I too go to a gym at irregular times. I however have never found it awkward or embarrassing to chat whether or not I or they have their wedding tackle out - all a question of maintaining eye contact and not staring at their pride and joy, especially if they have just been swimming and Little Richard and the twins have shrunk in size! In fact if they are shy about being exposed then they will often turn their back when taking their towel off from around their waist and pulling their boxers on.
Having said that a couple of times people have started to chat with me in the shower and with the sound of the water drowning out half their words has led to some bizarre conversations!
I wouldn't expect to have an in depth political debate but a few words about a general topic is just being friendly. If it doesn't come naturally then pre-think a comment about
the weather (we are british after all!)
your muscles/aches after a work out
the England rugby/football/golf or other sporting event - if they go to the gym then they are very likely to be interested in sport
My final two pieces of advice would be after you are both dressed introduce yourself, "I'm John, see you again" and when you get to your car make a quick note of his name, a pen description of him (big hair, tattoo, bright Nike top or whatever) and what you spoke about - supports Spurs, is Welsh, went to the Barbarians match etc) Flick through your notes just as you arrive everytime you go to the gym and next time you meet you will have his name and a basic topic of conversation available to you. (Spurs did well, Welsh didn't or whatever) Nothing will make you more popular than being interested in others and remembering basic things about them.
Now, that's something I might be more interested in (and the meeting place is literally about two minutes from my flat). The time commitment is a problem for me though (that's partly why I don't go to the gym at the same time every week). Food for thought.
Cheers for the link.
I wish I could run again...maybe after retiring...good physsical therapy lol
Funny story...
I went to the gym today and this whole thread was playing on my mind the entire time.
There was one guy who came into the gym at the same time as me. I caught his eye a couple of times but didn't say anything (besides, he had headphones on). Our paths crossed several times on the gym floor—he even sat on the rowing machine next to me for a while—and I probably could have said something to him but... I didn't. We were even back in the locker room getting changed to go home at the same time and I nearly said hi as he was putting his socks on, but I chickened out (and because that would be SO gay).
I headed back into town to run a few errands before heading home. When I came out of the pharmacy, I bump into a friend of mine and who is he with? The guy from the gym. We got introduced and kind of made awkward mention of the fact we had both just been at the gym together.
Clearly the universe wanted me to meet this guy, for whatever reason.
Thought I'd share.
And to think putting it on paper seems to of helped clum.
Thats a good story dude.
Clum,
If you lock eyes a smidge over the time limit, which seems to be about six seconds,
reconnect with the dude, he's as flustered as you are.
Never be afraid of your fellow man. Be strong, and forget your worries,,
scooter.
Ok, Clum, your profile says you are straight. But it seems that at a minimum you are bi-curious. I have been trying to get a handle on your real intent here and goals. Any advice to be truly helpful has to be given with your REAL intent in mind.
I'm the type of person no matter where I am to strike up a conversation with anyone. There's nothing wrong with trying to be friendly even if it is in a gym for that matter. I'm bi anyway so if a guys "junk" is staring me in the face then I'm all for it. The male body as well as the female body is very nice to look at.
I don't know maybe it's because I live in the south or something, but people at the gym I go to are all the time talking in the locker rooms and stuff. Nothing sexual or anything. Sports, local and national politics, weather, etc. And it is never uncommon for someone you don't really know to just hi and how are u today or good workout today. Just casual stuff. Happens more in the locker room or sauna. Never seen it happen at the urinals or very often in the showers, unless it is 2 guys who already know each other.
See... The guys that are all about chatting it up with guys in the locker room are all Bi-sexual.
What does that tell you?
...
It's annoying to be hit on by guys. It really is. I can understand when girls get annoyed when they are hit on by idiots that are not even close to being in their league. Same thing with gay guys hitting on straight guys. It doesn't make the straight guy a homophobe, it makes the gay/bi guys super annoying and predator-ish.
Damn all the labels anyway. Who needs 'em.
If I didn't have anything telling me what anything was, I'd be just fine.
Motor oil and pancake syrup only look alike on the store shelf...Same with ground oatmeal and rat poison. Everything in aerosol cans? Shit...it's a spray
I spray anything that's in a canister like that on wasps, spiders and in the general vicinity of street thug/muggers.
Fuck a bunch of labels I say.
The same GQP demanding we move on from January 6th, 2021 is still doing audits of the November 3rd, 2020 election.
Going back to your original post Clum, ,if you do pick up courage to open a friendly conversation in the changing room, (with or without a hidden bi-sexual agenda) don’t follow my lead.
On Friday I started chatting to someone about the temperature of the showers only to discover he was profoundly deaf, and not wishing to embarrass him and to show that I am no disability-phobe tried to continue the conversation with sign language, whilst standing stark naked. At that point the whole changing room went quiet and all eyes were upon my attempt at hot-shower-charades.
Not having learnt my lesson, today I broke into innocent conversation with someone else about the weekend’s rugby (good win for Scotland eh) only to discover the chap was Polish and stood there saying que? (I thought that was Spanish?) in a very Manuel-esque way. Thankfully he had a friend there who translated and we managed to struggle through.
Maybe I'll keep quiet next time
