This stuff reminds me of the last time I was in a gym, probably 5 or 6 years ago.
I was making the rounds of all the different machines and got to one (the only one of its type in the place) that some guy was just sitting on it, watching a TV mounted up on the ceiling. I asked him very politely to let me use the machine but he said "No, I'm using it."
"You're just watching the TV."
"I'm using this machine now. Go away."
So I took the low road and simply stood in front of him in such a way as to block his view of the TV. After a few minutes he gave up and moved.
That was my last visit because I was so annoyed that I decided buying my own gym equipment would be well worth the potential aggravation of further visits like that. I'm lucky to have enough room in my basement for a treadmill, a rowing machine, a set of free weights and bench, and a few other little things, so it has been great.
I was making the rounds of all the different machines and got to one (the only one of its type in the place) that some guy was just sitting on it, watching a TV mounted up on the ceiling. I asked him very politely to let me use the machine but he said "No, I'm using it."
"You're just watching the TV."
"I'm using this machine now. Go away."
So I took the low road and simply stood in front of him in such a way as to block his view of the TV. After a few minutes he gave up and moved.
That was my last visit because I was so annoyed that I decided buying my own gym equipment would be well worth the potential aggravation of further visits like that. I'm lucky to have enough room in my basement for a treadmill, a rowing machine, a set of free weights and bench, and a few other little things, so it has been great.