Hey guys, I'm very new to this so bear with me.

I was at the gym today doing cardio and an HB8 I've had my eye on for the past few weeks got on the machine right next to mine. There were plenty of other open ones, including four to my side, yet of those four she picked the one right by me.

I took this as an IOI, but immediately froze up and couldn't figure out how to respond. I ended up finishing and leaving without saying anything. In retrospect I wish I would have made eye contact, smiled, and just said "hello".

Was I right to take this as an IOI? What would you have done, considering the circumstances?

Not necessarily an IOI, but an invitation to approach. There's a difference.

Girls will often find themselves standing near guys they want to talk to them in the hopes that they will. This is called proximity. She probably would have been receptive if you opened her.

An IOI is usually something to indicate interest after you are interacting with her. She will ask your name, or generally want to keep you around.

It's doubtful she intentionally wanted to be close to you in the "hopes" that you'd open her. Lets be realistic. For all you know she saw sweat drops on one machine, the other was of a different model she doesn't like, and the one next to you was the best one available.

Nonetheless, you should've still opened her if you were interested. It's pointless to wonder if something was an IOI or not. Heck, if it was an IOD, open her anyway. It's more practice. Who cares, right?!

_________________
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” ~Audrey Hepburn

I agree with Ninja. It would be nice if it were an IOI, but it is irrelevant. If you're interested, it's important to open and *produce* IOI's right?

I agree with ninja too. Not necessairly an ioo but approach anyway just for practice. I wouldve opened by asking something about the machine and see where it goes from there. But i too was in a similar situation yesterday. Except it was the trainer that keep giving me proximity ioi's. she even bent over right in front of me, exposing her lovely round bottom to me but at the time i couldnt think of an opener. It was after i left that i thought of opening by just asking about the personal trainer services. But its ok i'll open next time

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

_________________
USER HAS BEEN BANNED FOR REPEATEDLY IGNORING MOD WARNINGS AND MULTIPLE RULE VIOLATIONS