The gym I work out in is at my work, a medical school/research facility. Today when I entered the gym, I couldn't start with squats as planned because there were two 45-pound plates on the Smith Machine bar and the bar was set above my head (I'm stuck with a Smith Machine if I want to do heavy squats; squat cage is no more). I asked at the front desk for a sign be put up, asking people to please remove their plates when finished. The front desk was very cooperative (they have already ordered a sign) and a medical student just entering the gym offered to take the plates down for me. He was extremely nice in manner and attitude. What he said was something like: All the guys in here are really nice. You can ask them to help you anytime you need a plate moved. We like to keep the heavy plates up because several of us use the same weight and we don't like to take the plates on and off. He was very nicely asking for my cooperation. I can sort of understand this request if I were a medical student and thus part of the team that is suffering through exams and clinicals together; however, I am a middle-age employee and I don't want to ask young male medical students for help in the gym - - - ever. I was polite and said thank you several times but my thoughts still lean toward the idea that they should remove their plates rather than that women should have to ask for plate removal.

Your opinion?