aibu RE wearing shorts in a swimming pool

[SaggingTits]

Twice I have been asked in our local leisure centre to remove my shorts when I've been spotted wearing them in the pool. The first time they 'let me off' because I was pregnant. The second time I had to take them off.

We're going swimming this weekend so aibu to wear them and refuse to take them off? Surely it's not that much of a hazard? Plenty of men wear shorts swimming. I asked the reasoning behind this policy and apparently it's incase they have to rescue you from the pool for whatever reason. I have sensitive skin and can't shave before going in chlorine or I get an awful rash and have been cursed with thick black pubic hair that grows onto the top of my thighs so really self conscious without shorts.

[FlatOnTheHill]

OP tell them you are going through a 'transition'.
That will shut them up and confuse them

[BlueSmarties76]

I can't see in this day and age how they could get away with allowing swim shorts for men but not women? I was also going to say, just tell them you are a man if they argue!

[Bigbiscuits]

A bit off topic. But in France men are not allowed to wear board shorts. They have to wear speedo type trunks otherwise they are not allowed on the pool. And they are really strict about this

We were told that the reason was hygiene. Apparently it is really disgusting to wear shorts that you would could wear out of the pool in the pool

[Vaginaaa]

That is amusing. Because men couldn't wear speedos as underwear outside the pool and dirty them up or anything

[fastdaytears]

I've never understood the French obsession with speedos!

[MeadowHay]

Bigbiscuits, me and DH didn't find this out until we both went to get into the swimming pool, only for the staff to come running over and tell DH that he's not allowed to wear those swimming trunks!! He had to go all the way back through the changing rooms to reception and buy a new pair of swimming trunks there. We were told the same hygiene reason as you when we asked a friendly local if he knew why the rule was in place. I suppose it makes sense.

OP, if you want to continue wearing those swim shorts, do so and tell the staff to do one. If men can wear them, so can you.

Alternatively, you could try a swimming costume with a longer length in the leg. That is what I wear just because I'm super paranoid and self-conscious of my pubic hair/ass being on show, but also because it's hard for me to shave that area often as I have eczema and it can get quite sore. Mine is a slazenger swimsuit from Sports Direct, dead cheap and looks nice enough.

[rosewithoutthorns]

Why on earth can't you wear mens swim shorts, what a stupid rule. I'd have a word with management. Why should you have to fork out for something else. That daft.

[MeadowHay]

Oh the rule is not that you have to wear tiny Speedos, it's just the bottoms have to made of like, swimming costume material, not different materials like board short style swimming trunks.

[Herrerarerra]

This is so ridiculous!

I remember when my youngest son had swimming at school. I sent him with shorts which weren't especially long and baggy (the hem sat high on his thigh) and he came home with a letter saying that he wasn't allowed in the pool in them. When I called to ask why it was because the ties on the waist could potentially get caught in the vents/drains within the pool so it was a safety issue and shorts were banned. It was only a problem at this particular pool if he was with school though, he wore them whenever we went as a family and nothing was ever said.

[chillycurtains]

Most policies at swimming pools are that you cannot wear non-swim wear in a pool. You are wearing swimming shorts. Have you tried that argument? I would probably talk to the manager at reception rather than go in and hope for the best. If the manager oks it then she/he will radio through to the lifeguards so you don't get harassed.

[lorelei9]

If your partner is allowed to wear those shorts in the pool, then you can wear them too.

Tell the manager, let us know what they say.

[DeAtHnOtE]

Fuck legs suits and swim skirts! Why have we always got to wear something so complicated but yet "flattering"? Why can't we just wear the practical stuff?

If they're swimming shorts they haven't a leg to stand on, what happens in men drown wearing them? Are they harder to rescue because of them? Do they just leave men to drown because of their shorts? Is your pool full of lifeless men in shorts floating at the bottom with the plasters and hair bobbles? Does their penis act as a flotation device negating the 'shorts danger'?

[lorelei9]

DeAt, great post

[WorraLiberty]

How about this style, OP?

I got a similar one (bit more colourful) from Sports Direct.

[IfItsGoodEnough4ShirleyBassey]

Sports Direct incredibly cheap legsuit if you happen to fancy it - but if you don't then sod them and wear the shorts that apparently aren't hazardous for men...or tell them you are a man of course.

[Bigbiscuits]

We had the same. A French lifeguard came running to DH the minute he got in the pool gesticulating that his shorts were not permitted.

The lent him a pair of speedos to wear (which were two sizes too small). I think I should stop recounting the story there and leave the rest to your imagination

[ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs]

If they're swimming shorts they haven't a leg to stand on, what happens in men drown wearing them? Are they harder to rescue because of them? Do they just leave men to drown because of their shorts? Is your pool full of lifeless men in shorts floating at the bottom with the plasters and hair bobbles? Does their penis act as a flotation device negating the 'shorts danger'?

Well said DeAt

[CozyLinusBlanket]

Send an email to the centre, and ask for the official guidelines - can swim shorts be worn or not? If not, presumably men will be turned away if not in Speedos?

[Fizrim]

Buy two pairs of the same shorts, go in with your DH wearing one pair and you wearing the other. Either you both get to wear them, or you both have to remove them make sure your DH hasn't seen that post about the two-sizes-too-small-speedos first

Is it safety? I know on the letter my DD gets about school swimming in a public pool, they do ask the boys to wear close-fitting above the knee shorts.

[Katarzyna79]

I don't buy the French reason for speedos is hygiene what b.s . people have specific shorts for swimming its not like theyre wearing them as regular wear. Equally the French men could be using their speedos as underwear how do they know its not used, hence could be a hygiene issue too.

its bloody snobbery they think its more chic for men to wear the tiniest kit going amplifies their tiny manhood..... (maybe I said too much lol)

What about surf type swim suits, my kids wear those they say they feel cold, and girl says she feels too exposed even though shes just 8? lol. Never had a problem. what are long in the leg swimsuits like surf suits?

What if I went in with a burkini would they ban me too, I don't think they can. I'm not sure about those though, I am muslim but I don't think I like them. Nigella wore one apparently....

[honkinghaddock]

I always wear a t shirt and board shorts when taking ds swimming (for my safety reasons because he scratches when upset). No one has ever said anything.

[Potatoface2]

ive seen a woman wearing a burqa swimsuit in our local pool....not one word was said to her, but some one with a tee shirt on was told to remove it!

[LordBrightside]

What a sad sad lifeguard you would have to be to be bothering about people wearing shorts of any kind in a swimming pool. Pathetic.

[Headofthehive55]

Sounds familiar, my DS was swimming with school, I went to help. Unfortunately I'd packed his swim shorts. He wasn't allowed in far too dangerous etc etc. At the end if the lesson we were all told to come in a t shirt and shorts eg swim shorts for the next week as they were doing how to take your clothes off in the water.

Still puzzled why it was dangerous one week and not the next.

[lorelei9]

Potato, that's not on
Didn't t shirt wearer point it out?