I’ve already asked a few people about this irl but I figured I should turn to the most judgmental people on this planet lol.
Usually I work out in the gym for athletic teams but since it is spring break it was closed. Therefore I was working out in the campus’s common gym, but it was no big deal its pretty much the same.
I do a workout program for track, so I do pretty basic exercises, with some occasional Olympic/barbell type lifts along with running. I stick to what I am told to do, today was a heavy day for said barbell lifts.
I had just gotten to the rack and was starting my first exercise, there was a couple at the rack next to me already doing their workout. Live and let live, I don’t acknowledge them.
They started looking in my direction more. While I’m uncomfortable I don’t say anything, and chalk it up to me overthinking it.
A little while later, I move onto my next lifts, which can involve the dropping the bar occasionally (clean/jerks). I don’t drop the weight from high up, but it can be bit more loud/obvious then some other exercises, it was about the equivalent of a dead lift drop sometimes. The gym has no rules based on types of lifts, or dropping weights.
I had finished my set when the guy out of the pair comes up to me. He asks if I can not do those at that area, as it was “unnecessary”. I told him there’s no other place to do them and I will try to quiet down a bit. I tried to put back in my headphones and continue but he tapped on my shoulder to get my attention again. He then told me I should stop ego-lifting as it makes me look like an asshole to those around me. He also started to talk about some sort of intimidation type of thing but I did not care enough to listen intuitively.
In all honesty, was not ego lifting, I was doing the weights/ percentages the weight-room coach recommends for me and others on my team. Which even then, is not impressive. I told him upfront, I don't care, and went to try to do my set. He responded by saying he was going to report me to the complex manager and to my coach (I was wearing a team shirt) for something like intimidation and being disrespectful/discrimination towards others in shared spaces.
I was notably frustrated with this, and said something like "I don't give a fuck that you're insecure and I doubt they will care either" back to him. He didn't bother me for the rest of the time as they left the area.
Some people I asked said I could've worded it better, one said I was justified and he shouldn't have been so pushy, and someone else said I was being inconsiderate of others. I do think I may have been a bit harsh but given the circumstances I don't think it was unjustified, but please let me know from an outsiders perspective.