What is it about men ? ( in swimming pools)

[Ramblingnamechanger]

Another argument in the pool today. Several lanes available to share…one with 2 guys , ours with 2 women and one mixed. The man who arrived later chose ours. Nearly headed into me at 50 mph. I challenged him and suggested he moved into the lane next door with faster male swimmers. He said that he did not want to swim in the lane with the side of the pool. I said my preference was to swim in peace with other women and why was it that my preference was seen as not as important as his . He insisted that he would stay . I told him it was a macho view and we women should have our views and wishes given the same weight. So fed up that again an entitled male pushed it even when challenged.

I’m led to believe that if a faster swimmer catches a slower swimmer in the same lane they tap their feet which is code to give way when they reach the end of the pool. Seems to work well where I swim. I’m always getting my feet tapped and that’s in the slow lane!

Wow I'd hate that. So they touch your feet?

A lot of the women I see at my DL seem to do more nattering at one end or the other, than actual swimming!

The chief natterers at the gym I used to go to (before getting too pissed off with the lanes situation) were male. There was a little group of three middle-aged men who apparently just went to sit in the water and natter, not swim at all. It was quite sweet really except they could have sat in the jacuzzi or sauna and not in the fecking lane.

Well your experience of the gym is a completely different experience from mine. I'd chuck my membership in if it was anything like yours.

Also don't every try partnered dancing, salsa, bachata, etc.

The pool I now swim in gives times for lengths to let you know what speed the lane is for, e.g. fast is 1 min - 1 min 15 for 50m (it's a 50m pool). I find that much more helpful than fast/medium/slow as all of those are open to interpretation. Of course, if there aren't so many people there, it gets mixed up a bit.

That's not to say I haven't had a few incidents there (the most recent involving a woman not a man) - but so many fewer than when I used to be in a pool with fast/medium/slow only (and often not even that).

I've done lots of partnered dancing classes. It's been fine. The men were very respectful.

Jesus this makes me glad I no longer have to try to live by arbitrary standards in the uk regarding swim and gym etiquette!
Its speed that matters, nothing else, and you being a female and him male is a moot point.
on the topic of saunas and jacuzzis at the gym, I go every single morning and it’s where I’ve made my (mixed male and female) friends since moving abroad. We just chat about life, work, books, etc and it’s became friendships that lead to nights out and coffees. Shock horror I am married and so are they. So yes sometimes people do just chat in the sauna, because what else are you gonna do (although the one time someone said something inappropriate near me in the sauna, it was a woman, and a mad I’ve not seen since stood up for me)

Men can be dangerous, twats, idiots… but so can woman.

Men are more physically dangerous though.

We know women can't overpower us physcially, that's why I like some female only spaces.

I like the countries that have separate female and male train carriages.

The last time I was on a train, a man stuck his hand up my skirt

I hate anyone tapping my feet. Would never dream of doing that - I just slow down or circle across the lane

Well then go there, honestly I would have more concern about country who segregates women. I have never seen them treat women well.

Woman CAN and in my case HAVE overpowered me and nearly taken my life. Just like men have...

I'm sorry but women can and do overpower other women

They can also touch other women inappropriately

They can also be catty and cruel and really mess up someone's mental health to the point they want to take their own life

I dont know if you missed this part. But i had a choice to be segregated or not in the country I was visiting. It wasnt forced. It just gave me more choice. And it was amazing

The UK also segregates women (by choice),

if you hadn't realised.

The UK has lots of female only gyms

Look at the statistics

Men sexually abuse women, much much more than

women sexually abuse women.

It's a huge percentage more.

Fine that's a business model, clever.

But offering segregation to me public screams to me women being minded by the state. Nope. That seldom goes well.

I will stick with the norm in Ireland thanks.

There are a lot of female only gyms in Ireland too. I've lived in Ireland.

Female only gyms were set up for women's safety.

But it happens

And the point is claiming women are some how amazing and safe to other women is incorrect

Eh no they are set up as a bloody marketing ploy and there are very few I live in Dublin the capital.

There was a chain that went out of business years ago.

I find being told I am in danger in a gym due to being a woman as insulting. The majority of women are absolutely fine thanks.

The worst at our pool is older women who breast and backstroke and don’t give a fuck about anyone else

tbh swimming is no different to driving you just pass when you’ve got the chance
I can’t see the issue with slow and fast swimmers in the same lane as long as fast ones pass respectively and the slowed ones left you pass at the end off the lane

Well maybe just speak for yourself. You don't want female only spaces, fine.

Other women do. And that's also fine

We obviously don't know both sides of the story here but I do see some men going rather too fast in the medium speed lane, and even in the slow lane (where the culprits are mostly older chaps.) Not necessarily excessively speedy but noticeably faster than other swimmers in those lanes.
Not nice for the other users, men and women.
I also notice how badly some men swim, thrashing their heads from side to side, kicking erratically and letting their arms splat heavily onto the water. It's like they learned to swim via a correspondence course or 'just picked it up as they went along'.
Women tend to be neater swimmers in general IME and less prone to just power through everyone else like the Splatty McSplash-faces do, with their 'make way - man coming' attitude.

You literally lied, oh there's loads of women only gyms I was I Ireland 😂.

They were always set up as a marketing ploy. The fact the majority of them went to the wall tells you there's poor demand.

So maybe people should be less shouting for women only business spaces and transport, that's nuts to be honest and actually cop on and figure out how to bloody get on together with cooperation.

Honestly a lot of people could do with some Sesame Street training.

I am in a women only gym. Not out of fear or a need to be protected, but because I prefer the atmosphere. Not as many performance grunts and stares, and so far not a single unrequested suggestion of how to improve my form. It's very small and I love it. I'd go back to a regular gym if I had to but would look for one with women only sessions now. There are more of them here than a few years back, partly cultural, partly safety and partly women like me.

What are you on about I lied. And why are you so aggressive? Try to talk calmly

There are loads of female only gyms in Ireland. Do a quick online search

You said you don't go out of a want to be protected.

But then you said you go - to avoid male stares and to avoid unwanted men talking to you

That IS going to protect yourself from men.