That's Fit

Giran Jobe, a grunting weightlifter, had some disgruntled neighbors who felt he was too loud when lifting his weights. And, it turns out he probably was too loud, as he has now been fined, given a noise abatement, and taken to court.

Before you get too upset, you should know that the noise coming from his top floor flat was measured last June, and found to reach 100 decibels, the level of noise typically found at a rock concert. He was ordered to keep the noise down. Then, only a month later, the neighbors lodged another complaint, so the the Council implemented some noise recording devices.

Awhile back, Brigitte posted an article about a gym that banned grunting by people working out in the facility, even to the extent of escorting those out who refused to comply. The gym was Planet Fitness, and despite one particularly disgruntled gym-goer (sorry, couldn't help myself...) who has been broadcasting his "God-given right to grunt" anywhere and everywhere people will listen, they are sticking to their "no grunts allowed" guns. Arguments seem to go both ways, with some saying grunts are just a means of showing off and intimidating people, and others saying they serve a legitimate natural purpose.

Nature or not, the gym is a place where a lot of people have to try and get along. Personally I think there are few things more distracting than a big sweaty dude moaning, groaning, and grunting on the piece of equipment next to me, not to mention I feel like scrambling out of the way like I'm gonna get crushed or something when he gets up off the weight bench and heads for the locker room. But if he can tone it down just a little and act like the human being he is, I'll try to ignore as many monkey noises as I can.