Everyone here on the boards has way more experience than I do, so I'm looking for advice on how you handle rudeness in the pool.
It seems like the summer has taken its toll on me with the number of rude people of all stripes who've been sharing my rec center pool. It's gotten to the point where it's sapped my enjoyment, and I have at times thought about giving up the sport entirely because it's just too much hassle to come home feeling like I've been byatch slapped, run into, pushed against the ropes, told no to lane sharing, and insulted about the way I look in a bathing suit.
Yes, I'm too sensitive, that's a fact, but I'm a writer and an artist, so it kind of comes with the territory. I try to shrug these things off, but I get out of the pool depressed and replay incidents in my head. I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it. What's supposed to be a nice, relaxing, healthy form of exercise has, over the summer, become something I dread. The lifeguards aren't much help - they don't see most of what's going on in the lap lanes because they're busy watching the kids. I can't count on them to step in. :badday: So I'd like to know if any of you experienced swimmers have dealt with this turning point, and how you kept going.
Rob, that's priceless.:D
Orca1946, we have a head lifeguard who's really nice. He warned me early in the season that the summer guards were young and didn't like confrontation. He said he was trying to break them of that. I don't want the guards to see me as a pest. I've complained too much already, IMHO. :bitching:
You're not being a pest. I supervise all the lifeguards at my pool and we have these problems with lap swimmers constantly. We tell people entering the facility that they will be expected to share lanes and circle swim. We also posted notices that show exactly how to do so (including staying out of the way of faster swimmers). One excuse that we used to get a lot were people were swimming for physical therapy and needed their own lane. We do provide private lanes for organizations who are properly insured and rent the space, but that is not open to individuals. In short, I shut that one down. I have encouraged the staff to be confrontational with rude swimmers; not because I enjoy it, but because it seems to be the only language these people understand. After about 6 months of "hammer down" we have a rather pleasant group of lap swimmers, and issues of sharing lanes and staying out of the way seem to have subsided. It wasn't handled gently though. Unfortunately, you have to be "direct" with some of these people.
Rob, that's priceless.:D
Orca1946, we have a head lifeguard who's really nice. He warned me early in the season that the summer guards were young and didn't like confrontation. He said he was trying to break them of that. I don't want the guards to see me as a pest. I've complained too much already, IMHO. :bitching:
You're not being a pest. I supervise all the lifeguards at my pool and we have these problems with lap swimmers constantly. We tell people entering the facility that they will be expected to share lanes and circle swim. We also posted notices that show exactly how to do so (including staying out of the way of faster swimmers). One excuse that we used to get a lot were people were swimming for physical therapy and needed their own lane. We do provide private lanes for organizations who are properly insured and rent the space, but that is not open to individuals. In short, I shut that one down. I have encouraged the staff to be confrontational with rude swimmers; not because I enjoy it, but because it seems to be the only language these people understand. After about 6 months of "hammer down" we have a rather pleasant group of lap swimmers, and issues of sharing lanes and staying out of the way seem to have subsided. It wasn't handled gently though. Unfortunately, you have to be "direct" with some of these people.
