I have not spotted a guy in years. When asked, I
always politely ask them "what's a spot?" or say "I'll
take a rain check" or "Sorry, I'm in a real hurry right
now". Why you ask? Because most people do not
like the way I spot. I've had too many people ask me
for a spot and then not need one because of my style.
I'm not a "hold-your-hand spotter", I only assist at the
very last minute, and only if it means saving your life.
These is a time and place for spotters, but mostly they
are just not needed in my opinion, frequently overused,
over assisted to the point of being meaningless.
A spot should be like a tourniquet . . . you don't need
one very often, but when you do, you need one very
badly and very quickly, and nothing else will do.
I know this sounds like I'm a real A-hole, but I'm not
actually, I just have zero tolerance for people that
just want to show off. (Anybody that I deem serious,
I'd be there in a heart beat, but they seem to be few
and far between now a days . . .)
Some time ago, I saw the biggest, strongest guy at my
gym ask the smallest, skinniest guy in the gym for a
spot on a maximum lift. I just left the area, could not bare
to watch.
And about a month or two ago, a guy was bench pressing,
alone, with way way more than he could handle. He
kept stacking on the plates, and I could see a problem
in the making, that was obvious as I'm always on the
look-out for potential problems, especially ones that
may effect me.
So I'm halfway keeping track of this guy out of the corner
of my bad eye, when out of the blue I hear a muffled
HELP!. I look around. Nobody else in the area but me and
Mr. Showoff. And he is buried, literally, up to his neck in
cold steel. His head is off the bench, eyes as big as dinner
plates, with this desperate look on his face. So I make
eye contact with him, acknowledge him and the situation,
quickly evaluate the risk and decide . . . I'm going to let
this guy enjoy his predicament for a few minutes longer.
(He's not going to die, is in no real danger, in no real pain,
just scared and in over his head . . . pardon the pun.)
When he realizes I am his rescuer, and tracking with
laser like accuracy, I slowly saunter his way, being sure
to take my time, to pick my nose, to scratch my ass, wipe
my brow on the way over, really take my time. By then,
this poor guy is sweating bullets big time. When I get
myself into position to help him, I exert the absolute
minimum amount of force to help him complete whatever rep
he was attempting (probably 1). Then I walk away, did not
say a word. Don't think he even thanked me. Since then he
has made himself scarce, just saw for the first time a couple
of days ago.
.gif "IP Gear")
