snobs in the pool

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:53:20 GMT

I just get out my biggest set of Tyr Catalyst paddles and keep on swimmin'. Well, that's what I tell myself I ought to do....:p

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:46:26 GMT

Last summer, I had the problem of kids all over the lap lanes as well. The problem went away when I informed pool management that the next time it happened, I intended to contact their liability insurance company and inform them that they were being lax in promoting a safe environment. Of course, I wasn't exactly loved for the rest of the summer. -LBJ

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:45:14 GMT

I dragged the Cannondale out of my storage unit and am no longer swimming. No Shakey No! Don't turn to the dark side.:eek:

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:34:41 GMT

Originally posted by SWinkleblech If I get one more ball bouncing in my lane I swear I'm going to pop it. To this day (well, not any more, since I quit), if someone's toys or equipment comes into the lane, I stop and throw it to the deck on the other end of the pool. Want it? Get out and go get it. If you put it back in my lane, it goes right back to the deck on the far end of the pool. If it's an outdoor pool, it might just go over the fence. When I first started using this forum, I was dressed down by the legendary Emmett Hines for saying I would throw stuff out of the pool, both for being discourteous and for the danger of hitting someone with the projectile floatie. He said that if I had done it at his pool, I would have been suspended from using the facility. But you know what? These crappy pools are like the Wild West, where rules are mostly ignored. I have no faith left in pool management to fix the problems at these places. I'm tired of having to psych myself up for battle just to swim laps. The swim was supposed to work out the day's stress, not add to it. Emmett actually seems like a good administrator whose pool probably doesn't have these problems, so he probably wouldn't have ever had to kick me out for taking the law into my own hands. But it seems to me that his pool is an exception. The rest, quite frankly, suck. I'm headed for the trails.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:05:24 GMT

I have more of a problem with the kids that swim in the pool. At my Y we have only one lane to lap swim. The guards never seem to be paying any attention to the pool and the kids are always coming over into the lap lane. I'm scared one day I'm going to be doing a flip turn and run right into one. Sometimes if thier not in the lane they are hanging on the lane line and their feet are kicking underneth it. Let's just say I've been kick plenty of times in the side. If I get one more ball bouncing in my lane I swear I'm going to pop it.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 16:04:39 GMT

Posted Pool Rules? Who reads them? Not the ones who have no pool etiquette. I'd fall over in a dead faint if I saw any member of the A/C where I swim take the time to read them. I teach kids' lessons there, too, and you'd be amazed at what I've seen. I watched a women "teach" (a stretch of the imagination here) her grandchildren to get used to the deep end of the pool by letting them hang on the coping on the side of pool and pull themselves down from shallow to deep end. And, they could not swim. I asked her if the kids could pass a swim test and with a 'tude, she told me they could. Hmmm. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's a new phenom in the pool and it's not Michael Phelps, it's pool rage. My 1/2 cents' worth. Aquageek, I can top the grossness of the guy and his using the Suit Mate wringer. There's a man who repeatedly stands in the steam room and shadow boxes in the buff, during which time he's almost completely red from the heat and sweating like a horse. We're waiting to see who volunteers to administer CPR when he has a stroke. Then there's the swimmer who shows up in a suit that's in dire need of replacement and either the tummy is too big or the suit's too small. Yuck.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 15:55:52 GMT

Unfourtuntly(excuse my spelling I always wanted to enter a worst speller in the world compition), the time I can go swimming is right after work. This is when other children are coming from school and swimming. It isn't always that bad. Today was a good day and I had a nice swim. Part of the problem is the small size of our pool. It's 25 yrds. but it only has four lanes.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 15:45:55 GMT

Wow, I guess my Y experience is different than some of the stories here. I swim one of two primary times depending on my schedule - either M-F 7:00am to 8:30am or M-F 11::30am to 1:30pm. At either time, I usually share a lane with one other swimmer - we split the lane in half. (Of course my defintion of serious swimmer is "someone who is esercising and can stay on their side of the lane" as opposed to Ion who defines serious as "somone who can swim world class times as a warm-up".:rolleyes: The people in the pool are always the same group - we are all familiar with each other. Usually, once a week I have a lane to myself. And I have to swim circles (three or more in a lane) maybe once a month for half of a workout. The only exception is when I miss a couple of workouts and try to make it up either in the evening or on the weekend. The pool is a zoo then. This is at a Y with a 25 yard indoor pool and a 25 yard outdoor pool that is only open Memorial Day through Labor Day. We are in the Philadelphia suburbs. Maybe my schedule just works out really well with the crowds at the pool.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 15:14:35 GMT

Arent there rules posted in any of your pools? We have a huge sign with the rules. I had this p[roblem with the snorkle bearers too until I started really (clawing) tapping on their feet. At one point I had tu pull a guy back by his flipper and when he got angry I just said I thought he couldnt feel the tapping due to the flipper. Anyway, it also helps if you started getting recognized as the unofficial coach or experience swimmer in the pool. People are always looking for help, etc...and this brings up the opportunity to talk about lane rules, etc... Thats my two cents Dolphinccc

