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

[Jusfloatingby]

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?

Isn't there a clue to the use of a swimming pool in the name?

Thank you Fluffy that is exactly what I meant in my opening post. I was not talking about people using the pool for any of its intended purposes but people who just get into the pool, stand for 15 mins chatting to each other, swim up and down for a couple of minutes, stand there again for ages chatting and so on. Just because you have paid to use something doesn't mean consideration for other paying users goes out the window and you're 'entitled' to do what you like.

I go to public baths, I only go to the lane swimming sessions, they only happen 2 evenings a week for an hour - the pool is open for a general swim the rest of the time. People still feel the need to stand at the end and block the lanes.

One even jokes about the fact he might possibly try a length - meh!! We have all heard about his holiday home in Marbella, his business he runs. We are more concerned that he stands blocking the lane with his arms akimbo. And now he is bringing his mates that do the same

And don't forget the ones that swim towards the shallow end, then suddenly stand up before the end.

Sallying what crap. If that were true then MULTIPLE families with toddlers would be buggered as there are no pools where playing in the water while you learn to swim are in the title!

It makes more sense to make a facility that is so expensive to run a multi-use one that attracts a larger proportion of the population. If a pool was restricted to only those who swim laps then it would only be used by a small percentage of the population.

When I used to swim laps I'd either go first or last thing. The early morning session has fewer wall huggers.

You may not think the 'swim slowly while chatting' brigade are getting much exercise but they are getting a darn sight more than sitting in the caf consuming tea and biscuits.

Oddly the more lanes there are, the more people seem to be annoying in them. I usually go on a weekday morning as then ds can go in the creche, and there's only one lane for swimming (school lessons on each side). And the elderly ladies having a chat are very good at moving to the side when I swim up to them and the occasionally very fast person never intimidates us.

Pools attached to gyms seem to be the worst for inconsiderate pool users, IME.

The problem with the swim slowly while chatting was they did it in the lap lane when there was plenty of room in the other lane for slow swimming.
Normally if someone is swimming slower then you can pass them, but when swimming side by side you can't.

YABU but I fully sympathise.

I feel the anger welling when a man goes past swimming a poor stroke and sets off a massive tidal wave.

Totally unreasonable of me,but it's true.

It's just a small space trying to provide so many things at so many levels so it's bound to have it's problems.

Justfloating not really an appropriate nn I agree with Fluffy it's about etiquette and areas of the pool to do different things.

Your next post however doesn't agree with her and brings us back to square 1. You are saying the "gossipers" shouldn't be there at all incorrect, they should just be in an appropriate part of the pool as per fluffys actual post.

I can't swim in any useful way (I used to but I've since suffered spinal cord damage) so when I use a pool I have a float belt thing to take my weight and 'jog' on the spot trying to stop my weak leg from losing even more muscle. I try to do this in an out of the way spot (not a lane) but wherever I go I seem to end up in someone's way. I'm really not meaning to be annoying but I do say sorry if I find myself being a pain to someone.

No Softly we both agreed that people stretching, floating, or using the pool for any of its intended purposes should be facilitated. What I was objecting to was people who get into the pool to swim but then just decide to stand around talking instead. They're not floating, stretching, easing arthritic pain, or alking up and down the pool, they're just talking for ages before they actually do some swimming and they could just as easily do that in the jacuzzi or steam room without obstructing other people.