Male behaviour in swimming pools

[Greyandrare123]

I go to a private gym that has a pool. I swim about 3x a week.
The people swimming are diverse. Women, men, all ages (adults only after 5pm).
The same behaviour I see on the streets operates in the pool. Males ploughing down the informal lanes, splashing and not giving a toss who is in their way. Ive had 2 men directly collide into me because I didnt see them behind me and move.

And then there is the wrestling. Groups of younger men wrestling with each other, throwing each other in the air, headlocking, pushing each others heads under water, shadow boxing etc. Splashing wildly in the middle of the pool so everyone else has to move.

Ive yet to see women do the same.

Then manspreading in the steam room. Legs wide apart.

Is this familiar? The lifeguards seem oblivious.

I'm a doctor.

It's often uncomfortable for men to sit with their legs crossed or closely pressed together, because their pelvis and hips are a differently angled to women's. But that does not mean that they need to manspread in the way described in this thread. They can sit with their legs in a neutral position, just like women - it's just that the neutral position for their legs is slightly less angled than ours.

You will find, that when they are potentially encroaching on other men, most man-spreaders are miraculously able to keep their legs together.

Im sure they can be more neutral with the legs. Im sure some of the legs spread issue is also derived from the derogatory 'oh she cant keep her legs together' statements aimed at women over the years to ensure they are labelled.

Yes I know women can be annoying but Ive seen men 'dealing with it' if a woman is in the way. Either subtly by ploughing by her, splashing or assuming he has dominance in the lane. Ive never seen women wrestling, leaping or massively splashing..

It most certainly is slow. It's not a stroke for lane swimming. It's a survival stroke to save energy. I was taught it for my lifesaving badges about 60 years ago, along with swimming in pyjamas and taking them off and tying the legs to make a lifebuoy. (Not to mention diving down to get the rubber brick). So, if you're next to me in a pool, get in trouble, and I just happen to be swimming in my pyjama bottoms, I'm your woman!

I could write essays about this too - getting in the way when you’re trying to finish a length, not showering beforehand and giving everyone a nice taste of Lynx Africa, believing they are faster because they are male. They just expect swim etiquette from others without displaying any themselves.

I'm not a great swimmer but I can sprint decently well. I enjoy overtaking the lane-hogging fuckers. I will power past and not care if they're trying to push me out the way, I keep going and don't budge.

But when I'm trying to swim longer, so slower, I can't tell you the number of men's TOE NAILS I've had scratch me. It makes me want to gag - I hate long toe nails. It completely puts me off swimming. I usually don't go back for months after that. And when I dare to return, I either do a couple of speedy lengths (literally 2) then play with the kids or I get in with the toe-nail dread and try some longer swims. Honestly, I never swim for more than three or four times consecutively because of their effing toenails.

I have never been scratched at the pool by a woman's toenails.

Well I encountered two examples of male twattish behaviour on my lunchtime swim today. Group of young lads messing around during adults only lane swimming and generally getting in the way. Asked them if they'd mind staying out of my way and they agreed and then duly continued twatting around. Moved to outdoor pool to escape them and then ended up with the stubborn bloke who thought he was faster than me in the wrong lane and refusing to move 😡

YY to fucking splashy men. Also, performative fathering- when men bring their offspring to the pool and spend the whole time encouraging to jump off the side with a mighty splash/ have a play fight in the middle of a crowded pool without any consideration of people trying to swim lengths, at the same time trying to catch your eye so you will admire what fun, hands on dad's they're being 🙄

I notice this in so many areas of life- men going about their business as if other people literally don't exist.

I go swimming at a Life Leisure Centre every single week (currently waiting for my swim session now) and I must be so lucky as I never get this at our pool - the only real irks are some of the swimmers like to suddenly stop and chat in the middle of the pool which can get really frustrating as it reduces how many lengths others can do as half of the pool is blocked off for lessons and then the fact that you have to wait ages for a shower, the toilet or a cubicle after the swim because the swimming group having lessons hog them all and scream and screech and run around the communal changing room constantly for over an hour and usually as their parents are stood waiting in the changing rooms when they've not even been swimming at all and stand infront of the lockers or hairdryers or cubicles and glare at you, if they have to move.
I'd rather put up with this though, that what some of you have described. I'll view my swim differently today

I have had success playing the men at their own game.….a selection of toys at the end of the lane - hand paddles, fins, bottle of elite sports drink (Aldi multivit in a litre bottle 🤣)…and best of all, I swapped my Barbie pink Crocs for XL military camo-print Crocs.
It’s a great subliminal message - the chaps all just look at them - and choose a different lane…

I swim regularly at my local leisure centre and have never experienced men like this, everyone I've come across has been respectful and friendly.

People (usually men) who swim in a splashy way are annoying but they are just swimming.
People (usually women) who swim wide breaststroke side by side chatting are also annoying and take up a lot of space but again, they are just swimming.
The men who take up space wrestling and playing or throwing balls in the pool with their kids are annoying but they are just having fun and to be fair the real issue is that there are not enough pools/family friendly/women only/adults only sessions to accommodate everyone due to funding cuts.

I don't doubt the sexual harassment that goes on....ugh

the real issue is that there are not enough pools/family friendly/women only/adults only sessions to accommodate everyone due to funding cuts
This!
We need more & better leisure & exercise provision if we are to stay healthy, come on Rickety-shoe-rack you smug entitled little fecker, let us use your luxury pool & leisure complex, you're too busy writing legislation which makes you even richer to do any exercise yourself, and to be frank you dont look strong enough to cope with more than a gentle stroll mate.

