Friend or Not?

[amateur_lifter]

I'm asking a hypothetical question but i'm sure it's happend to you before, or may happen to you in the future.

You go into the gym, as per the usual you're lifting heavy and so it the guy beside you. You're both too serious about making gains to start piling on weight to try and out do each other. You see him the next day doing relatively the same weights as you, and the next day and the next day. Do you see this person as a new friend for you? Possibly you see a fellow brother just paying his dues at the gym? Maybe both? Or do you see him as your competion? Not necessarily unfriendly, but someone who you know you should be able to beat because you're the bigger animal.

How do you react? Do you walk over and shake his hand maybe make a friend, or go home eat harder, healthier, and do all the shit you can to prepare to try to have the edge over him next week?

[man in black]

Who cares? Let him do what he does, I do what I do.

If I see a guy in there all the time, and he seems like a nice dude, I'll shake hands because that's the socially normal thing to do. If he's a clown, and I don't care to know him, I'll be nice, but since I don't care to know him I'll leave him be, just like if I'd seen him anywhere else.

I lift for myself, and I don't compete, so the only person I see as competition is me. Who gives a care about what someone else is doing? That's letting your ego get in your way and making it about someone else.

Jeff

[amateur_lifter]

Who cares? Let him do what he does, I do what I do.

If I see a guy in there all the time, and he seems like a nice dude, I'll shake hands because that's the socially normal thing to do. If he's a clown, and I don't care to know him, I'll be nice, but since I don't care to know him I'll leave him be, just like if I'd seen him anywhere else.

I lift for myself, and I don't compete, so the only person I see as competition is me. Who gives a care about what someone else is doing? That's letting your ego get in your way and making it about someone else.

Jeff


Please keep in mind I asked that as a general question, I didn't state that it was my opinion ;).

[BigWillay]

first off big upse to ya brother for asking such a real question!!

well the way i am, id go shake his hand and make a new friend because anybody who takes his training as serious as i or we all do is worthy enough to be a brother of mine anyday no matter where hes from or what he does for a living or what not....im not one who would take anyone whose as strong as me as competition unless they initiate unfriendly like atmosphere around me and strike me as too full of themself which is hardly the case usually when ur really well built strong and know ur an animal ur still to some extent modest and nice to people, or at least i am...i usually help people in the gym in my rest time always try to correct who ever is doing an excersie with bad form, but i refrain from conversation for it messes up the pace of the workout...but in general my truly best friends that are still the closest of brothers to me are about 7 guys and they are all very intense bodybuilders and i think that bond ties a knot between us for its a very strong connection to have the same mentality because its a lifestyle that people who dont gym can not really comprehend...so id go shake there hand and give em their props.

[Toni69]

I guess its safe to assume it is different for guys and gals in how they approach others in the gym. Personally, if it was me...I would just go up to the person and compliment them or ask them a question about their routine to kinda break the ice..see where their head is at. If they seem aloof...I let it go...if not..well...I may..not often, but I may invite him/her to train with me sometime...but only if they were dead serious..no bullshit allowed.

[Slivovica]

Something similar like that happened to me a guy who was identical to me in height weight etc lifting same numbers as me one day i started talknig to him and his become the greatest training partner ive ever had we really pushed each other to the limit.

[man in black]

Please keep in mind I asked that as a general question, I didn't state that it was my opinion ;).

No, I gotcha bro. You asked our opinion, that was mine.

I don't treat anyone any differently than I would on the street or at a party or whatever. If they seem cool, I'll talk to them. If they seem lik a moron and full of themselves, I'll leave them alone. Being at the gym dosen't change outlook on anyone. I don't see people as rivals or competition. That's why I said I don't compete. I don't need to worry about anyone beating me or besting me. There's always someone bigger and leaner. If I let that bother me, I'd spend all my time puffing my chest and trying to outdo the guys that outdo me.

So like I said, who cares if you're in the gym? I just act like I would anywhere else.

Jeff

[rcrott1]

there are two ways to go about this.......give him the respect he is giving you and recognize that he is a fellow brother in there paying his dues like you are....

or you can try n be a real animal....and respect his ass for paying his dues. introduce yourself......that way if anything, you have gained a person in the gym to spot you when you need it.

[naturalguy]

I would treat that person with a healthy respect, after all we are brothers in iron. I wouldn't go out of my way to meet him/her but I would offer a spot or just give a nod the next time you see them in the gym.