So about a few weeks ago, I (22M) was working out in my college gym. A random guy (?M) walks up to me and asks advice for the exercise I was currently doing. I gave him advice and talked to him for a little bit. That was fine. However ever since then he keeps trying to talk to me for at least 10-20 minutes every time I go to the gym.

I don’t mind talking to people in the gym for a little bit, but how this guy does it is excessive. He keeps trying to find me and keeps staying with me/following me. I say for example that I need to do my next set of my exercise or I need to go to another part of the gym. However he doesn’t get the hint and either stays with me and keeps staring at me, or he would keep following me around the gym.

For most of our conversations I’m doing the majority of the talking, and he only says a few sentences. Additionally he would always speak in a quiet voice, and I constantly find myself asking him to speak up. However every time I try ending the conversation, he keeps saying how he wants to talk more and prolongs the conversation. Supposedly he “works out” in the gym, but every time I see him walk in the gym, he doesn’t go do any exercise, his first task is finding me. Whenever I ask him what’s his workout plan, he always tell me that he doesn’t know and he likes talking more than working out.

This is negatively affecting me because every time he talks to me, it lasts for at least 10 minutes and I end up having to skip my exercises since I’m only able to work out in the early morning and I have a busy schedule. Also he is sometimes offensive. This first started when he asked for my instagram. When he got it, he was showing me my profile while scrolling through it and would point out in a non-joking manner that I’m balding. He also gave me a weirded out and judgmental look when looking at my photos on insta (they are pictures of me and my family traveling).

I didn’t mention anything of it and just let it go. However at least several times after that he would point out my balding. He did it in a tone that was less helpful and more like a “why are you like that” type attitude. Recently he did it again and I had enough of him. In a firm tone I told him that he was being very offensive and that is not something you tell someone you barely know from the gym. He immediately got quiet then I left.

I am aware that he is probably socially awkward, but regardless I don’t think his behavior is ok. I understand struggling to make friends, but putting someone in a situation where they have to talk to you is not the way. There are other avenues of meeting people like clubs, bars, meet-up groups, etc. He waits for me every time I’m doing my exercise and expects me to talk to him. Honestly I don’t like talking to him, and he gives off the vibe that I owe him a conversation. I feel like an asshole and guilty, but at the same time I have boundaries too. AITAH?