@Undethetree
"I swim regularly at my local leisure centre and have never experienced men like this, everyone I've come across has been respectful and friendly"
"People (usually men) who swim in a splashy way are annoying but they are just swimming"

You say you have never experienced men like this in your first sentence and then immediately contradict yourself in the second sentence 😅

I have to say, the issue is the same at my expensive private gym.

@Floofydawg
thinking back when I've been a member at a posh gym with a pool the pool is usually a very small one, and too warm.
I remember once at a local council run pool I turned up and they said the heating is broke but you can use it if you want, it was the best swim ever, too warm of a pool makes me feel sluggish
other swimming highlights were outdoor pool in the rain and once I swam in an Olympic sized pool😍
how I love swimming😍
how I hate having to share with other pool users😶

This thread has brought back memories of the men at my old gym, fast swimmers, who used to swim in the slow lane if it was quieter than the fast lane but not adjust their speed at all, just barge you out of the way. I confronted one once who looked completely baffled and just said "I'm in here because the fast lane's a bit busy" then carried on barging people and hitting old ladies who were trying to do some quiet breaststroke. Bigger and faster takes precedence, apparently. NAMBAAM.

@Thesharkradar am really lucky that my gym has two pools - indoor is 25m (but admittedly can be a bit warm) and outdoor is 20m and perfect. It's open all year and I swim in it all weathers, snow and rain included. I love swimming too - it's when I do my thinking.

I used to be a pretty fast swimmer (for a complete amateur) and I had to give up swimming in public pools in the lanes as the old gits in there would deliberately barge me or find some way to get physical contact.
I never knew if they were pissed off I was faster than them or they just could keep from grabbing their chance to initiate touch.

It was safer for me to swim out of the lanes, even if the lanes were virtually empty as I could avoid the swimmers and sloshers in the main part of the pool because they weren't intent on bullying me out. But obviously not great for a good workout either.

I just pay for private sessions now, can't be bothered to play that game. Hopefully younger guys aren't like this.

I've not had any bullying in the pool that I can remember but some weirdo/creepy/pervert behavior.
Maybe I was the bully, if I saw a bloke & I thought I could beat him I always went for it🙊
I probably ogled some of the blokes too if I'm honest🙊...discreetly! ☝👀
The gym is another story, lots of intimidation in there, much less in the rougher gyms though🤷🏻‍♀

I cancelled my gym membership because of the way I was treated when I took exception to a man who was blatantly displaying physical dominance behaviour. He was only one man and he alone would not have made me flounce. It was the way the staff treated me that did it.

He was sitting at one end of a lane, for a long time, arms spread wide to block the whole end to someone turning. He was very relaxed about openly looking everyone up and down and didn't seem to swim at all. I asked him to move and he was rude and aggressive to me. The male staff member treated me as the problem. I was upset and I was followed into the changing room by two female staff members who attempted to comfort me by telling me it wasn't me, it was him, other people had noticed him but there was nothing they could do. They took care to do this in private, in the women's room, because they didn't dare to stand up to their male boss over it. The male staff member said that they did not dictate how people used the pool, he didn't have to swim if he didn't want to.

all the splashy pushy panting stuff everyone else has described is awful too but I always used to put up with it as just inconsiderate. This man was definitely being subtly aggressive - the whole point was to annoy and inconvenience others, not just a by product. Apparently that's allowed though.

My leisure centre does a women only session once a week and I love it. If yours does not, see if you can lobby for it.

One reason I don't go swimming anymore is the bullying behaviour of men (not being misandrist) who think they're superior athletes and have more right to use the lanes. Even comonderring the slow lanes if there's too many people.
Other reason is the anti social kids who take up a lot of space on the lanes playing and messing around. Even though there's a great big fun pool for them. In fact it was too overcrowded full stop.

Topically, today I went swimming for the first time in over 13 years. There was a lovely young man on reception who registered me. Prices very reasonable. You had to leave your shoes outside the changing area, which meant my socks got a bit wet. Three pools. Tiny one for tots, a 20 metre one and a slightly bigger competition one. Very nice attendants. Everyone was impeccably behaved swimming and it seemed very quiet. Lots of lockers and wrist bands with a scan chip to lock them. All in all a very pleasurable experience. I'm not sure what it will be like in school holidays.

Men are really annoying in exercise classes as well, no sense of not encroaching on other people's personal space. One guy happily stood right on my yoga mat once with his dirty great trainer - it was my own mat as well. Too self-important or oblivious to step round apparently.

I work out at home now.

Yes, i pretty much gave up on swimming in public pools due to aggressive bullying behaviour from men and the failure of lifeguards to ever address it.

I now book a swim in a private (household) pool every couple of weeks instead

Oh god - other men (like me) hate every single one of the things you mention. I've had to watch it mega multiplied in all-male changing rooms, rugby players at a pub, drunken men in spit-on-the-floor pubs. Why in god's name would any women want to become a man???

Yes. I'm a swimmer, some men are fuckibg obnoxious. One recent memorable visit, two men doing the butterfly, not together, two different lanes, completely taking over the whole pool and making it a horrible swimming environment.
Have also been run off the road twice and had several near misses as a cyclist with strava type men pelting round corners before assessing what's ahead of them.
Hate it.