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 14:45:28 GMT

Last summer I visited Wash DC and took the tours with my family.. I visited with a friend she swims at a college there DC University I think ( shes my age not a student) . and I believe she said it was free if you live in DC as she does. She also goes to a place in Maryland that she said was real nice. We went out to Va to the valley beyond the Blue Ridge and on the way went for a swim in a Fairfax County Va. pool about 15 miles from DC .It was a bit high 8 dollars each because we did not live there but it was a beautiful place huge with a big exercise room and olympic 50 meter pool and it was not crowded! My friend said they had several of these pools in Va. You might want to check them out for a swim now and then. Theres a huge subway system as you know and she said she normally used the subway to go to some of the pools and the Maryland one.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 14:36:11 GMT

Ugh, I hate people like that. We get a break every year for spring break. I go to the local pool. It wouldn't be so bad but they don't even try and get into lanes they are fit for. I mean I wouldn't even try and swim with an Olympic swimmer, well maybe Beard :D unless I really had to. I don't mind sharing lanes, but please at least let us be somewhat close in speed. On a related note are there people on your team who don't seem to know how to use a lane? There are at least 3-4 people on my team who always make their turn on the right hand side of the lane. I'm almost always running into them because they are still in my half of the lane at the flags. This annoys me to no end as I have to slow down to keep from getting hit and then I don't get over enough to make my own turn properly.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 14:08:27 GMT

My pool at Beckenham has 3 lanes,slow,medium and fast,ok.Well,why do slow/medium paced breaststrokers insist on swimming in the fast lane????Even if a guy is doing free at a medium speed he will be faster than most breaststrokers.When you touch their heels to let them know that you are there all they do is carry on at their ploddingly slow speed and then stop you from overtaking them at the turn by cutting across you:mad:

RE: snobs in the pool

knelson — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 12:52:27 GMT

Originally posted by SWinkleblech I'm scared one day I'm going to be doing a flip turn and run right into one. You're scared of that? I'd say it would send the kid in question a strong message. This seems to be the only thing that works.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 10:41:33 GMT

Shaky, If that is the experience you had with the YMCA in D.C. then I understand your attitude. Assuming your facts are correct, then you should have received your refund (absent any contrary terms in your membership agreement). Did you try to go up the management ladder? This is really an aberation in my Y experience. I don't believe that it would have happened to you at any Y with which I have ever been affiliated. Sorry you have gone through such a negative experience. I don't think that your experience is representative of most Y's around the country. carl

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 09:47:47 GMT

I wonder why Phil Arcuni would assume I intend to ride on the streets when I clearly wrote that I was headed for the TRAILS. As for those who basically are saying, "Don't like it, go away," fine. That's what I'm doing. I'll probably keep looking for a decent place to swim that will work with my schedule (which does NOT allow for team swimming), but I'm not going to hold my breath, and I'm no longer going to go out of my way to make it work. The managers of the facilities available to me are not serious about providing a reasonable atmosphere for serious swimming. I realize I'll never win this war, so I'll no longer fight it. And as for my signature, when I quit the YMCA they informed me that they would charge my credit card for an additional month of membership, in advance, that I cannot use. When I requested (before the charge was made) that they NOT charge me for the next month, they said they didn't have time to get it out of their system before the charge was to be made three days later. I find that difficult to believe, but I was willing to work with them. When I suggested that they simply make a refund to my credit card, I was informed that the policy of YMCA is that they do not offer refunds on membership dues, even when the service for which those dues were paid has not yet been provided. As far as I'm concerned, that is a corporate policy of theft against its members, designed to catch one more month of dues from people who move away and just don't feel like fighting them from afar. It is corporate greed, pure and simple. YMCA may do some good, but you cannot argue that stealing from its customers is part of that good work. That practice makes them thieves. If you don't like my attitude toward YMCA after getting the shaft from them, I suggest you work from the inside to make sure that your organization doesn't engage in organized theft. Until that happens, I will still maintain that:

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 08:52:34 GMT

To those of you who think I'm just complaining, in a little way it is frustrating to swim in this situation. It is also a safety concern. I work with kids everyday and would not like to hurt them. I was also a lifeguard and pool manager myself and would never let these things go on in my pool. A lot of people may not like the rules but no one ever got serously hurt at any of the pools I worked at either. As for those of you saying I should go to another pool that really isn't an option for me without going 45min away. I just don't have the time. This pool has made it easy for me to go and work out and if I would have to go farther I don't think I would swim at all. I swim because I enjoy it and its a great way to stay in shape. All I would like is for others in the pool to have consideration for others and to be safe so we can all enjoy the pool no matter what we are there for. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 08:13:48 GMT

