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AIBU

Gym Changing Rooms

(49 Posts)
Kateykrunch Fri 14-Feb-25 13:56:47

Just back from my fitness and aqua class (go me lol), there are very spacious changing areas with benches, so why, oh why, when I was the only person in area, did the next person to come in actually plonk all her stuff and herself right, right, right next to me and the next one to arrive actually sat on my gym bag! I moved but just don't get why people cluster. Thanks for reading lol, phew, dont all crowd in with your responses, leave room, thanks x

Witzend Thu 27-Mar-25 10:01:26

Aveline

I'm another who prefers a cubicle for changing at the gym. It's so irritating when others leave belongings in a cubicle to 'bag' it. I'm so tempted to hand this stuff in to list property. Similarly, I hate it when people use the lockers but don't lock them meaning others have to look in several apparently vacant lockers before finding an empty one. No need for pound coins. Only have to dial in a code. Couldn't be easier. Ooh! Other people!!

Just padlocks at my DL. But that means I have to take my glasses and leave them with my towel by the pool, or I can’t see to unlock the padlock afterwards! Tiny little numbers!

Aveline Mon 24-Feb-25 07:06:20

Reported

theohugh Mon 24-Feb-25 06:27:19

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Lemonnutmeg Sun 23-Feb-25 19:22:55

Yes, WHY. same in a car park. You park out of the way in an almost empty place and when you come back......either side parked up. Leaving squeeze room to open the door.

eazybee Sun 23-Feb-25 18:53:05

perhaps they are Italian? I experienced this on holiday in France with a french friend Beautiful deserted beaches, we were the only people on it and sunbathing in the sand dunes until a family arrived and sat down next to us, all noisy children, ancient grandma and squabbling parents., constant walking by us involving lots of sand displacement. My friend said sourly, bet they are Italian, they always do this, and they were. No response to friendly overtures.

Shinamae Sun 23-Feb-25 18:29:52

The gym I go to is relatively small and has no open changing space, it does have about eight smallish rooms that have a shower,basin and a toilet in as well…
Also has a separate small room with a couple of hairdryers and hair straighteners..
Very nice little Gym..

David49 Sun 23-Feb-25 15:29:51

I hadnt noticed men doing that especially not in cars, women do congregate together much more, probably an inbuilt safety instinct.

lizzypopbottle Sun 23-Feb-25 13:08:50

Car parking spaces are too narrow for today's huge vehicles. A friend of mine avoids parking next to a car with child seats/booster cushions etc. because he reckons the risk of their doors bashing into his is too great.

Poppyred Sun 23-Feb-25 12:16:48

Astitchintime

I notice similar behaviours in car parks..........it can be almost empty but I can guarantee the next vehicle to arrive will park RIGHT NEXT TO ME! Bloody morons!

This always happens to me! If they’re still in the other car, I give them my “look”. 🤣

Kateykrunch Sun 23-Feb-25 11:10:15

Some funny and annoying stories here in response to my Post lol. People are strange creatures! Thanks for your input, now shove off further down…..

grannybuy Sun 23-Feb-25 10:01:31

There can be the opposite situation on buses. People have their belongings on the empty seat beside them, and pretend not to see people looking for a seat.

Aveline Sun 23-Feb-25 08:59:24

I'm another who prefers a cubicle for changing at the gym. It's so irritating when others leave belongings in a cubicle to 'bag' it. I'm so tempted to hand this stuff in to list property. Similarly, I hate it when people use the lockers but don't lock them meaning others have to look in several apparently vacant lockers before finding an empty one. No need for pound coins. Only have to dial in a code. Couldn't be easier. Ooh! Other people!!

Sallywally1 Sun 23-Feb-25 08:05:59

The most annoying incident occurred when I had a brand new car of which I was quite proud. I parked in a sainsbury car park early in the morning on my way to work. The car park was. Completely empty. Another driver came along and insisted on parking next to me, it was an awkward space with a pillar next to him. Several tries later he succeeded in scratching my car when he eventually managed to squeeze in. I was gob smacked and the annoying thing was that he could not see that he had done anything wrong. (Oh, did I scratch your car?), He had dozens of other spaces to choose from!

