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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think when you go to the swimming pool you should be swimming

86 replies

Jusfloatingby · 25/10/2012 16:16

The pool at my gym can get pretty crowded, particularly in the early evening when people call in on their way home from work. There is invariably a couple of people just standing in the pool having a nice long chat while people swim around them trying not to knock into each other.

There are benches at the side of the pool, two jacuzzis and two steam rooms they could sit and chat in.

AIBU to think they should get out of the pool and leave room for people who actually want to SWIM?

OP posts:
Original poster
Jusfloatingby · 25/10/2012 17:15

But the place was full of people like you glaring at me and trying to get a badge for being the most dedicated swimmer ever. QUOTE

Eh, I don't 'glare' at them Softlysoftly. I just wish, silently, that they wouldn't stand there for ages and ages chatting instead of using the pool for its intended purpose. Why are people who simply want to use the pool to swim in 'trying to get a badge for being the most dedicated swimmer ever'. What a strange remark.

OP posts:
dizzy77 · 25/10/2012 17:19

I do will try to make allowances but I do find frustrating the pairs of (usually) women who do 90% chatting & 10% swimming. Lots of people in the public adults only session I usually go to swim slowly or exercise vertically, but these pairs often a) don't get their hair wet and b) spend a long time discussing how they'll definitely come Sun/Weds/Fri every week from now on and the (presumably because I've scared them off Blush never return.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 25/10/2012 17:25

YANBU. If people want to stand in a pool and chat, then that's what spas are for. Spas with 'relaxation' pools for the chatters, and 'fitness' pools for the swimmers.

Swimming pools are for swimming in. The clue is in the name.

fatlazymummy · 25/10/2012 17:25

OP I totally agree with you. Yes people do pay to use the pool,but there is no need to get in other people's way while you're doing it. Some people are inconsiderate though,just like the ones who block the pavement off with their buggies while they have a nice little chat,or insist on walking in the cyclepath eg.
A little bit of consideration and manners all round go a long way, but some people don't seem to get that.

Whathashappenedtomyboobs · 25/10/2012 17:31

YABU...my mum can't swim but she still likes to go into the pool, should she not go?

Everlong · 25/10/2012 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

valiumredhead · 25/10/2012 17:43

YABU since when were you the swimming pool police?!

almapudden · 25/10/2012 17:48

Oh this drives me wild. I only go swimming when I know they have at least two lanes open (one fast, one slow), but even then you get people congregating at the end of the pool. There's a whole half of the pool free for people to arse around in, don't get in the way of those who are actually swimming!

Sallyingforth · 25/10/2012 17:50

Perhaps they find it more comfortable to pee when not swimming? :)

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/10/2012 17:51

I just don't understand why the people pissing about or just pissing, thanks Sallyingforth can't stay out of the way of the swimmers. But they can't. Entitled buggers.

Doilooklikeatourist · 25/10/2012 18:00

The pool I go has the chatting standing around , and the slowly swimming chatting types .

Known as the walkie talkies .

But it's their pool too , so why shouldn't they .

Original poster
Jusfloatingby · 25/10/2012 18:52

Well, for the same reason that people in supermarkets shouldn't block the aisles standing around chatting while people try to get past or people in cars shouldn't hold everyone up driving at 10mp down a busy road while traffic builds up behind them. It's about consideration really.

OP posts:
Softlysoftly · 25/10/2012 19:22

Not a particularly strange remark, do you think they can't feel the animosity radiating off you?

When I wanted to meander/float Pregnant i paid my money the same as anyone else yet had to deal with people tramming up and down all the lanes as if they had far more right to them as they are proper swimming. When in fact if I am in an area floating/paddling about first then I am there first, it's my space to do with as I choose!

If you are doing laps and the women move into your lane to start gassing then fine, other than that go round, and ask your gym to section the pool.

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/10/2012 19:30

If there is a non-lane area and a lane area, then the floaters should not be in the lanes. Also, people having a rest in the lanes should get to the bloody side. Also, men doing the crawl in the fast lane should be going faster than me in the middle lane doing the breaststroke, unless they think the fast lane is really the penis lane. Grrrr. No wonder I rarely swim any more.

bruffin · 25/10/2012 19:35

I swim once a week and people chatting at the end of the lane don't get in the way.
However two women who chose to swim slowly abreast so they could chat did get in the way.

TidyGOLDDancer · 25/10/2012 19:35

YABU. People pay to use the pool. You are not in control (not should you be) of how they choose to use it. For all you know, the chatting people might be annoyed with the way you swim.

Everlong · 25/10/2012 19:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/10/2012 19:46

True Everlong if people were sitting on gym equipment chatting or sitting on the floor in an exercise class or eating iced buns at a Weightwatchers meeting we wouldn't be bleating on about them having paid. Use the pool for it's intended purpose or bugger off. BTW I have no issue whatsoever with people floating, weeing, chatting away from the lanes and people trying to swim.

EllenParsons · 25/10/2012 20:44

YANBU It is really annoying especially when the pool is busy or a slightly smaller pool. Also find it annoying when people swim too slowly for the lane they are in or swim 2 abreast and chat! I like to swim at a decent pace, 2 to 3 hours per week on my own.

JakeBullet · 25/10/2012 20:59

YANBU...it drives me nuts....only slightly less annoying are those who swim very very slowly up and down the pool while having a fecking conversation! I'm hard pushed not to point out the coffee shop outside to them. #intolerant.

Naghoul · 25/10/2012 21:03

I was thinking about going swimming.

maybe not.

It sounds so angsty [hhmm]

fluffyraggies · 25/10/2012 21:28

Oh trust me it is angsty Nagoul!

I gave up using the gym pool because of it. We had a wide unlabelled lane, a narrow medium lane and a narrow fast lane.

There were so many stand abouters and chatters at the ends of the unlabelled lane that it was impossible to do lengths properly in that one. Everyone actually swimming (no matter how slowly) would have to go into the medium lane. And there we would all be stuck. Poking each other accidently and only being able to go at the speed of the slowest as there wasn't room to over take.

There was usually at least 2 ploughing expertly up and down the fast lane and no one in the medium lane was brave enough to go in there with them.

I know people use the pool for fitness in other ways than swimming, but it's chrystal clear who the stand and chatters and who the physio people are.

Go to the cafe and chat! (specially when it's painfully obvious the swimmers are squashed)

awaynboilyurheid · 25/10/2012 21:45

YANBU drives me nuts too , there needs to be a pool rules/etiquette board like the one that is up about not diving in etc. First one is when someone is already in the pool swimming in a straight line, people who have wandered into the pool should not suddenly start swimming in the same space as them forcing them to go round you, as they were there FIRST! Second one ; you should not expect swimmers to have to go round two people going up and down chatting I agree with the person who said the clue is in the name,its a swimming pool.
Last one though I could go on and on, is competitive Dads, just let the kids swim about, they are not in the olympics yet, its meant to be fun! and when you swim we don't all need to get out the way because you want to show off your really fast length, there! that feels better already!

seeker · 25/10/2012 21:47

50+! how very dare they be even out of the house!

Softlysoftly · 25/10/2012 21:50

So the impression I'm getting is the pool is only for medium speed hobby swimmers, not slow swimmers who swim/float or are social while swimming, and not too fast swimmers.

Just you lot basically Hmm