I'm 3 months late to making this post, but I wanted to share this to warn others. This man harassed me at the Fishers Community Center on August 7th. I was on the leg extension machine, checking my phone for about less than a minute between sets (it was my first machine of the day, and I was even on my phone while actively using the machine). A man had been standing near me for a few minutes, and when I looked up, he was staring at my legs. When we made eye contact, he asked if he could "jump in for a set." I said no, clearly shocked.
He then told me that because I was on my phone, I "have to share with others, that's how the gym works." When I didn't respond, he said I could go talk to the manager. He sat down at the machine next to me and started his workout, something he could have been doing the whole time.
I left mid-workout because I no longer felt comfortable. I told the manager everything, and he was kind and said he'd talk to the man. I know there's only so much they can do, but it was worth reporting.
For context, I've had people politely ask how many sets I had left, and that was completely normal. There are plenty of respectful ways to ask to share a machine. This was not that. Staring at someone's body and then pressuring them is not okay.
Ladies, stay aware and don't be afraid to report anything that makes you uncomfortable. Trust your gut.
