Do You Talk to Strangers?

I talk to myself and I'm very strange so the answer is yes

Actually where I come from in Yorkshire people are generally friendly.

For example you can be stood in a bus queue and start a conversation about the weather and everyone
will join in. Or in a cafe, start a conversation about the latest TV offering and loads will join in with that.
Thats just in the city, but travel out into the country and you can't shut people up! There is no
end of people who will tell you about their favourite country walk or their prize roses etc.


I also seem to be a magnet for little old ladies they come out of nowhere and start up a
conversation with me. I must have one of those faces, but I'm not sure what that is!

View attachment 113506

One of those faces!

Only if they have candy.

Lots of variables.
Place, issue, personalities.

Scenario A. I've just completed several sets of the deadlift at 350lbs. Knees locked (It can be done. Correctly. Must be fit). I'm pumped. So I gulp, splash, and guzzle my Perrier.
Suddenly, there, back behind a group of builders, stand Frank Yee and Lee Priest. Yee performing shoulder shrugs. But I notice he's not raising the barbell correctly.
Nope. I ain't saying a thing.

Scenario B. I've just completed several sets of . . . Perrier.
Suddenly, there, right among the machine weights, sits an elderly man (He's looks to be in his 80's). He's at the Lat Pull down.
I noticed he leans forward as he pulls down the bar.
Nope. I ain't saying a thing. He's in his 80's. He's fine.

Scenario C. I've just completed . . . Perrier.
Suddenly, there, within the treadmills runs a female. She's not running correctly.
Nope. I'm married.

Scenario D. I've just completed . . . Perrier.
Suddenly, there, just a few feet away, stands a mid-age man. He's a bit overweight. Seems uncertain. Not confident. But trying as curls the barbell. What's that? He's holding his breath!
Yes. I am going to assist. How? I will stand back as if I am waiting for the barbell.

And say something like . . .

Me: "Hello. How are you? . . . I've noticed you were holding your breath when you were lifting."
Stranger: "I don't know. Was I. Just seemed the thing to do."
Me: "Oh. Have you tried inhaling and exhaling? I've found that by breathing, my body is more flexible. Less prone to injury. Here's how I do it."

Scenario D's strong point is this: It's less likely to make the stranger feel ignorant, out of place, stupid. And so there's a greater chance of actually helping the person.

Should you advise a stranger? Depends on your personality, what you sense about the stranger, the setting, and the place.

Utah, I am proud of you, very proud of you for exercising. But why the gym? I've found that by buying my own weights, and some equipment, I save money. Instead of paying monthly membership fee, I just pay monthly charge fee for the cost of the equipment. Not saying you are wrong. Just trying help. But my way is better.

Why did you have to go there, Mikey?

Specifically, do you make suggestions to strangers if they're doing something wrong?

I was in the gym today and a guy was doing an exercise that is extremely bad for the shoulders. I thought about saying something but decided against it. I've gently told people in the past about harmful exercises or techniques but never received a positive response so this helped me with my decision. On a side note, I don't talk to anyone or even make eye contact when in the gym anyway, so its really just par for the course.

Thoughts?

only in passing, like if someone says hi or good morning. Or if someones yelling at somebody and it turns physical I might tell them to stop or I'll call the popo. But I don't usually walk up to strangers and be all like hey dude how are ya..lol

Brother Galahad, thank you immensely for sharing in such an in depth manner! I like the idea of waiting as if I need that particular bar or machine, that's an excellent groundbreaker. And trust me, I would definitely share my concerns in a very humble manner, not in a condescending manner like I can here. lol.

As for why the gym? My current living conditions don't afford me the opportunity to workout in my home. The good news is that my gym is only a mile and a half from home, costs $150 a year, and as long as I go 150 times during the calendar year, my health insurance actually pays for it. I work out six days a week so I'm good!

And thank you, my brother, for your encouragement. I sincerely value and appreciate it, and I love the fact that you're working out also. We need to take care of God's temples. Blessings always!

God bless you!

The po po, I love that expression!

I don't usually talk to strangers, but I have found that I tend to have brief conversations with people at the supermarket. I have to trouble helping a person get something off the higher or lower shelves because they either can't reach or they cannot bend over like they used to. There have been several older folks that asked me for help to get a package of sugar and I always say sure. I have found that I will stop and have conversations with people I come across at school and that is part of my job as well to talk with a few of the instructors. Some are pleasant and there are a few that really are not.

I am a very quiet and reserved person so being able to do this is thanks to God because talking to people I don't know is rather difficult for me.

Utah, you are remarkable. Thank you for all your kind words.

Yes, I thought conditions might not be such. But I knew you wouldn't misinterpret or take my humor an insult. It was my way of "approaching" someone. All humor.
And come to find out, yours' is the better way. Excellent deal!

You can get cardio in by jogging to the Gym. Wind down after.

Blessings to you also.

Today I saw the same gentleman working out and making the same mistake with his lat pulldowns. I thought about everyone here on this thread and felt moved to take some sort of action. I did not approach him but what I did do was speak with one of the employees and shared my concerns.

She was great! She told me she would definitely inform her manager at their meeting today and that he would send out a general email to all gym members regarding mistakes they see with certain exercises, especially lat pulldowns.

Specifically, do you make suggestions to strangers if they're doing something wrong?

I was in the gym today and a guy was doing an exercise that is extremely bad for the shoulders. I thought about saying something but decided against it. I've gently told people in the past about harmful exercises or techniques but never received a positive response so this helped me with my decision. On a side note, I don't talk to anyone or even make eye contact when in the gym anyway, so its really just par for the course.

Thoughts?