Correcting lazy or unsafe people at the gym

Things I see all the time:
- people using their entire body when doing curls and putting much undue strain on the back
- people benching (incline, flat, and decline) and not getting anywhere near touching their chest with the bar
- people squatting and only getting their quads about 30 degrees off vertical instead of parallel to the floor
- deadlift form that makes my back hurt just watching

When you guys see things like this, do you try to discretely tell the person how to correctly do an exercise? Or do you just let it go. Myself, I don't say anything :shrug: though sometimes I want to.

Unless they're doing something that is putting other people or the equipment in danger there's no point in saying anything. If they don't care enough to look online or ask people for advice on form then I see no reason to take the initiative to help them. It's also a fine line since people's natural reaction tends to be negative when people comment on something personal like a workout. People get defensive and feel like you're coming into their space. If you're noticing them doing something wrong that means you were watching them.

If they're beginners then it just comes with the learning process. I'm a beginner and I try to do a lot of research before trying anything new. If they're not beginners then I guess they haven't gotten hurt so far so they're just being inefficient and that's their problem.

or i guess you can wear cutoffs and pretend to be gay so they'll be much more offended by your sexual advances than by your fitness tips

Where do you guys research correct form?

When someone at work who you don't know is wearing clothes that don't match or fit right do you say anything? When you see a random stranger on the subway who is overweight do you politely tell him to lose a few pounds? When you're playing pickup basketball and someone's jump shot sucks do you tell him he has bad form? Just mind your own business and worry about yourself.

Where do you guys research correct form?

I used (use) a combination of sources. On the web just Google "how to ... properly". You'll find videos/pictures/guides on everything.

Whoa, never approach anyone unless its an emergency of some sort. Some fucking dumb meathead corrected a variety of rows I was doing once and I had to tell him I was doing a different exercise. (Pendlay Rows are what I was doing)

I'm not saying that's the case with your people with bad form, but you're not their coach so mind your own business.

As far as learning good form I use exrx.net's exercise directory in combination with youtube videos. (in addition to just asking/talking to guys at my gym)

When someone at work who you don't know is wearing clothes that don't match or fit right do you say anything? When you see a random stranger on the subway who is overweight do you politely tell him to lose a few pounds? When you're playing pickup basketball and someone's jump shot sucks do you tell him he has bad form? Just mind your own business and worry about yourself.

Yeah I understand what you're saying. This is my mentality. But some part of me always wants to say something even though I know it's probably not going to end well. I'd like to think that I would be gracious, if someone was to correct me...

*edit* and btw I watch what everyone around me is doing all the time. That's just how I am. I like to be situationally aware for one. But I also like to be on the lookout for new and different exercises. I've picked up quite a few good ideas watching people at the gym. (that and I work out at a large state school's gym, so there's plenty of fine ass around during the school year :hitit:)

Theres these two fat kids who think they're all macho and stuff. One is like the older brother and is bigger and is always lecturing and teaching the younger brother. Whenever the older brother is doing dumbell benching he fucking throws the weights when his set is over. He almost hit me with the weights one time. He doesn't even lift heavy weight. I've never seen him bench more than a 65lb dumbell.

Whoa, never approach anyone unless its an emergency of some sort.

this is my philosophy at the gym

i watch people do things incorrectly and i want to say something but i dont and just keep going on with my workout

in that same vein i half wish people had come up to me and offered advice when i was doing things incorrectly but id rather them mind their own business

yeah but look around your gym

what is the ratio of people who have no fucking idea what they are doing

the odds are good one of them wants to give YOU advice!

there are a couple of trainers in our gym who look like they know what's going on

at this point they'd be about the only people i took advice from in the gym i use

There's this one fat woman at my gym that is a trainer. I still haven't really figured it out. I'm still in school, so I think she may just be a student trainer, but it just doesn't add up in my head. I can just see some out of shape person lashing out at her, "Oh yea? Keep it going? Why don't you get your fat ass down here and roll on this fucking ball? Fat bitch..." and walking out.

At the gym I don't say anything to anyone about their form. I'd be more likely to make a crack at the guys using the smith machine for everything.

There are a few trainers I love having correct me, because they know what's up.

At Muay Thai/Kick Boxing I'll give/take advice freely. Someone else doing better indirectly helps me.

Where do you guys research correct form?

Starting Strength

i only care to hear what someone in better shape than me has to say

i only care to hear what someone in better shape than me has to say
Screw that, some of those guys are in better shape purely because of time, while I'm making gains 2x as fast. It's like wow, time invested can sometimes overtake skills.

Many of the guys in better shape than me are black or doing steroids.

I can't compete.

I'll only correct fellow soldiers if I see them doing something that's going to injure them, but I'm a medic and can get away with it without being a douche bag. I'll also suggest certain exercises when I see people (other soldiers) with a deficiency that's holding them back.

ie, someone is obviously having pain due to an imbalance, 99/100 times it's a shoulder imbalance.

Unless it's professional I wont say shit though, as they might be doing something that I'm not familiar with. I know that I've got a back routine that can make the uninitiated cringe, but it works for me and helps with back problems I have.

a lot of the biggest guys are the gym have horrible workouts

I'm sure there are a lot of reasons, but genetics is an awesome thing. I can add strength\put on muscle no problem, but I can't do it without getting fat, and it's not worth that to me :shrug: Some guys are lucky and don't have to worry about that balancing act.