Originally posted by SWinkleblech I'm scared one day I'm going to be doing a flip turn and run right into one. Originally posted by knelson You're scared of that? I'd say it would send the kid in question a strong message. This seems to be the only thing that works. Actually, SWinkleblech is right to be scared! While I've never collided with a kid who swam into my lane, I did collide with an adult once who decided to cut across my lane to exit the pool just as I was starting a backstroke test set. Apparently when he saw me put on my goggles and punch a button on my watch, he decided that I was going to be hanging there on the gutter for awhile, and it was okay for him to cut across my lane without even warning me. I wasn't too upset - until I tried to redo the test set and found that I couldn't extend my arm without excruciating pain. It was a couple of months before I could do freestyle again, and even longer before I could do backstroke. Bob

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 08:03:49 GMT

Originally posted by SWinkleblech The guards never seem to be paying any attention to the pool and the kids are always coming over into the lap lane. Well, that's the problem in a nutshell. The guards are officially in charge, so if they don't do anything about the problem, it doesn't get solved. At two different pools, I've seen somebody who was trying to get their infant used to the water, and even though part of the pool was set aside for open swim, they decided that the appropriate place to do this was in one of the lanes. At one pool, they just kept doing it. If swimmers complained to them, they just ignored the complaints. At the other pool, the lifeguard came over instantly and told them to move to the other part of the pool, and the problem was solved. Swimmers shouldn't have to complain to the guards to get action. The guards should know the rules and enforce them without being asked. Bob

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 07:11:16 GMT

Phil, Go back and read the first post. These are people who jump in unannounced, unaware, uncaring, etc. We can and do make accommodations for ALL pool users... but a little civility on their part would go a long way... There, vent completed....

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:42:57 GMT

Well said Phil. And as for the "YMCA = Thieves" signature line, all I can say (in this forum) is rubbish. YMCA's provide wonderful programs to their communities. Afterschool care, youth sports, healthy lifestyle programs, Youth in Government, camps, and inumerable family program opportunities. As a lifelong YMCA member and current member of the local YMCA board of managers, I realize that YMCA programing is family oriented and targeted to support a broad spectrum of the community. That's why I swim at the Rose Bowl and not at the Y. When I swim at a Y, I expect a Y environment (with which I'm very familiar as a former YMCA lifeguard, swim instructor, swim coach and aquatic director . . . about 3 decades ago). So for my serious training, I go to a serious environment where the driving purpose is serious aquatic training. When I can't, I try to keep my expectations reasonable by realizing that the world does not revolve around me and my needs. my $0.02 carl botterud

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:36:02 GMT

For some its not so easy to swim when its less crowded or with a master swim team. Our team is too small and its hard for us to swim together so we all swim on our own. With a full time job and children I'm limited to the times when I can work out.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:29:44 GMT

I wonder who the 'snobs' are - the kids having fun throwing a ball around and the blue haired women trying to get some exercise with arthritic joints, or the superfast lifelong swimmers who threaten to flip into children, toss balls over fences, swing sharp paddles, and lawsuits? And Shakey, let me get this straight - it is less stressful for you to ride a bicycle in busy streets with in-attentive drivers of 2,000 lb vehicles traveling over 40 miles an hour, car doors opening unexpectedly, stopping continually at stop lights and stop signs (I assume all law-abiding bicyclists do that,) rain, heat, humidity, and sweat, than to swim with some children playing marco polo? Well, there is room in this world for all types . . . Anyway, at some level of quality swimming it is no longer reasonable for a swimmer to be in some community lap swims - one becomes more disruptive of other peoples activity than anything else. Show some consideration and swim when it is less crowded or join a team - either masters or a youth YMCA or USS.

RE: snobs in the pool

Former Member — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:16:30 GMT

I do say something to the guards when things get really bad but I don't want to say to much for fear of backlash. The guards are nice enough to let my daughter swim while I do laps. They let her do this even when they are having lessons and normally don't let kids swim in the pool. I do have to take matters into my own hands sometimes and I have a funny story to tell about that. One time a kid kept on coming into the lap lane so I said to him "you're not suppose to be in here". Instead of just getting out of the lane he left the pool.

RE: snobs in the pool

knelson — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 01:55:32 GMT

Originally posted by Phil Arcuni I wonder who the 'snobs' are - the kids having fun throwing a ball around and the blue haired women trying to get some exercise with arthritic joints, or the superfast lifelong swimmers who threaten to flip into children, toss balls over fences, swing sharp paddles, and lawsuits? You know most of us are just venting our frustrations, Phil. I agree that some of us probably shouldn't be swimming in a public lap swim. I certainly don't except in unusual circumstances, but hey we've got no more or less right to be there than anyone else whether it be kids, the "barge," sweaty guy or whoever.:)

RE: snobs in the pool

knelson — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 01:06:08 GMT

Swimming in an open lap swim can definitely be a trying experience. One thing I've noticed is there is a wide range of people who consider themselves capable of swimming in the fast lane. If you get in and swim too fast they get mad! Apparently they expect you to slow down or something :)