One 100 free to go in set. Two open lanes.(no lane lines in pool) Noodler comes over to stand in my lane to talk with friend. Pool is set at 85 degrees cause all the noodlers say it is to cold otherwise. I complain to guard, am told, "well there are a lot more of them then there are lap swimmers" Wont be if they keep this up. UGH! :frustrated:
As a group exercise instructor and Masters swimmer, I see both sides. One time when I was preparing to teach my water aerobics class I had two very rude lap swimmers refuse to get out of the pool (which it clearly spells out in the contract they sign at the facility that they are supposed to do during scheduled classes). Because the woman clearly seemed unstable, I told her she could swim in the far lane for 5 minutes while we warmed up, but she continued to stop and make comments about how fat people were in my class and how they shouldn't use the pool if they didn't want to get their hair wet. I finally had to have security escort her out!
Most people will be more accomodating when greeted with kind requests rather than anger. I have swum in many community pools and usually ask people nicely if I can share a lane and also explain what I'm going to be doing (training for some races). Sometimes if they see you are nice they don't find you so scary and intimidating anymore. I have never had any problems. I still prefer swimming with either Masters or age group swimmers and choose to go to pools that are clean and friendly to lap swimmers.
Thanks, Susan. I completely agree with you about nice and ordinarily it works well enough. Apart from ranting, after each of these encounters, I actually think about what I wished I had said, coming from a more generous spirit, hoping that the next time will be easier.
As a group exercise instructor and Masters swimmer, I see both sides. One time when I was preparing to teach my water aerobics class I had two very rude lap swimmers refuse to get out of the pool (which it clearly spells out in the contract they sign at the facility that they are supposed to do during scheduled classes). Because the woman clearly seemed unstable, I told her she could swim in the far lane for 5 minutes while we warmed up, but she continued to stop and make comments about how fat people were in my class and how they shouldn't use the pool if they didn't want to get their hair wet. I finally had to have security escort her out!
Most people will be more accomodating when greeted with kind requests rather than anger. I have swum in many community pools and usually ask people nicely if I can share a lane and also explain what I'm going to be doing (training for some races). Sometimes if they see you are nice they don't find you so scary and intimidating anymore. I have never had any problems. I still prefer swimming with either Masters or age group swimmers and choose to go to pools that are clean and friendly to lap swimmers.
Thanks, Susan. I completely agree with you about nice and ordinarily it works well enough. Apart from ranting, after each of these encounters, I actually think about what I wished I had said, coming from a more generous spirit, hoping that the next time will be easier.
