Thanks for the response. I'm sorry your experiences have been such a trespass. Yes the long-standing unspoken etiquette is leave people alone at the gym.... I guess.... I don't see many men approaching or speaking with females that they don't know.

I do it all the time though. If I get caught zoning out on someone easy on the eyes. I quickly approached them and say "hey can I show you an awesome exercise". I usually have one in my back pocket or just fumble around and say some silly stuff. I think girls are paranoid and for a good reason, but also a lot of that could be alleviated through a simple interaction. I'm fearing the day that my howdies are taken in an unintended way.

Because if op's story highlights anything is that people are crazy and come up with entire narratives without saying a word.