'She got angry': Dude gives woman unsolicited gym advice, wonders if he's wrong

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Aug 26, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

There's an important rule when it comes to giving unsolicited advice or feedback to anyone at the gym… Don't. Just don't.

This same rule applies when you might be considering making unsolicited comments about another person's appearance—just… don't.

However, this post begs an interesting question. When it comes to matters of safety, not just that someone's form is slightly off, but actual immediate safety… Do you have the right to say something..? And, should you say something?

When it comes to men approaching women at the gym, you're already stepping off the wrong foot. There's, rightfully, a lot of apprehension involved the moment they see you walking toward them. So, even if you're the one guy who has approached them with noble intent—well, that's not going to be what they're expecting.

Even if you're trying to help out, even if you're right, anyone is still going to think that you're offering them unsolicited advice. Heck, one time in high school, while doing winter training at the local gym, I had a guy come up to me and tell me, with complete seriousness, that I wasn't doing the leg press right because I wasn't letting my knees go back to my head. That guy was 100% confident that he was right, so always leave the possibility open that you could be wrong, too.

For that reason, it's always best to get a staff member if you think something another gym-goer is doing is suspect. That way, you'll avoid the situation that this guy got himself into. Was he in the wrong? Read below and decide for yourself.