AIBU Changing rooms

[LittleMsNobody]

AIBU to think that changing cubicles should be first come first served?

There seems to be a growing number of inconsiderate and entitled individuals at our local leisure centre who think the changing room rules don’t apply to them when there are swimming lessons on. From wearing outside, even muddy shoes into the charging areas despite numerous signs to remove outdoor footwear to plonking belongings into cubicles to “reserve” them before they’re actually needed.

For context, I’ve been taking my children to lessons at a few different swimming schools consistently over the last 10 years and I’ve never experienced the sort of entitlement I’ve seen at the new pool.

We’ve recently moved long distance and the “locals” all seem friendly, helpful and welcoming…until you get to the leisure centre. There are usually 4-5 different lessons swimming at the same time and there aren’t enough changing cubicles for everyone coming out of lessons to change at the same time. But this isn’t necessarily a problem because there are 10 changing cubicles and only 6 showers. So usually while the second lot finish showering and need to change the first lot are getting done and there’s generally not much more than a minute or two to wait for a cubicle. swimmers are ages 3-12 years old at the times we attend. However, there are a number of parents who put their kids bags in the cubicles BEFORE getting their kids from the instructor and showered. It doesn’t matter whether there little darlings are first out or last out, they “reserve” cubicles regardless of whether anyone else is already ready to change and needs one or not. I find this extremely rude, inconsiderate and entitled. I’m so fed up of it. I just can’t understand the mentality. What would you do?

His is what swim towel hoodies are for in my experience. Just put one over the head straight after the lesson. Whip the trunks or costume off underneath. Flip flops in the feet and away from the whole area immediately. We would just wrap the child up in the towel and sit in a whole other area. Then it was just a case of sticking a onesie on and out to the car - sort it out at home.

I would go in and use the cubicle. When they come looking I would say “are you looking for your bag? We found it here.” As if they mislaid it.

Thanks for all the responses. The aggression and abuse that gets given out but those entitled individuals when their reserved cubicles are used because no one was in them just takes the cake. It makes my blood boil, I just have to stay quiet or I know I’ll explode.

I honestly find it so disheartening that there are so many rude and selfish people about. I’m a firm believer in kindness first, always. You just never know what someone else is going through and that one positive (OR negative) interaction in a person’s day really can make a difference. I always teach my kids to be kind and considerate, teach that no one is more or less deserving than another. So it’s just so upsetting to me when people act with such entitlement and then become rude and aggressive if anyone “dares” infringe on it.

It seems to me to be especially prevalent around school and child related things whether it’s inconsiderate (sometimes even illegal) parking school runs, cubicle hogs at swimming lessons, line jumping at school events. Like surely these occasions are opportunities to teach our children through showing them what being a good human being looks like?

I appreciate I’m probably over sensitive to some of these things and get caught overthinking them too, but thanks again for all the responses!

Yes but sadly some people are just arseholes and that’s a lesson our kids learn too. They’ll have to deal with them their whole lives.