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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Using a mobile phone in a swimming pool

22 replies

DinkyDiggies · 12/12/2020 22:02

I’ve seen this a few times recently and it annoys me for no good reason really. I have a membership at pool attached to a hotel.
People come waltzing down from the hotel bit and get in pool and start taking pictures of themselves- I assume for social media, or simply sit in the jacuzzi and scroll.
AIBU to think If you are in a pool then you leave your phone on the side, and enjoy the experience of being in the water?

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 12/12/2020 22:03

Well, I’d laugh if they dropped their phone in the water.

Mum2jenny · 12/12/2020 22:04

As long as they are not taking pics of you, I can’t see the problem.

VimFuego101 · 12/12/2020 22:07

I'm surprised the pool allow it. Don't most have 'no photography' signs?

CounsellorTroi · 12/12/2020 22:10

Mobile phones are certainly not allowed in changing rooms.

Original poster
DinkyDiggies · 12/12/2020 22:39

I do see people doing that too. Not taking pics or anything, but quite often just sitting and scrolling through something.

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 12/12/2020 22:41

Couldn't care less what people are doing with their phones but it does seem pretty silly.

GrumpyHoonMain · 12/12/2020 22:41

It’s usually not allowed. Complain everytime to a member of staff when you see it or write a letter of complaint.

Original poster
DinkyDiggies · 12/12/2020 22:44

@Mum2jenny

As long as they are not taking pics of you, I can’t see the problem.
It the AIBU i guess. It does annoy me, even though they aren’t actually doing anything to me. One woman quite made up and hair done made a massive show with her partner and was very clearly posing for insta or such like. I really wanted to some horrid splash swimming and get her wet - well she was in a swimming pool. The jacuzzi phone scrollers - just mildly annoying i suppose. Just want to shake them a little and say ‘relax be here and enjoy it’
OP posts:
emilyfrost · 12/12/2020 22:47

Why does it annoy you?

You say why can’t they just enjoy the experience of being in the water, but that’s exactly what they’re doing - they’re just doing it differently to you and that’s okay.

People are allowed to enjoy things in different ways.

Travis1 · 12/12/2020 22:50

How do you know they aren’t reading on their phone?(I use borrow box on my phone for books and would happily read in a jacuzzi) or catching up on news or just gabbing with friends? Or that they don’t have 6 kids at home and normally they don’t get a chance to even look at their phone during the day and they are there for a special treat?

I assume these are hotel guests so there for a break/holiday and to chill out who are you to determine what they need to do to relax? How do you know they aren’t relaxed af doing what they are?

Oh and whoever said hope they drop their phone 🙄 most recent Apple and Samsung’s are waterproof - and I assume other brands are too - thus people feeling comfortable to take them in the jacuzzi.

PawPawNoodle · 12/12/2020 22:54

Not exactly what you're talking about but I nearly got kicked out of a leisure centre for being on my phone in the spectator gallery of the pool (long story short, I was watching something on my phone with headphones in while waiting for an ex to finish at the gym and didn't realise a school class had come in so they thought I was taking pictures) I think it was good that they did that and I hadn't taken into consideration the safeguarding and privacy that is needed at a pool.

Peasbewithyou · 12/12/2020 22:55

I put YANBU but then remembered going to a hotel with DH and our 3 DC. I had 1 hour of alone time in which I went to the pool, swam, wallowed in the jacuzzi for a bit then sat on a lounger reading a book on my kindle app. Bliss. I guess it did look like aimless scrolling to any onlookers. I didn’t take the phone into the jacuzzi though!

BackforGood · 12/12/2020 23:08

The thing is, if people have phones in their hands, then you can't tell they aren't taking photos of other people.
I assumed all pools would have 'no phones' rules by the poolside.

CaptainCallisto · 13/12/2020 09:03

Speaking as someone whose picture ended up on the FB of a friend of a friend captioned "feels like Free Willy in here", I understand exactly where you're coming from. I didn't spot him taking pictures, but he clearly was. It took me months to get back into a swimming costume after that. Most people with phones in pools are just scrolling/reading, but there are some absolute twats out there who think it's hilarious to take pictures of strangers, without their permission or knowledge, and post them on social media.

MatildaTheCat · 13/12/2020 09:10

One of my guilty pleasures is to read my kindle in the spa pool at the gym for as long as I can. A few people scroll their phones. Some models are waterproof.

I can’t imagine doing it in the actual swimming pool. Phones are most definitely not banned in our changing room though in 25 years I’ve never seen any strange behaviour in that regard.

Live and let live?

emilyfrost · 13/12/2020 09:26

there are some absolute twats out there who think it's hilarious to take pictures of strangers, without their permission or knowledge, and post them on social media.

CaptainCallisto I agree it’s awful behaviour, but if the pool doesn’t have a policy against photos then you’re in a public place and they don’t need your permission to take the photo or put it online.

nosswith · 13/12/2020 09:49

YANBU. Seems to me that allowing them could be a lovely excuse for a pervert to take photos.

Nottherealslimshady · 13/12/2020 09:53

As much as I think it's silly to have a phone in a pool because it'll get damaged. I dont agree with your reasons. It's not for you to decide how some enjoys something. If they were reading a book would you be telling them to stop and enjoy where they are?

Pikoty · 13/12/2020 10:53

Yabu to dictate how people enjoy themselves. Controlling much?

BackforGood · 13/12/2020 17:37

Think you are misunderstanding 'controlling' Pikoty
This falls more into respecting people's privacy and potentially safeguarding.
Since the day when all phones had an integrated camera in them, by allowing phones, the pool owners are allowing people to take photos of strangers in their swimming costumes.
Yes, I know in any public place people could theoretically do that, but inside a pool , it can and ought to be managed.

lovepickledlimes · 13/12/2020 17:55

I am torn. I don't do it as not as it is not allowed in the gym. I do admit at times it would have been nice though to be able to read or listen to some music as I dry myself a little in one of the lounge beds so I could just rest for like half an hour after swimming for an hour etc

londonrach · 13/12/2020 18:00

Im surprised its allowed unless they signed forms. The first time i took dd into the swimming pool i asked if i could take a picture of her and explained it her first time and signed forms saying id take of her only. In the end the life guard did it for us but i have amazing picture of dd and myself and no one else in the pool. Very special.

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