Swimming pool was more like a talking pool!

Yes, it’s as though they are entitled to do just as they wish. Ok, so they’ve paid to use the pool……… but it’s a ‘swimming pool’……the clue is in the description! I’d be annoyed too !

I mainly do back stroke so gently tell anyone 'hogging' the shallow end to natter that I would really hate to bash into them but often cannot see the end of my lane until I touch each end of the pool. They then move without complaint

Aren't the lanes roped off to prevent gatherings of chatting people? And if not, aren't there sessions purely for lane swimming, and purely for the general swim? It's unreasonable to expect to do lane swimming during a general swim, and vice versa. I would have thought the lifeguards would have enforced the rules since there's clearly a safety issue if the two are mixed.

I went to a brilliant pool complex when I was visiting GD in Australia. Indoors was a baby pool. a toddlers pool and a larger pool divided into lanes, which were for walking, slow. medium and fast lanes There was also a large outdoor pool .
I have not got back to swimming since Covid. I do miss it, I need more motivation. A night at a hotel next month, which has a pool might get me back on track

Witzend

Shelflife

Witzend , I fully understand that . I am not a strong swimmer but like to get the lengths in . It is infuriating when people gather at the end chatting !!! I save the chat for coffe in the cafe later !

There’s a jacuzzi right by the David Lloyd pool, and a sauna and a steam room, plus a very nice club room with plenty of comfortable seating, plus coffee/tea/snacks etc. available, so I do wonder why they can’t do some of their chatting in one of those.
I’m going again tomorrow, so let’s hope it was a bit of a one-off.

I'd hope others could politely chatter in another area.

People become more rude by the day, imo,

The effrontery!
Chatting to friends while keeping cool?
What is the world coming to?

I joined the Masters swim club this year; it was a really good experience to improve my swimming ability. I'm in the slow lane with two others. The problem is that one of the ladies tends to stop and want to talk, even if we are supposed to be doing 75 or 100m. I haven't mastered the flip turn yet, which would solve my issue.

Witzend, maybe if you did a flip turn, creating a good splash and using one of the chatters hips as a kick off they would get the message!

Shelflife

Witzend , I fully understand that . I am not a strong swimmer but like to get the lengths in . It is infuriating when people gather at the end chatting !!! I save the chat for coffe in the cafe later !

There’s a jacuzzi right by the David Lloyd pool, and a sauna and a steam room, plus a very nice club room with plenty of comfortable seating, plus coffee/tea/snacks etc. available, so I do wonder why they can’t do some of their chatting in one of those.
I’m going again tomorrow, so let’s hope it was a bit of a one-off.

honestly, it isn’t

TheWeirdoAgain60

I totally sympathise with you and know what you're saying. I hate the sort that basically only go in to gossip and block others. Like those that stand either in shop doorways or aisles gossiping away, and they just bloody well will NOT move, but dare you to sqeeeeze past or accidentally bump into them and they get all itchy!

There were 5 stupid women in our local Co-Op recently, not doing anything, just yakking, elbows out, hands out, bags and baskets out in front of the fridge with milk, etc. There was a middle-aged couple, the wife was on a 4-wheeled walker, and they were after some milk.

They both clearly said excuse us, please, but the old witches continued to yak. EXCUSE US, PLEASE. Still yakking.

I actually told them to move as the couple can't get to the fridge to get to the milk, and I tried to reach around for 2 big bottles for them to put into the walker's basket, but they just totally ignored me and refused to let me help the couple.

One of the witches picked up something from the shelf, said to the others ''I don't want that'' then literally threw it back on the shelf. The husband said ''Are you going to move out of our way or not?''

By the time they'd got the milk, the witches had moved around, but only a few feet to the aisle with pies, sandwich fillers, etc., again, blocking the aisle with elbows, etc out.

Husband went utterly insane and started shouting and ranting at the top of his voice, shouting ''My disabled wife can't get past again. MOVE OUT OF THE ^&%$ ING WAY!''

Wife then literally just barged through them. Witches gave the couple and me evil, vindictive looks.

I then knocked on the staff door and got the manager out, and he then gave them a mouthful!

These types are the exact same sort that block swimming pools with their ''Jean said this, and Emily said that''!

Loved this.
Have you thought of writing short stories for BBC radio?
Honestly you are very funny.

