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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish I could get a photo of DS at our local baths?

29 replies

cjt110 · 07/08/2015 12:14

I know precisely why photography/cameras etc are not allowed in places like swimming baths but I would love to get a photo of DS (no other child or intention) smiling away gleefully at our local baths in the pool.

Its such a shame that you cant, although I totally understand why.

OP posts:
LadyOrangutan · 07/08/2015 12:16

Yabu.
You know why it's not allowed.
If you want a photo of him swimming that much, take him somewhere else where you can take his photo.

BooChunky · 07/08/2015 12:36

Sometimes it's a stupid rule though...

It was literally just me and DD, and DH took a picture of us with his phone and the lifeguard went crazy.

He would never have done it usually... But we were the only people in or near the pool!! Hmm

Wolfiefan · 07/08/2015 12:37

Our local baths allows you to take pictures with prior permission. Can you ask?

Original poster
cjt110 · 07/08/2015 12:45

Thats a point Wolfie. I might see if I can. I just want a snap of him, just the one Sad

OP posts:
OrionsAccessory · 07/08/2015 12:52

I've seen people at my local pool ask the lifeguard then nip back to the changing rooms for their camera/phone, the lifeguard watches them take the picture then the camera goes back to the changing rooms. If they don't let you though it's really not the end of the world!

Tanfastic · 07/08/2015 12:56

I think if you ask....I took one of ds playing water polo the other day at our council run baths but the teacher did say "who would like to take a photo.

Meechimoo · 07/08/2015 12:59

You can ask permission, but I never have because the whole process makes me feel like some underhand perv or something.

muminhants1 · 07/08/2015 13:01

YANBU. If you are not taking a picture of anyone else other than your own child where is the problem? It would be good if common sense could be applied in these situations.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 07/08/2015 13:02

The problem is boo the life guard doesn't know your related he just sees a bloke taking a picture of children in the swimming pool, and then it becomes unpolicable, what's to stop some one who has unsavoury intenttions going oh it's ok its my DC, niece nephew step kid? And if one person takes a picture every one should be allowed to then! Why are some people special the rules don't apply to them. I understand you were the only people there but the rule is no photos your husband broke the rule so got reprimanded!

my friend recently took her nephew and niece swimming for the first time and someone from the pool took pictures, maybe there maybe a service like that somewhere.

Alanna1 · 07/08/2015 13:07

Well, you could go to a private hotel pool for an afternoon, or there are companies who do this sort of thing? Or when on holiday - that's where I have lots of pictures of my kids in the pool in the complex where our apartment is or that sort of thing.

Original poster
cjt110 · 07/08/2015 13:18

Its just sad that a few nasty people stop the majority being able to...

OP posts:
cariadlet · 07/08/2015 14:03

YNBU
It would be lovely to be able to take innocent photos of our own children.

I think that our society is in a complete muddle and mess over paedophilia. On the one hand there are still children who are not believed because they don't conform to stereotypes of innocent victims eg those poor victims of grooming rings who were dismissed as "troubled" teenagers.

On the other hand, ordinary people can't carry out ordinary family activities. The chances of paedophiles taking photos of children at a swimming pool for their own twisted purposes must be miniscule. Those perverts are attracted to children - not just to children in swimming costumes/shorts. They are just as likely to be aroused by a Mothercare catalogue as to a picture of a child in a swimming pool.

CakeNinja · 07/08/2015 14:07

I understand where you're coming from (although I have plenty of pics of my dc swimming) but you know why the rules are there.

There is a leisure centre near me that have a photographer - you swim up and they take some pictures of you all in the water and when you get out you have the opportunity to buy them.
I haven't used it myself but the facility exists.

SaulGood · 07/08/2015 14:15

I thought it ridiculous too until DH ran a leisure facility for a couple of years. They had a public viewing gallery at the side of the cafe, so that you could watch your family swim whilst not swimming yourself. It was really useful.

Except on a weekly basis the police had to be called. I don't mean covert photographs either. I mean people sexually gratifying themselves whilst watching the pool.

They have removed the public gallery now. It's completely blocked off. I have never believed and never will buy into the 'paedos on every corner' mentality and I fully believe that we should just get on with normal, family live given that the vast, overwhelming majority of us are normal families. However, we were ruddy shocked by what happens at public swimming baths if you don't go zero tolerance.

cariadlet · 07/08/2015 18:54

Bloody hell! I don't often get shocked by posts but that's unbelievable.

measles64 · 07/08/2015 19:07

When there was a serious incident at our local outdoor paddling pool the police asked for video and photo footage from anyone who was there that day. They found 28 paedophiles in the pictures/videos who were photographing and filming themselves then nipping in and out of the loos for sexual gratification.

ReginaFelangi · 07/08/2015 19:57

I went through the same thing, OP. My complaint got as far as Local Authority level - they obviously don't want to review the policy for something sensible. We no longer use their pools.

ArendelleQueen · 07/08/2015 20:11

YABU, this is such a non-issue.

Notso · 07/08/2015 20:31

I think this kind of rule is pointless.

ReginaFelangi · 07/08/2015 21:06

Manager of our pool (after telling me that I had permission to take pictures of swimming-costumed kids and their dad in an otherwise completely empty
pool) said it was because I "couldn't be trusted not to put them on social media where any passing pedophile could photoshop them into kiddy porn".

TruJay · 07/08/2015 21:45

I had this exact thought yesterday. DH, DS, DD and I all went to the local pool and halfway through our swim DD (21 months) laid on her belly with both hands under her chin, elbows on the step and was kicking her legs in the shallow water on the step. She looked so beautiful and full of joy, I said to DH it would make a gorgeous photo, it's sad that you can't but I totally understand why but it is a shame.
Both the kids are so happy in the water so could capture some great shots

Floggingmolly · 07/08/2015 21:51

So just wait till you're at the beach?

ReginaFelangi · 07/08/2015 22:03

That's hardly the same.

crazykat · 08/08/2015 10:09

Yanbu. I would have loved to get a quick video of my dcs in the pool on holiday, it was dd2's first swim and she loved it. I only wanted a quick video to show my mum who was terminally ill so no way she could be there. We weren't allowed as the pool was packed even though it had just opened.

I understand why the rule has to be there but it's rubbish not being able to take a photo of your own child in the corner of the pool.

noeffingidea · 08/08/2015 10:30

It would never have occurred to me to take a photo of my children in tge swimming pool. Nice, but hardly essential. You don't have to have a photo of all your kids activities, surely?
The rules are there for a reason.