave1

If anyone can have a conversation while using a treadmill they are not using the equipment properly.

2-feign-reluctance

Smoke some marijuana before the gym. ; )

buck502000

Are you that good-looking?

hedonist

Just say you prefer to focus on working out and not chatting. It's not rude.

Wma31394

2-feign-reluctance said:

Smoke some marijuana before the gym. ; )

Funny

ledvedderman

buck502000 said:

Are you that good-looking?

Who needs a creepy dude at the gym making weird comments when you can have a dude on a Pearl Jam message board making equally creepy comments and taking your situation lightly?

Halifax2TheMax

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Creepy/Weird that always tries to chat with me comes and uses the treadmill next to me at the gym when there are 10 other treadmills to choose from and tries to have a chat with me. "Do you like Football (Aussie Rules)/Soccer?" (I lied and said NO to both sports questions to try and end the conversation) "Do you watch Married at first sight?" "Fucking Lesbians they make me sick" "I've been here for 4 hours, you know, to get the blood up"

That was some of what went on the other day.
I was alone in the treadmill room in the gym and he comes next to me. He also kept checking out my screen to see what pace I was running and at the end of his run he said he could do better, like as if he was competing with me.
Previously he always says hi and wants to chat, he does this to other people to.

Should I be worried? Report him to management?

Is his name Ani?

Amongst the Ani

Faxxxi, do we need to have the talk again?

In all seriousness to OP, you need to ask the guy to leave you alone as you want to focus on your workout. Headphones work best to be left alone if you don't want to say anything otherwise. You should not have to go to another gym.

Thoughts_Arrive

I got back and lucky he wasn't there.
I hate worrying if he will be there as I drive to the gym, it sucks.
I was loving it until this guy signed up at the gym.
The other day I walked past him twice and tried to avoid eye contact, the second time I noticed he looked angry.
Then behind me he was on a stepper machine and kept looking at me, that is when he then hopped onto the treadmill next to me.

oftenreading

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

Thoughts_Arrive

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Thoughts_Arrive

The I fkn hate lesbians comment, he was angry, I didn't respond, what can I say.
I wad offended, I feel like I could have lied and said 'I have a lesbian friend/family member and I find that offensive' but I don't want to get into an ugly situation with the guy.

oftenreading

Thoughts_Arrive said:

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Have you seen him punch anyone? Have you seen him threaten anyone? If not, I don't know why you would assume he's going to.

hedonist

What is to report? Guy chats with you, you're not into it. Say as much. Speaking your mind with honesty and maybe kindness too isn't tantamount to being an asshole.

Wish I knew what else to say beyond some good and sage advice given here. And really, no need to let your mind lead you on those "what if" roads. I recall you being down them before. Surely there are some coping methods at hand.

It's really OK to stand up for yourself when warranted. Give it a go. The first step may be the hardest but it's also the most necessary.

And it's part of this life.

So go get 'em.

No Coder

oftenreading said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Have you seen him punch anyone? Have you seen him threaten anyone? If not, I don't know why you would assume he's going to.

If he is intimidating to the OP, and they are obviously not comfortable around them, I don't think that is an unreasonable jump. They haven't been accused of doing that, it was just a what if....
I'd personally try the polite "I'm at the gym for some alone time and to work out. No offense, but I really enjoy the solitude of working out by myself" method and if that isn't taken the right way, go see Gym management.

oftenreading

No Coder said:

oftenreading said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Have you seen him punch anyone? Have you seen him threaten anyone? If not, I don't know why you would assume he's going to.

If he is intimidating to the OP, and they are obviously not comfortable around them, I don't think that is an unreasonable jump. They haven't been accused of doing that, it was just a what if....
I'd personally try the polite "I'm at the gym for some alone time and to work out. No offense, but I really enjoy the solitude of working out by myself" method and if that isn't taken the right way, go see Gym management.

Except that's exactly what most everyone else has suggested and what TA doesn't want to do, due to feeling intimidated.

TA, if you don't want to speak to him, and you don't want to speak to the gym staff, and you don't want to stop going to the gym but you don't want him speaking to you, what are you willing to do?

Thoughts_Arrive

oftenreading said:

No Coder said:

oftenreading said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Have you seen him punch anyone? Have you seen him threaten anyone? If not, I don't know why you would assume he's going to.

If he is intimidating to the OP, and they are obviously not comfortable around them, I don't think that is an unreasonable jump. They haven't been accused of doing that, it was just a what if....
I'd personally try the polite "I'm at the gym for some alone time and to work out. No offense, but I really enjoy the solitude of working out by myself" method and if that isn't taken the right way, go see Gym management.

Except that's exactly what most everyone else has suggested and what TA doesn't want to do, due to feeling intimidated.

TA, if you don't want to speak to him, and you don't want to speak to the gym staff, and you don't want to stop going to the gym but you don't want him speaking to you, what are you willing to do?

I don't know, just put up with it, fake nice to him.

Thoughts_Arrive

oftenreading said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

oftenreading said:

Nothing requires you to talk to people you don't want to talk to. Nothing requires you to stay on a treadmill if he hops on the one next to you and won't leave you alone.

Your friend's suggestion of what to say sounds like a good one, but you can keep it even briefer if you wish; just say "I'm here to focus on my work out". And then do that. If he doesn't leave leave you alone, if he follows you to another area of the gym or another machine, then feel free to tell the gym staff about it.

The gym is important to you. Don't let him ruin it. What's he going to do about it? Nothing. He'll move on to another "victim".

He looks like a psycho, he has these crazy eyes when he looks around.
What if he punches me or worse, or damages my car in the parking.
My friend told me to report it discreetly to the management but I am worried he will figure out it was me once they have a word to him.

Have you seen him punch anyone? Have you seen him threaten anyone? If not, I don't know why you would assume he's going to.

No, but he looks like a psycho, he's always frowning and the glare in his eye.
I think he could be on some drug like meth or cocaine.