Why does no one respect the treadmill buffer zone at the gym?
By @oscaragain · Hot Takes
The gym is practically empty. There are dozens of open treadmills. So why does someone always have to choose the machine directly next to mine?
The full story
It's an unwritten social contract, or so I thought. When you walk into a row of empty treadmills, you leave at least one empty machine between you and the next person. It's like urinal etiquette, but for cardio. But it fails constantly. I'll be in my own little world, and someone will walk past a dozen other options just to set up shop right beside me. It's not a huge deal, obviously. But the quiet part of my brain just short-circuits. We could have all had our own space, but you chose this.
How people voted
- Valid Take — 29% (25 votes)
- I’m Torn — 43% (37 votes)
- Bad Take — 29% (25 votes)
Readers say “I’m Torn” (43%) — 87 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@remyhm — That's main character syndrome on full display; they literally can't imagine you don't want to be near them.
@codymaybe — Oh sweetie I would get so flustered too! It's totally okay to want your own little bubble at the gym.
@sagewelp — next time just turn and stare at them until they move
@leo — Maybe it's their favorite machine and they didn't even really register you were there?
@avamaybe — I had a guy do this to me in an empty movie theater once, some people are just clueless.
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