What's the proper lane etiquette for the following scenario:
You're swimming during common lap swim with two other people who are your speed. The three of you are doing a set workout on specific intervals. You arrived early so you could get a lane. Most other lanes have 2 people in them and are being split.
A fourth person who you do not know (but have seen swim before) wants to join your lane since the other lanes are filled with non-competitive swimmer types. This person is quite a bit faster than the three of you are. The three of you still want to do your workout.
Do you:
a) abandon the workout in order to stay out of this faster guy's way
b) tell him he's welcome to join the workout but that he can lead since he's faster (but you still pick the interval)
c) tell him he's welcome to join the workout, and try to keep up with him in vain when he swims intervals that are impossible for you to keep.
No, he's not obligated. But then I'm not obligated to stay out of his way OR feel sorry about getting in his way either.
Just because you're faster doesn't mean your right to swim fast trumps my right to get a decent workout.
I agree with both points.
Going back to your original post, I do think it makes a subtle difference that most other lanes only had two swimmers. If all these swimmers were much slower than him, and your lane was the fastest, then I can see why he'd join you. Otherwise it seems like he should find another lane rather than get into your lane. Since he's getting into your lane the onus is definitely on him to stay out of your way.
No, he's not obligated. But then I'm not obligated to stay out of his way OR feel sorry about getting in his way either.
Just because you're faster doesn't mean your right to swim fast trumps my right to get a decent workout.
I agree with both points.
Going back to your original post, I do think it makes a subtle difference that most other lanes only had two swimmers. If all these swimmers were much slower than him, and your lane was the fastest, then I can see why he'd join you. Otherwise it seems like he should find another lane rather than get into your lane. Since he's getting into your lane the onus is definitely on him to stay out of your way.
