Why would an adult male be alone in the teaching pool?

[redrighthand83]

At my local leisure centre, there is the large main pool and then a shallow teaching pool which is around 100cm deep at the deepest section.

The teaching pool during the day is essentially the toddler pool. I have seen adults in the teaching pool earlier in the morning when it's quiet- and good on them, to build their confidence etc.

But the last few weekends at the busy sessions there's a man alone in his late 60s who just sits there in the corner watching everyone. I just can't imagine why he would choose to sit in a pool full of screaming and splashing children other than the more sinister reasons. I have tried to find the logic -e.g. he is entitled to use it but why would someone of retirement age only be able to use a pool on a Saturday lunch? Could he just be lonely and oblivious to the weird vibes it gives off?

Am I being unreasonable to ask the centre to perhaps look to separate lone adults using the teaching pool from the busier sessions with children?

Voting:

YABU: The world doesnt revolve around children
YANBU: This could be a safeguarding issue

And plenty of abusers are married with children/grandchildren. If there is an abuser in the pool it’s not necessarily the one sitting alone.

Yep this , normal bloke with normal social awareness would not put himself in this position. Quite surprised at the replies on this thread and the poll results.

And plenty of abusers are married with children/grandchildren. If there is an abuser in the pool it’s not necessarily the one sitting alone.

I agree with the above 🖕and women can be abusers too. Shocked at some of the news articles.

@BeattyV

No, not identical. But people are going out of their way to say that a very odd situation is not in fact odd.

People are saying if she is that worried go speak to the center manager. We can only guess!!

The overwhelming majority of sex offenders are male.

OP I would raise it with the centre manager. Good safeguarding practice puts the onus on adults to behave in a way that doesn't lend themselves open to false accusations so some awareness of the impression he's making could be helpful to him.

That is not the reason why the sign is up. It is there for many reasons, primarily to protect the dignity of all swimners from babies right up to OAPs.

As a parent we need to protect our vulnerable kids about all aspects of life and teach them to be careful, but going around thinking everyone who acts a little oddly must be a paedophile must be exhausting.

The fact is that this man would not be there if the pool Child Protection Policy did not permit it. You would be referred to this document were you to raise the issue,

I would be careful about challenging him. Nobody knows what's going on in another person's head but this man is breaking no rule. No way on God's earth would he be in that pool if it contravened policy. He would not be permitted. Confronting him would be harassment. Anecdotally, I was in the smallish local park with the dog last summer. An elderly man was taking pictures of various locations in the facility. I noticed a number of parents who were there with their kiddies looking at the fellow and clearly discussing him. They approached him and a verbal altercation ensued. They were saying he had no right to take photos of the area when children were there. He quoted chapter and verse of the law on the subject. One of the women, a loud and lippy individual, began to harangue him. He immediately took out his phone and rang the police. The people left immediately, but when the police came he gave them a full description of all of them. I was still there and they spoke to me as a witness. Apparently he was taking pictures to show a relative how the park had been renovated. Perhaps he should have explained that to them, but legally speaking, they had no right to ask. Don't know if anything came of it after that.🙂

Something that never happened.

It’s probably just warm and relaxing for him, not all homes have baths and, or he may not be able to afford to run one at home.
I quite like chilling in the pool, I prefer it went it’s empty (ish) but each to their own.

It most certainly did. I have seen the gentleman many times since and just bid him a quick good day. As I remarked in a previous post , some people become awkward and argumentative with age. They also have a lot of time on their hands. And of course a travel pass which allows them to spread the drama. Not being ageist. Most seniors are not like that. ❤️