SunnySusie Sat 22-Feb-25 20:16:25

I have noticed this type of behaviour in toilets. There are ten empty cubicles, but whichever one I pick the next person uses the stall right next to me.

lizzypopbottle Sat 22-Feb-25 19:47:02

I'm reading Dorothy Sayers 'Lord Peter Wimsey' books again. I'm on 'Have his Carcase' at the moment and just read this. It's an excellent fit with OP!

"I distinctly remember thinking that the beach seemed absolutely and gloriously deserted - a perfect spot for a picnic. I hate picnicking in a crowd."
"And a single person on a lonely beach would be a crowd? "
"For picnicking purposes, yes. You know what people are. The minute they see anyone having a peaceful feed they gather in from the four points of the compass and sit down beside one, and the place is like the Corner House in the rush hour."

Nannymags27 Sat 22-Feb-25 18:37:24

My husband and I have always called these sorts of people “lemmings”.

Mamma66 Sat 22-Feb-25 17:08:16

I have driven large Mercedes for many years. I am not driving at the moment, but when I was I could always guarantee that wherever I parked someone would park next to me. There could be 30 empty spaces around me and yet somehow I would always return to the car to find someone parked next to me. I often wondered if they chose to park next to me thinking that I would be careful opening doors etc because I had a nice car. I used to drive a particularly large E320 and I can’t tell you how many times I had to clamber in through the passenger door because some numpty had parked so close. So annoying!

MagSt Sat 22-Feb-25 16:33:20

My husband always complains if he parks in a car park with loads of empty spaces all around him, but when he comes out sombody nearly always parks next to him, usually so close he has a hard time getting in 😂

Momac55 Sat 22-Feb-25 15:40:02

The OP said they just came in and Ccu plinked their stuff down so it doesn’t sound like they had already stowed their stuff

Overthemoongran Sat 22-Feb-25 15:39:34

How topical! I’ve just returned from a supermarket shop, the car park was virtually empty and when I returned to my car someone had parked right up behind me which made it really difficult to open the boot and pack my shopping - why???

cc Sat 22-Feb-25 15:33:39

keepingquiet

People are funny aren't they?

I never could figure out why people parked as close the gym building as they could and then went in to get some exercise!

Yes, similarly they'll squeeze themselves into supermarket car parks near the entrance when they're are completely empty rows not far behind them. And if you park further away to avoid the crush you'll find that people will come and park right next to you, when there is empty space in every direction,

2420mags Sat 22-Feb-25 14:44:02

l went to a wedding at the hotel in Syon Park. l name drop because if you know it you will know it has a large amount of landscaped parking. l need space to open the car door fully to get out so OH parked a fair distance away despite there being very few parked cars. He hadn't turned the engine off before an older woman parked right up beside my side of the car. My face must have done the talking because she moved to an adjacent space. l was grateful she had the nous to realise

Oreo Sat 22-Feb-25 14:36:14

sassenach512

I wonder if it's the herd mentality Katey? some people just subconsciously like to be near to others. We get this so much when we caravan, we set up in a open area, lots of pitches to choose from and you can bet by the end of the day we'll have a caravan either side of us and someone sitting in their caravan watching us eat dinner! it's called 'sod's law' smile

😂

Milest0ne Sat 22-Feb-25 14:32:11

This reminds me of when we used to go to craft fairs. If it was quiet stall holders would take it in turns to play rent a crowd. If someone was standing in front of a stall, the buying public would come and looksmile

GrammaH Sat 22-Feb-25 14:09:34

This really chimes with me today as I had a similar gym incident yesterday. My locker was at the end of a row with a bench of about 5' next to it. When I came out of the pool, the entire bench was covered in one person and all her things. I assumed she must've had the locker above mine. I took all my stuff to a bench opposite with lockers above & damn me if she didn't have yet more stuff in the locker above my head to which she needed constant access! I was quite flummoxed & a bit cross...