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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teen possibly filming at swimming lesson

9 replies

TheWordOfBagheera · 22/07/2022 00:16

I was on the tiered seating next to pool watching my DC swim at the far side of the deep end. At the near side was a life-saving class for teenagers (about 15 of them, a mix of boys and girls).

Another teen came and sat on the tiered seats and seemed to know a couple of the teenage boys a bit. He was also on a video call with someone and had his own camera facing out to the pool. I occasionally glanced over trying to see what he was doing and I could see out of the corner of my eye that he kept checking to see if I was looking at him. He was definitely getting at least one teen boy in his camera view and giggling with whoever he was talking to, especially when they were bouncing up and down practising cpr on a dummy. I couldn't tell who else he was possibly filming but he was pointing the phone in various direction, and of course everyone was in swimming costumes, and there were small kids in lessons there too. He's actually there every week with his phone out but I've never sat close enough to see what he was up to before.

The two boys who appeared to know him were getting irritated and gesturing him to go and he was laughing and saying "but why? Just tell me whyyy and I'll go". They were definitely not joking with him and seemed upset rather than friends. To be honest it had the feel of a bullying type incident as the two boys were overweight and he was really laughing at them when they were bouncing around more, as in the cpr. It felt very off.

In the end I walked down to the poolside (a long walk where you have to go out of the pool area, down some steps and back through the changing rooms) and found the pool supervisor. I explained what happened and pointed the guy out. He thanked me and went off and talked to the life-saving instructor. I caught him again a few minutes later and asked him what would happen- would there be an incident report or anything. He said that as he hadn't been able to see what was happening for himself there was nothing they could do and that this person was friends with a couple of the boys. He said he'd keep an eye out at the lessons as he does appear each week.

AIBU to think this is really not enough to not even approach and speak to the guy?! He can never expect to 'catch' him when he's sat a metre and a half above them and can't see his screen. Plus it's such a long walk to get to the seating, even though it's right against the pool side in the same room and not behind glass. He can't just pop behind him to see what he's up to. I got the impression that I was overreacting to think it was unacceptable to be filming (or broadcasting in a video call) teens and children in a private swimming lesson when you aren't even a parent (plus parents have one lesson they are allowed to take a swimming photo in and it's apparently banned at other times).

For the remainder of the lessons I've a good mind to go and sit right next to him if he turns up again Angry

Am I going crazy to think this needed addressing in some way by pool staff?!

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CurlyCabbage · 22/07/2022 00:22

I really do think there needs to be better laws surrounding filming on phones. It doesnt take much for some pathetic cock womble to film any scenario and put it on social media ‘for a laugh’
There is revenge porn laws now but i think there should be something more given that technology has developed further and any t**t can film whatever they want and put on SM for their own entertainment.

PinkWisteria · 22/07/2022 00:22

Our council pool has recently made the viewing area a 'no phone' zone possibly because the no photography/no filming is practically impossible to enforce with modern mobiles.

TheWordOfBagheera · 22/07/2022 00:28

Totally agree @CurlyCabbage

@PinkWisteria The changing rooms are no phone zones but not this part. In other pools I've been to I don't think it would matter as much, but this area is super close to one side of the pool, just slightly raised. You could (as he did) zoom right in on someone you want to perve on/laugh at but not be immediately noticed by staff Sad

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TheWordOfBagheera · 22/07/2022 17:03

Was chatting about it with DH today and he suggested if I see the boy filming other teenagers again that I start filming him so I can present the pool supervisor with the evidence he needs to intervene. So maybe I'll try that if it happens again.

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WombatChocolate · 29/07/2022 09:17

Most pool halls and viewing areas are no-phone zones. Clearly people are not fully clothed and it is often impossible to take photos of someone who gives permission without those who haven’t being in shot. Therefore, they are no-phone zones.

Most swimming schools emphasise this as a policy to parents too - not always easy as parents like to be on their phones whilst watching or give to small kids to play with. However, the only way to ensure no-one takes photos is to an phones. It is a safeguarding issue.

CoraPirbright · 29/07/2022 09:29

Could you approach the management with the situation and tell them that the viewing area should have a ‘no phones’ sign? I agree - it does sound off, from what you describe and with the whiff of bullying.

JustLyra · 29/07/2022 09:34

TheWordOfBagheera · 22/07/2022 17:03

Was chatting about it with DH today and he suggested if I see the boy filming other teenagers again that I start filming him so I can present the pool supervisor with the evidence he needs to intervene. So maybe I'll try that if it happens again.

Don’t start filming a child. You’ll end up with it turned on you.

Rather than going down to poolside if you see it again would it be easier to grab a staff member close to the viewing area? They can then see what’s going on and go down (a few pools I’ve been too have staff radios as well).

JustLyra · 29/07/2022 09:36

Tbh though if the boys were asking for the filming to stop and the instructor didn’t get involved then, nor when you flagged it up, I’d be tempted to send an email. Sounds like they just can’t be arsed with dealing with it (which I don’t blame them - teens can be unpredictable) and it needs dealing with.

TheWordOfBagheera · 29/07/2022 16:10

Good point about not filming him in case it's turned on me.

Unfortunately there are no staff members in the viewing area. You'd have to call down to the people at the pool, which I suppose is possible. Weirdly the viewing area was a phone free zone pre-covid, but those signs have been taken down now.

I've been to two swimming lessons since and he wasn't at either of them, despite having been at (I think) all of them prior to that. So hopefully he realised i was telling on him and got scared off. It doesn't change the fact that their set up leaves swimmers vulnerable to that sort of thing though, so maybe I will send an email.

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