Some people just have no self awareness.

NannaFirework

If paying for a membership they are entitled to stop and chat - yes it would be polite to move but they have every right to stop and relax in the water if they choose!
We can’t all be super serious swimmers…

The clue's in the name "swimming pool" At my club and others where I've been a member, roped off lanes clearly state "lane swimming" dedicated for that. I think that's what some of us are complaining about here. Most clubs have areas for socialising, including around the pool. I think the point many are trying to make, there are people, possibly through a lack of awareness, make it quite difficult for swimmers to pursue their goals. I'm not a great swimmer by any means, it's nice to do a few lengths unimpeded. Yes sometimes I'll pause at the shallow end, but I try and do so with some spacial awareness in not being in the way of someone who is clearly swimming towards where I'm standing, I'll move out of their way, it's a courtesy to do so imo.

I love the idea of "conversational lane hogging"...
...maybe as some sort of protest??

It ain’t your pool

If paying for a membership they are entitled to stop and chat - yes it would be polite to move but they have every right to stop and relax in the water if they choose!
We can’t all be super serious swimmers…

oh dear! this is what stopped me going to our local gym/pool. a couple of ladies would swim up and down the length, nattering away as though they were walking on a road... people wanting do swim a width couldn`t do it.

Again, those who swim abreast having a chat, making it difficult to get around them. I go to swim, that takes all my efforts. I agree it's annoying. There are generally rules around pools but those tend to pertain to no running, diving etc. I've not seen anything about conversational lane hogging.

Witzend , I fully understand that . I am not a strong swimmer but like to get the lengths in . It is infuriating when people gather at the end chatting !!! I save the chat for coffe in the cafe later !

I can see the attraction of standing and chatting and do it myself - but out of the way.

I'm with you on that. I stopped swimming because I was fed up with it! Why don't they just go for a tea/ coffee and chat? Don't get it

This happened in "my" pool yesterday too.
I wish they would line up along the jacuzzi (long) side as we can only really fit 4 or 5 people doing lengths - but one side has steps and the jacuzzi so no good for lengths. That is the best place for chatting, in my opinion.

CanadianGran

Can't the lifeguards on duty have a word with them? Or, if you don't mind, have a word yourself?

Some people rest after one length, others like to lap. Taking a rest, one should move to the corner of the lane so others can still turn.

They don’t have lifeguards until 4 pm, when children, or under 16s, are allowed (4-7 IIRC).

I totally sympathise with you and know what you're saying. I hate the sort that basically only go in to gossip and block others. Like those that stand either in shop doorways or aisles gossiping away, and they just bloody well will NOT move, but dare you to sqeeeeze past or accidentally bump into them and they get all itchy!

There were 5 stupid women in our local Co-Op recently, not doing anything, just yakking, elbows out, hands out, bags and baskets out in front of the fridge with milk, etc. There was a middle-aged couple, the wife was on a 4-wheeled walker, and they were after some milk.

They both clearly said excuse us, please, but the old witches continued to yak. EXCUSE US, PLEASE. Still yakking.

I actually told them to move as the couple can't get to the fridge to get to the milk, and I tried to reach around for 2 big bottles for them to put into the walker's basket, but they just totally ignored me and refused to let me help the couple.

One of the witches picked up something from the shelf, said to the others ''I don't want that'' then literally threw it back on the shelf. The husband said ''Are you going to move out of our way or not?''

By the time they'd got the milk, the witches had moved around, but only a few feet to the aisle with pies, sandwich fillers, etc., again, blocking the aisle with elbows, etc out.

Husband went utterly insane and started shouting and ranting at the top of his voice, shouting ''My disabled wife can't get past again. MOVE OUT OF THE ^&%$ ING WAY!''

Wife then literally just barged through them. Witches gave the couple and me evil, vindictive looks.

I then knocked on the staff door and got the manager out, and he then gave them a mouthful!

These types are the exact same sort that block swimming pools with their ''Jean said this, and Emily said that''!

It the ones that swim side by side AND chat that get my goat! While I’m envious that anyone can actually swim and talk at the same time I would rather not have to negotiate my way around them so that they can carry on their riveting conversations!

Our pool has a ‘slow and steady’ swim session, which is recognised as a bit of a social meet up, lots of nattering at the ends.

Then there are general swims, or lane swims. Not really chatty ones.