One More Word Out Of You And You’re Sai-Gone!
Our gym is fairly large, and benefits from having an outdoor area with a running track and some pools. The desk by the entrance has a good view of both indoor and outdoor areas. An angry-looking guy comes up to me at the desk:
Customer: “There’s a naked guy outside!”
Me: “Oh, my! That’s not good!”
I am surprised as I probably would have seen a naked guy already from where I was standing. I head out with the customer to sort out the situation, but I can’t see anyone naked or even inappropriately dressed.
Me: “Uh… where?”
Customer: *Pointing.* “Him! The naked Chinese guy running the track!”
The other gym-goer he’s pointing at is a regular and someone I’ve known for almost a decade at this point. He’s running topless, which is allowed for men in the outdoor area, but he’s wearing completely appropriate running shorts and shoes.
Me: “He’s not naked, sir.”
Customer: “He might as well be, showing off that six-pack and chest! It’s unfair to the rest of us just getting started!”
Me: “Just to make it clear, sir, that men are allowed to run the track in what he is currently wearing. There are also several men in the pools not wearing a top.”
Customer: “That’s different!—”
I think he’s going to say “That’s different, they’re swimming”, but no.
Customer: “—they’re fat!”
Me: “Sir! We do not body shame here! Everyone is welcome and everyone is here to improve themselves in whatever way they see fit.”
Customer: “That Chinese guy is the one body shaming! It’s obvious he’s cheating by using steroids and all that s***! He should be fat with all the rice he eats!”
Me: “Sir! In the last few sentences, you have body-shamed and been racist. That’s enough for me to make a complaint and get you banned. I would suggest being quiet now and finishing your workout before I follow through with that.”
The customer grumbles and glares but decides to go work out silently… at first. About ten minutes later I rush over to the sound of an argument. Yup, it’s that guy again telling our Asian customer to “go back to China.”
Asian Customer: “I’m from San Jose, a**hole!”
Me: “Alright, that’s it. You’re done. You need to get your s*** from your locker and not come back.”
Customer: “[Gym] loves immigrants more than Americans!”
Security is called who escort him out with his stuff. I apologize to the patron he was accosting.
Asian Customer: “Don’t worry about it. He didn’t even get the country right, my family is from Vietnam!”
And with that, he went back to his run… for another whole hour! I think I know why he has abs and I don’t think it’s from steroids!
