Wednesday, February 20, 2008
As I slowly step off the deadly treadmill — which makes me feel like I’m going to have a coronary every time I complete my work out — I gaze around the Student Recreation Fitness Center to see all of the glorious people without a drop of sweat on their bodies. Their hair is delicately placed, their make-up is freshly painted and some are simply flexing in the several mirrors on the walls. Then I start to wonder why I, along with only a few others, look like I’m on the verge of dying.
It’s true. I’ve seen many girls show up to the rec looking like they’ve spent an absurd amount of time fixing their hair to possibly distract the guy across the room from his own reflection. It seems as if the rec is a place to, for lack of better words, “get some action.” Except the action has nothing to do with health benefits. It’s actually about showing off your toned bods and checking out those nicely shaped ‘glutes’ many people accentuate with spandex.
The rec isn’t exactly the right place to mingle, not like in a bar when some random guy walks up to a girl and asks, “Can I get you a drink?” I can’t imagine a guy walking up to me, muscles obnoxiously bulging, to ask, “Can I get you a towel?” It just doesn’t work that way, and it shouldn’t, because males with rank body odor and sweaty, yellow armpit stains don’t exactly fall under the category of sex appeal.
But perhaps horrible pick up lines like, “Hey, nice Adidas. Wanna make out?” have worked in the past.
A sign I see when I walk into the restroom on the top floor. The sign says, “This is a public bathroom that is provided for the convenience of SRFC members. Misuse of facility will result in loss of privileges to the SRFC.”
Maybe some risqué sexy time has climaxed in that bathroom before. I guess a quickie next to toilets could result, if you’re bored, with the weights and machines, but I haven’t walked in on anything like that happening yet. The only situations I’ve come across in the bathroom are the times I’ve walked in on someone fixing her hair, checking her makeup or turning sideways to get a different view of her butt in the mirror. Usually these scenes awkwardly end with one of us quickly flying out the door, pretending that nothing weird just happened.
When I exit the bathroom and venture downstairs past the groups of people mingling and gyrating, I come to the main floor where most of the sexual tension lies.
If I had to guess on which floor an orgy would break out, it would be this one. Here, eyes wander the most because the many mirrors reflect everything and everyone. What is usually reflected are the guys who grunt their way through squats and huff and puff in a manner that makes me think maybe they need some help, but this may be a way to look good in front of the girls on the treadmills across the room. Basically, everyone here tries their best to look good for each other, and it’s obvious.
I know many people’s purpose to go to a recreational center or gym is to improve appearances, and if everyone is in the same place focusing on their bodies, there’s a good chance that sexual tension may arise.
Honestly, the rec is a horrible place to meet people. I just don’t see the point of looking good while trying to look better. Walk in looking like crap and walk out looking even worse. That’s the way it should be done because I’d rather not waste my energy trying to pick up guys at a place that is for burning energy on a machine.
Osterhaus is a Seneca sophomore in journalism.
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Comments
Osterhaus: Picking up dates at recreation center questionable
Sweat does a body good! I agree, it's hard to look "HOT" with all that body odor going on..so why try?
Osterhaus: Picking up dates at recreation center questionable
great editorial...!!! In general, I think socializing at the gym should be avoided....! I should point out that some of us grunt and are intense because the weight we're lifting is heavy and part of our overall training programs(I'm a competitive powerlifter/bodybuilder).....not cause we're trying to attract a girl at the gym. Of course, I have no problem with a girl looking at me suggestively at the rec center,...just don't talk to me, I'm working out!!.
Osterhaus: Picking up dates at recreation center questionable
I have been laughing since I read the title of your article because this is something I have definitely noticed. It seems like there are only a handful of people at the gym at a given time who have even broken a sweat! There are always a ton of people sitting around on the machines "resting" or talking to friends, too! And how many times have you been trying to jog around the track only to run into a group of walkers lined up perfectly on all three lanes? Gym etiquette, people!
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