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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want some space in the gym changing room

38 replies

Vintagejazz · 21/05/2014 13:45

I went for a swim earlier. There was hardly anyone using the gym so the communal changing room was empty. I started to get dressed and a woman arrived in and plonked herself about 3 feet away from me on the same bench. The large changing room was eeempty. It's not the first time this has happened. Why do people do this and AIBU to want privacy in the changing room whenever it's possible?

OP posts:
HannerHet · 21/05/2014 13:48

Weird
They must be the same people that in a cafe (where I work) they sit at a table with dirty dishes on instead of a clean one with no dishes, then we have to rush to clear it Hmm
They like being annoying?

Summerbreezing · 21/05/2014 13:51

YANBU but unfortunately some people seem to have this herd mentality; I've had it in cinemas as well when the place has been half empty but some annoying person will decide to sit right next to me or right in front of me.

yellowdinosauragain · 21/05/2014 13:52

Do they have designated lockets and is hers next to where you were changing? If not then yanbu!

fingersonbuzzers · 21/05/2014 13:53

Haha.

DH and I were alone in an empty cinema recently. Just as the trailers were finishing another couple came in and sat down.

The woman had an entire cinema of empty seats to choose from - where did she sit? Directly behind my DH.

My DH is 6 foot 5.

(then she proclaimed after five minutes "I can't see!"

Summerbreezing · 21/05/2014 13:54

Someone sat beside me in a two thirds empty cinema once and then asked me to move my arm so they could put their drink in the holder Sad.

RedRoom · 21/05/2014 13:55

I was the only person in the doctor's yesterday, sitting in one of about 25 seats in rows. Woman comes in, sits next to me. Why would you do that?!

CoffeeTea103 · 21/05/2014 13:58

Yanbu, the gym will be empty , but lady chooses to use the treadmill directly next to me. I just don't get it.

fingersonbuzzers · 21/05/2014 13:59

YY the treadmill as well! Forgot people do that. I like to ramp mine up if they join me and try to psyche them out.

Friedbrain · 21/05/2014 14:03

people do this to me on public transport!!!!!

Summerbreezing · 21/05/2014 14:04

I was having a cup of coffee with my mum recently in a large cafe with only one other table occupied. A woman came in with two whinging toddlers and sat down at the next table to us, which was about a six inch gap from our's. She then knocked against my chair with the buggy and pulled the vacant chair from out table over to her's to use for the kids' coats.

CrayolaCocaColaRocknRolla · 21/05/2014 14:25

Thats like when you're on an empty bus, and someone comes and sits next to you. It's unnerving.

CrayolaCocaColaRocknRolla · 21/05/2014 14:25

also yanbu

Pleasejustgo · 21/05/2014 14:28

Herd instinct. Fucking annoying and YdefinitelyNBU.

Billygoats · 21/05/2014 14:31

I find it more awkward when I'm on a really busy train so sit next to somebody. Then the train pretty much empties at the next station and there are just the two Of you sat next to each other. I never know if its rude to move or not.

Nomama · 21/05/2014 14:35

Summerbreezing, that happened to me and my sister a few weeks ago.

I scared the living daylights out of my sister by asking the woman if she would be insulted if we moved and would she mind paying to replace my cup of coffee she had just spilt all over me, oh, and would she stump up for cleaning my skirt too - I was not in a good mood, black coffee smells for hours when you are wearing it!

The woman looked blankly at me, my sister went bright red, and the 8 year old with the woman apologised and got me a towel off the waitress!

Some people just don't manage to look and think in the right order!

MiniSoksMakeHardWork · 21/05/2014 19:35

Was it your usual swimming time? Other woman may have been offended that you were in/near her space - I've known regulars get very territorial over spaces in changing rooms and tables in cafés or restaurants.

PicaK · 21/05/2014 20:16

Yeah. You were probably using HER locker too :-)

EverythingsDozy · 21/05/2014 20:28

I've never known people to do this before! How bizarre!
I think if someone sat next to me I would just pull a Hmm face at them. Some people just have no idea about personal space!!
There was an advert ages ago about personal space and everyone was going round in bubbles - I want one of them Grin

VodkaJelly · 21/05/2014 20:32

Yes Yes to the treadmill. At the gym I use, there is a row of 6 treadmills, a walkway then a further 7 treadmills and behind them another 7 treadmills. I was the only person in the gym on the treadmills and a youngish girl came and used the one right next to me. Why????? Of all the treadmills she had to pick that one.

Also happened another time, me on a treadmill, a spare one then a man on the other one, all the other were free. A man came in and used the one between me and the other man, again why??????

Parked my car at Cannock Chase once, for those who dont know it is a massive heath land popular for dog walking. there are several car parks, some large and some small.

I had parked in one car park, walked the dog and came back to another car parked next to mine, we were the only 2 cars on the carpark. The other car had parked so close I had to climb in the passenger side to slide over to get into the drivers seat. Again, why???

BeggingYouForBirdseed · 21/05/2014 20:33

Yanbu! I hate communal changing rooms for this reason. And also because I don't fancy watching women walking around/bending over in just a g string. might just be jealous of their skinny little arses

BlameItOnTheBogey · 21/05/2014 20:35

Oh I probably do this. But it's because I have a treadmill/ toilet/ locker that I like to use. I am a creature of habit through and through...

redpickle · 21/05/2014 20:42

People do it in car parks too. Man the other day, parked next to us in a car park with hundreds of empty spaces then the rather large gentleman proceeded to squeeze himself out of his car while continuously banging my (brand new Hmm) car with his door. Why, why why? He could have parked anywhere else and had 3 or 4 spaces either side. Grrrrr!

NorbertDentressangle · 21/05/2014 20:52

This has reminded me of another situation that makes me think "Why? Why??"

If you return to your car that is in a full car park of 1000's of cars and you decide to just sit for a short while to stuff your face grab a few minutes before driving off, the owner of the next car always returns just after you do (and usually gives you funny looks because you're sitting in your car as if it's a crime)

PrincessBabyCat · 21/05/2014 21:06

Eek. I'm creepy treadmill girl. Blush

I exercise next to people because I don't like feeling alone when I work out. Empty gyms/buildings in general freak me out, being next to another person puts me at more at ease. Also it's a sense of camaraderie putting in the miles together. And... if something happens, like I go flying off the treadmill or get hurt, someone in eye sight is next to me in case of a true emergency.

Don't you guys feel weird all alone in a giant building?

fingersonbuzzers · 21/05/2014 21:17

Princessbabycat - no, no, no, no, no there is no sense of camararderie Grin I'm giving you sideways glances to try to suss out how out of breath you are and how quickly you will give up and go and mess around on the cross trainer.

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