Mine was. It had a pool table in the entrance too. I used to go to the gym on a Saturday morning to sweat out the hangover and chat shit with the others doing the same.

My friends was. It was a grotty thing in the basement. It was primarily about the equipment. It was a lifting gym. The folk that went there would hang out, help each other, and talk plenty. They all had a common interest: lifting. They also thought people like me in my gym above were posers. That’s fine too.

Not everyone uses a gym the same way. Not all gyms are the same.

Ah, there are plenty of other ways to communicate than just talking...

Perhaps this won’t be replicated in the digital sphere, but the identity behind “leader boards” and physical aspirationals, which I believe these digital offerings still provide, is an effective means to create community and followings.

Heck a couple great friendships began in silence for months, with strict social distancing before it was cool