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I'm not anti-social, but if I'm going someplace regularly for a specific purpose that isn't to socialize (like going to the gym to work out), then being polite or friendly to someone for a few moments can backfire. I've been polite in response to people who said hello or wanted to make small talk before, and they then needed increasing amounts of time and attention whenever they saw me in the future. There's no way to tell who will be satisfied with a friendly hello everyday and who will start acting like a needy friend.It's safer to just not be friendly to anyone. Since I'm not going to the gym to socialize I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, and I'm not being rude since no one is entitled to my time and attention just because they're in the same place as me.
Concerning the overall point of socialization today it is a side effect of technology.
Then again with social media I think people have realized how crazy other individuals can be and err on the side of caution when divulging too much personal information.
I am really shy at the gym, and feel very uncomfortable. Someone has to talk to me several times and initiate a few conversations before I will say hello first. I am not like this anywhere else in life. I am sure I am not the only one.
Yep, this is me. I go to the gym 4-5x per week at the same time and i see the same people there everyday. A lot of them say hello to each other but i don't say hello to anyone. it's hard enough being a girl and going into the weight area with a bunch of meathead guys, i don't want to make it more difficult by figuring out who i should say hello to and who i shouldn't and what i should say. Also b/c i'm shy i tend to assume people don't want me to talk to them, so i just don't. i assume people at the gym think i'm a huge weirdo, but i don't care, they don't even know me.
I actually think it’s a regional thing. Here in Texas I find most folks are generally friendly, albeit more reserved than where I lived most of my life - Baltimore. I think in general, Baltimore folks have “looser boundaries” and more willing to speak to anyone, anytime. That can be good or bad, depending on any number of factors. But I’m acclimating so, live and learn.
I actually think it’s a regional thing. Here in Texas I find most folks are generally friendly, albeit more reserved than where I lived most of my life - Baltimore. I think in general, Baltimore folks have “looser boundaries” and more willing to speak to anyone, anytime. That can be good or bad, depending on any number of factors. But I’m acclimating so, live and learn.
You know...I go to this one gym close to my house. I am a member of the social media app "myfittnesspal". They also have forums where people discuss their weight loss progress, workout programs etc. Anything diet and fittness related.
Well, I had an actual picture of myself on my profile and this one guy recognized me from the gym I go to. I denied it. He kept liking all my posts and commenting on them. He asked me if I went to this one gym and he were able to name the address and everything. I was like "****....I don't want him to know who I am"..lol
So I told him it wasn't me and that I went to another gym in my old neighborhood. He was like "ok.."
Then I deleted my profile pic.
But now when I go to the gym I feel like all these guys at the gym could potentially be him so I avoid eye contact with people if I can.
In broad strokes too I would caution against using the gym as a good case to examine social interaction. It's kind of an in-between space, not purely recreation, not purely social or work.
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