If we have to walk around saying we're not a threat, it gets a bit old. But the pre-judgement is there, and grows. I think that's the real flaw with all of this.
We get so little opportunity to allow someone's actions to establish the quality of their character, that sadly, people fall into "categories" that are whatever their own echo chamber determines.
I have started going to the gym later in the day now, and I notice the same thing - its mostly women. The earlier morning crowd is more balanced, but my local ends up being a social club with everyone getting roped into the conversation - and I just want to go in, do my thing, and get out, and not be waylaid by chit-chat.
I have a hard time saying "no", or disengaging from a conversation once I am engaged in it, so- so far, going a bit later is working, everyone leaves everyone alone.
I feel like that kind of thing would be more awkward at a normal gym. In the climbing gym environment it feels completely normal because you end up discussing the climbs even with strangers, but once you get up to the weights/gym area people just get on with their thing unless they're with friends. It would be weird to just start chatting with people you barely know.
Ditto! 😅 I'm not very good at social etiquette at the best of times, so struggle to know at what point I'm being rude to try and conclude the conversation.