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Etiquette question: Is it okay to talk on the phone while working out?

Posted on Aug 2nd 2007 1:31PM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Fitness

I'm guilty of talking on the phone while I'm out exercising with my dog, but I don't necessarily think it's the politest thing to do. I don't work out in the gym so it's not an issue of being rude to those around me, but instead about my poor friends and family who get to talk to an out-of-breath half-distracted person on the other end of the line. It's because I'm short on time a lot that I always end up on the phone during power-walks, but I'm sure if I tried I could fit my calls in somewhere else. What do you think: is it rude to talk on the phone while you workout? And is it ruder to the people around you (like in the gym), or to the people you're talking to?

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Tags: cell, cellphone, etiquette, phone, talk

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

looksbooks54 8-02-2007 @ 1:53PM

There is a nasty alcoholic in my apt basement who lives near the washing machine area, and I have to bring my phone there in case he pops out - I'll at least be able to deflect him by pretending to talk on the phone - he thinks there's a witness besides myself. So it's a great prop and people deflector, at times.

I don't find cell phone users annoying or rude - unless they happen to be driving. I remember in the 70's when no one would leave a msg on an answering machine - they'd hang up because they thought the machine was making them somehow "less important". Same with Walkmans when they first came out, but I've noticed that Ipods have not suffered from this stigma.

At least one expert on alcoholism refers to incessant phone use as "telephonitis" - it's a symptom of a potential substance abuser - grabbing someone's attention by keeping them captive is part of the power play substance abusers like to get into.
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reb 8-02-2007 @ 2:27PM

Sunday morning at the gym I was forced to listen to a woman yammer away on her cell phone for a good half an hour-- even moving to the farthest away bike and cranking my iPod up to an uncomfortable level wasn't enough to drown her out. I don't mind people taking the occasional short call (there are babysitter emergencies, I know!) I really would prefer not to hear about your emergency c-section (seriously-- that was the topic of conversation) when there's not much way to escape. Please, please, please, no extended conversations at the gym, when others are trying to enjoy a little peace and quiet and sweat.

Jose Andrade 8-03-2007 @ 12:44PM

Yes, it IS rude to use your cellphone at the gym, or for that matter, in any close environment where people is trying to concentrate (library, lab, etc).

Come on, if you go to the gym, you must be trying to exercise. If you can talk on the phone at the same time you are exercising, you are not doing the best you can.

I've been going to gyms for the past 6 years, and in the past 6 months I lost 50 pounds... I kind of know what I'm talking about... I think

Crabby McSlacker 8-04-2007 @ 7:34PM

I'm with reb and Jose--short emergency calls are one thing, but a long conversation is obnoxious!

It's funny though, when two friends are next to each other on machines having a conversation, I don't feel I have the right to object. But if someone were on a cell phone, I'd be shooting dirty looks at them every 20 seconds and making myself even more miserable in the process!

(And for more on gym etiquette, for those who are very, very bored:

http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/2007/07/first-time-at-gym-how-not-to-make-ass.html

P.S.--does anyone know how to do hyperlinked usernames like Jose's? I'd leave fewer obnoxious links around here if I could figure out how to do that!