I liked many things about my old gym (Vasa): the number of exercise apparatus choices, the pool, the number of gyms, and my acquaintances. However, I did not like other things: the lack of upkeep of the premises, some of the slovenly patrons who also engaged in vandalism, and Vasa’s abandoned deals for advanced payment.
So, I switched gyms in September.
My new gym (Sports Mall) is more expensive but affordable, however, I have discovered it offers less choices. Because it caters to a “higher caliber” patron, I figured the patrons and the management would have greater pride in maintaining it.
This is what I have learned: While Sports Mall patrons, on the whole, come from a higher economic class, these rich people (on average – not all of them) are just as messy and inconsiderate as poor people (on average – not all of them). In short, rich people just have more people cleaning up after them.
On many occasions, I speak out about my observations. Most of the time, I try to educate without offending; but I don’t always “get it right” when I am too passionate and vocal. Although this actually poses a greater possibility of persuading people to change their behavior, offense is often taken and not given, and this is no solace when an offended person punches you in the nose. Nevertheless, I do let people know I'm not attacking them personally. In fact, I had that opportunity yesterday:
As has happened many times at the Sports Mall (as it has at Vasa), I came to shower and saw an unattended running shower. Sometimes this is because the valve is broken (that, we can understand). Several people stepped in and out of the showers and just let the hot water run. Although our dues were paying for it, I couldn’t forget that it still meant less water in the streams and more carbon in the atmosphere, causing greater demand on energy resources, and unnecessarily raising the price of energy for everyone. Of course, I took the two additional steps necessary to see if it would turn off, and it did. Nothing was broken.
(Side Note: The Sports Mall has been an adjustment for me because the saunas and Jacuzzi are not coed [as they are at Vasa], and most of the male patrons go “leafless.” Although I’m not squeamish about it, I prefer partial covering on those parts that are nice to leave a little mystery “behind”– pun intended. [Unfortunately, Vasa’s coed Jacuzzi and saunas were not clean–and sometimes disgusting.] Perhaps the running shower was providing the pleasant background noise of a splashing torrent for all the patrons showering and sitting in the sauna and Jacuzzi.)
After turning off the unattended shower, I finished my shower and sauna routine (where I prefer to wear modern textiles). Once done, I then proceeded to finish with my cold-shower cleansing ritual. At that time, a patron was showering nearby. He finished, exited the shower area, and left the hot shower running while he was drying himself. I asked him politely, “Are you coming back, or can I turn that off for you?” He responded, “No, I’m leaving. Go ahead. You don’t need to turn them off. There’s people to do that.” “What?” I thought. I turned it off.
So, when you see all those “shiny” people, in their nice cars, in their nice clothes, or see them peering out from their nice golden towers, keep in mind that they aren’t any cleaner, healthier, hard-working, considerate, or even smarter than everyone else. They just have more people cleaning up after them, fixing them, and making them look good by thinking and working for them.
Loren M Lambert, January 4, 2017 ©.
So, I switched gyms in September.
My new gym (Sports Mall) is more expensive but affordable, however, I have discovered it offers less choices. Because it caters to a “higher caliber” patron, I figured the patrons and the management would have greater pride in maintaining it.
This is what I have learned: While Sports Mall patrons, on the whole, come from a higher economic class, these rich people (on average – not all of them) are just as messy and inconsiderate as poor people (on average – not all of them). In short, rich people just have more people cleaning up after them.
On many occasions, I speak out about my observations. Most of the time, I try to educate without offending; but I don’t always “get it right” when I am too passionate and vocal. Although this actually poses a greater possibility of persuading people to change their behavior, offense is often taken and not given, and this is no solace when an offended person punches you in the nose. Nevertheless, I do let people know I'm not attacking them personally. In fact, I had that opportunity yesterday:
As has happened many times at the Sports Mall (as it has at Vasa), I came to shower and saw an unattended running shower. Sometimes this is because the valve is broken (that, we can understand). Several people stepped in and out of the showers and just let the hot water run. Although our dues were paying for it, I couldn’t forget that it still meant less water in the streams and more carbon in the atmosphere, causing greater demand on energy resources, and unnecessarily raising the price of energy for everyone. Of course, I took the two additional steps necessary to see if it would turn off, and it did. Nothing was broken.
(Side Note: The Sports Mall has been an adjustment for me because the saunas and Jacuzzi are not coed [as they are at Vasa], and most of the male patrons go “leafless.” Although I’m not squeamish about it, I prefer partial covering on those parts that are nice to leave a little mystery “behind”– pun intended. [Unfortunately, Vasa’s coed Jacuzzi and saunas were not clean–and sometimes disgusting.] Perhaps the running shower was providing the pleasant background noise of a splashing torrent for all the patrons showering and sitting in the sauna and Jacuzzi.)
After turning off the unattended shower, I finished my shower and sauna routine (where I prefer to wear modern textiles). Once done, I then proceeded to finish with my cold-shower cleansing ritual. At that time, a patron was showering nearby. He finished, exited the shower area, and left the hot shower running while he was drying himself. I asked him politely, “Are you coming back, or can I turn that off for you?” He responded, “No, I’m leaving. Go ahead. You don’t need to turn them off. There’s people to do that.” “What?” I thought. I turned it off.
So, when you see all those “shiny” people, in their nice cars, in their nice clothes, or see them peering out from their nice golden towers, keep in mind that they aren’t any cleaner, healthier, hard-working, considerate, or even smarter than everyone else. They just have more people cleaning up after them, fixing them, and making them look good by thinking and working for them.
Loren M Lambert, January 4, 2017 ©.
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