to think that leaving your clothes in a cubicle doesn't make it yours. FFS. (Warning, sweary)

[knowitallstrikesagain]

So, swimming yesterday for about half an hour. When I got out, two of the three cubicles around the edge of the communal area were taken and one was full of clothes. I asked the people in the changing room, not theirs. I checked the shower and toilet area, nobody there. So I went in and got changed.

Halfway through changing, there is a knock on the door. 'Is someone in there, that is my cubicle?'
Me: 'I didn't realise this cubicle belonged to anyone'
Her: 'Were the clothes not a giveaway?'
Now, I am allowed to be sarcy, but don't try it if you are in the bloody wrong!
Me: I checked, this cubicle was not being used, I assumed someone had forgotten to put their stuff in a locker. I'll be done i a minute, or do you want me to pass you your clothes?'

Emerge a few minutes later to a cold, dripping woman with a death stare. She had been in the pool when I got out so was definetaly NOT using the cubicle.

I smiled sweetly and said 'There you go, do remember to put your clothes in the locker next time won't you?' and walked off. At least 3 people in the communal area gave me a little triumphant smile.

Now there are fucking great notices everywhere saying 'DON'T LEAVE STUFF IN CUBICLES' so it was bloody obvious she only did it to reserve herself a cubicle after her swim.

WIBU or was she a selfish, rude, ignorant bitch so and so who deserved a lesson?

And why has this made me so irrationally angry?

Regarding sun loungers, I once asked my German best friend why her kind so enjoy putting their towels on sun loungers.

She replied "why WOULDN'T you? If I am up first, I should be the one who gets the sun lounger."

She was irate that anyone could think it was rude.

I always ALWAYS sit next to someone with a bag on the seat. I just ask, 'Is this seat taken?' politely. I am yet to be told it is, altough I have had a lot of huffing and puffing as though they are really put out. If there is one person in every row I will always sit next to the person with the bag on the seat rather than the thoughtful person who holds their bag on their lap.

Well done op
They do this at ds2's lessons on a Sunday and we go off in search of a free cubicle.
Wish you'd been there today whilst a child (sat on her mums lap) kicked the back of my seat for the whole film. I did say loudly EXCUSE ME but she ignored me. So I had to put up with it or move

Grrr hate selfish people

I think it is quite normal to move your bag off a seat when someone needs to sit down, isn't it? Do the rest of you sit with them on your laps for no reason just to demonstrate to shrinking violets who my be scared of asking that yes, the seat is free?

One of my pet hates is people who cannot be bothered/ feel it's beneath their dignity to ask if a seat is free, but will huff and puff about not being invited to sit down.

Obviously, there are also twits who think their bag deserves a seat and they should of course be stopped.

How sad, so few people in this world are perfect!

The other day I was at the pool and a woman moved my bag onto the floor! Even though she wasn't sitting down and there was a ton of space and she then used the space for her bag.

My face did this

Obviously I didn't say anything though. I am not like the OP. I am a mouse.

Wasent my pool , We have signs up in our changing village saying that any clothes left in cubicles will be removed, and we do remove them.They have to be collected from reception, by angry,dripping wet swimmers (they dont do it again though)

At my DH's gym he was coming out of the showers and he noticed one of the showers was still running - over a pile of men's clothes! He thought it a bit odd, but left it running and went to get changed.

Fast forward 10 minutes to the moment the owner of the clothes discovered them in the shower! apparently this chap had been winding everyone up leaving his stuff strewn over the benches and not using a locker and someone had decided to teach him a lesson!

Beautifully done OP! Love your dignified response!

The bags on seats thing is because if a bus is starting to fill up, I will move my bag onto my lap to clearly show the seat is free and so that people who have felt intimidated in the past don't have to ask. By the huffing and puffing done and dirt looks given when some people are asked to move their bags, I can see why people feel uncomfortable asking! You would think you had asked them to move their child into the luggage rack...

Not me though, I am rude direct.

OP, that feeling coursing through your body isn't anger, it's VICTORY!

'Felt intimidated'??

Seriously?

Yes, some people are rude. But, the world does not revolve around you. From time to time, you may have to engage in the immense trauma of asking a stranger who hasn't yet noticed she's in your way, to move a bag.

I'm sure there will be self-help groups set up shortly. Meantime, try a simple 'may I sit down'. It typically works a charm.

Mixing up peoples clothes and handing in one shoe is very childish behaviour

wish I had thought of it

another one who'd have handed them in as lost property.

I'd have sat on her clothes and left a nice talc-y fanny print

Wring the sopping wet swimming costume out on their clothes

I would have tried on the clothes and done a little fashion show for the rest of the changing rooms - we could have all judged them and left helpful comments regarding shoes, accessories etc...

this may be a lie

I am not that brave

Bags on seats are obviously fine when the bus or train is quiet. As it starts to fill up, considerate people move bags onto their laps or the luggage rack. Your bag doesn't have a ticket and it shouldn't be on a seat if there is someone might need it.

Yanbu. Well done for standing up for common sense and decency :)

Agree with that turps. I just find it amazing that this is such a big issue on MN - I've almost never found it a problem in RL, people just say 'is that seat taken', or you see them coming and move over so they know it is free. It's easy.

Brilliant OP.

I'm torn whether I would've wanted to drop her knickers in a puddle or the bin. Yes I'd be grossed out touching them, but with plenty of chlorinated water around, it'd be well worth it.

The thing that gets me on buses is people sitting in the aisle seat with an empty seat next to the window, obviously hoping to discourage anyone from sitting next to them.
And then when you ask them if the seat is free and they grudgingly admit that it is, they don't make things easy and move up into the free seat , or indeed make any attempt to get out of your way, as you flounder past them with bags of shopping and small baby in your arms to get to the free seat. And then you have to do it again in reverse when you want to get off again.

Ooh, OP, can you come to our pool next Wednesday, at about 5.30? Ta.

Last week I was so furious that DD, YET AGAIN, could not find a cubicle without clothes in to use that I stomped off to reception and loudly asked what I should do.

The vair nice young lady said that, although they are aware it's an ongoing problem, they are not allowed to touch the belongings left in the cubicles in case they are accused of things disappearing. She said that they advise customers to move the offending clothes to the floor just outside the cubicle.

I did exactly as I was advised. may have accidentally found a slight puddle to put them in aswell

Well done OP. We experienced it once and unfortunately not quite continent DS may have actually done a wee on the jeans left on the changing bench. Didn't matter though as he then knocked them into the centre drain and they got quite wet. I put them in a carrier bag and dropped them off at reception twenty minutes later when I'd finished getting everyone dressed then sat in the cafe opposite and watched the really rather cross person picking them up.

Tis quite good fun to put them on top of the changing cubicle if they have those strut things above them. Ideally over the corridor so everyone can watch the shivery person trying to grab their knickers.

Good response. She wasnt the type that would take your balls off at a thousand paces then?