Miami Etiquette - Whos is right in this case? (apartment, live in)

[Michael Di Meo]

OK, so I live in a mostly Spanish speaking building. I'm the only one in the small gym, climbing an incline on the treadmill watching Univisión - the Spanish news.

A guy comes in, grabs the remote from my treadmill and starts to change the station.

I told him I was watching it, and he explains that he cannot understand Spanish so he is changing it to English. I referred him to the rules which say that TV station choice is first come first serve, but in case of dispute, make a compromise.

He says that we are in the USA, and the USA is English, and that I am an immigrant and the TV should be in English, therefore no compromise. I tell him we are in Miami, and Miami is mostly Spanish, but I would compromise.

I asked him what he wanted to watch, and he said sports. I said we could watch sports in Spanish as a compromise, and I turned it to the Eurocup.

He said "awwwwwwww, Soccer? Are you kidding me?"

He then called me an ***hole and walked out.

So... the question is, despite the gym rules regarding choice of TV station, who was right and who was wrong in this run-in with my neighbor?

Should I have let him change the station to English just so he can feel good?

[boxus]

First come, first serve, that is the gym etiquette.

I never watch TV in the gym, but people will always ask me if it is ok to turn the channel, or to even turn it on when it is off.

You offered a compromise, he did not want it, too bad for him.

This is not about Miami etiquette, this is gym etiquette, pretty much universal as I have been to a few gyms around the world, and the same rules apply regarding the TV, radio, equipment use, etc.

[WINTERFRONT]

There shouldn't be music or tv at the gym to begin with, but that's another story.

However, thinking within these parameters, the guy had no right to change the channel and it was a rather inconsiderate move from his part to decline your compromise.

[things and stuff]

The OP was in the right, so long as he didn't retaliate/escalate the situation. It's just a TV after all. You're there to work out and we could gain a lot by being understanding of people's crazy/jerk behaviors and let it slide when nobody is harmed.

I have experienced first hand how it can seem that latin Miami residents reject/discriminate English speaking Anglos so there's no telling what kind of bad experiences this guy could have had. Or he could have been just an a$$hole. Hopefully you stayed calm.

[WINTERFRONT]

BTW... I think the OP means "Arrggg" and not "Awww" as the later is meant to be used at cute/adorable things or situations.

[StilltheSame]

First come, first serve and you were more than reasonable.

[Miami Vice]

OP was in the right. Guy sounds like an ass, but being in a gym listening to a foreign language has got to suck. He just went about it the wrong way.

[Reptoid Humidian]

Wynwood, this guy was totally in the wrong. He invaded your personal space and reached on to your treadmill without your permission to take the remote and didn't even ask you. His actions tell me that he's an a-hole with a chip on his shoulder and his whole point was to "teach you a lesson" and "remind you whose country you're in" and basically make you feel very unwelcome. Well, F*** him! He can lick the poo! Seriously, I hate guys like that. Make them suffer at every turn and absolve yourself of all guilt. If someone annoys you in your lair, or invades your personal space in such manner, treat them cruelly and without mercy. You have no obligation to these destructive organisms whatsoever.

[Coconut1]

First come, first serve. I would have told him to bend over and I'll shove the remote up his.... if he wanted it so bad.

Although I don't understand Spanish, either, I would never have taken the remote and changed the channel. If he wanted to watch TV he could have sat his fat rear in his apartment.

[doggiebus]

I agree, if the rule of the gym is first come, first decides what to watch. This is an interesting rule, because it puts the OP in the place of being courtious or not to the fellow neighbors. You basically get to see if someone is an ass or not. The OP could of been better. The other guy should of asked the OP nicely if they could watch something in English and then the OP should of changed it to something in english so they both could understand what was being said. Not watch sports in spanish when one can't understand whats being said. Doesn't matter what the rule of the gym is, its about being courtious to your fellow residents. So both were in the wrong in being neighborly to each other.