No wonder people quit... FROWNY faces at the gym.

[Seatan]

So, since winter is arriving and there will be no more swimming outdoors, I signed up at 24 Hour Fitness because they have an indoor pool where I can use fins (though it's only 5'3" at its deepest). I went there for the first time yesterday, and DAMN... everybody was SO frowny! In the pool all the people had this tight, serious look about them, carefully avoiding one another's eyes and not talking... If this is how people act at gyms, no wonder people quit going right off the bat! Last time I checked, swimming, at least, was supposed to be fun! Even upstairs in the gym, everybody's so damn serious, it's crazy. Is this at every gym, or did I just get lucky, LOL?

Everybody is all



and I'm all



But hey, this place has a hot tub, so who am I to complain?

[Echidna]

Never been to a gym, but most people swimming at my pool have a constant frown engraved onto their faces.
They also think they own the entire pool, using up at least 3 lanes in space when sploshing by, and when they hit me on the head with their flailing, they glare at me like, "how DARE you being in my pool?!" instead of, ya know, apologizing

It's especially grand when every pool lane has 3 or 4 of those champions in it.
I REALLY wish we could afford our own lil' pool

[Winged Mermaid]

You think THATS bad, try going to the gym on a military base (The only gym the people on military payday can afford). Shit is ridiculous.

Even during "family time" in the pool, the moms get outraged that I've allowed in there with the monofin. I've had some yell at the lifeguards because of me. Chick, I'm not anywhere near you or your kid. Chill the heck out. What's worse is they try and pull rank on you. First of all, I am not in the military, my husband is. Second of all, if your husband that has the rank, not you. Ranks don't mean anything to me! Seriously screw off.

Don't even get me started on the actual exercise and weightlifting rooms…

[MerEmma]

What's their problem with monofins?? I get the pool itself but the guests having issues? :\

[Aziara]

Has anyone tried Curves? I might be the youngest gal there (it's mostly older women trying to stave off osteoporosis), but they've always been really friendly. Unfortunately, no pool

[Winged Mermaid]

She was afraid I'd hurt her kid with the blade. It was a tempo monofin, btw. Her kid was a 2 year old that she had a hold of at all times, they were both in the shallow end, and I swam by 4 feet away and she freaked. I told her that I had my fin approved by the lifeguards, she said not in this part of the pool, and I said yes for all areas of the pool. Like she owned that area of the pool. She yelled at the lifeguard and the lifeguard told her yes, I was allowed there with the fin and she got all huffy with me. *rolls eyes* Military wives can be such entitled bitches sometimes. Thus the reason I won't live in on base housing. The drama is like high school, except it can get your spouse fired because everyone always ends up escalating it by dragging higher ups into it. Noooo thank you. I've seen people literally rent out coat closets (to put a air mattress in) in other people's apartments just to get the hell off base because the drama is so bad.

I actually use to be a part of a forum called Coastie Chicks. It's a forum for women who have men who are in the CG (brothers, husbands, fathers, ect). They actually have to shut down the entire forum sometimes for days or weeks at a time because drama gets so insane. Also because even though they have disclaimers everywhere about not posting classified info, people still do it anyway. They have to have a million mods to keep on top of those posts so they can be taken down ASAP. I mean, it's only national security you're compromising because you have some drama you want to bring up. -_-

/rant

[Seatan]

What, you didn't see the sign proclaiming that was HER side of the pool? Kind of like the Native Americans didn't see the sign Columbus stuck in the sand when he stepped off his ship?

[Fun123joker]

oh no now im trying to think if i was like that. i had my tail on and i was alone in the deep end with alot of people in the shallow end. it wasn't like i as forcing people to go to the shallow end but stereotype says that hispanic rather have the shallow end (im hispanic but there is exception of this stereotype) ok i did give a stare to that one guy but that was because he canon balled and almost landed on me =A=
i guess that same day i went to one of the sides of the pool and when i looked up this lady in a black head dress (i think she was a verry serious jew but religion doesn't matter it was that she would hold her kids hands too tightly if you know what i mean.) had this disapproving stare. not mad but kinda like "what are you trying to pull off here? >:/"
ok so im complaining on something that may or may not be on topic but that military base story O.O just remember to be the adult if that lady confronts you again

[Echidna]

I guess we need a "Pool-Rant"-thread

I'd like to know whether people elsewhere are as rude, obnoxious, insolent, and indecent as where I live.

Absolutely no-one obeys the rules, which are clear and rational:
no jumping in from the sides; no slathering on of oils, perfumes, and stuff before swimming; shower before;
no small kids that can't swim in the deep pools; etc.

All of these things are blatantly disregarded by almost everyone, and NONE of the life-guard bats an eyelash.
They all hang out in their little cabin and gossip.
It's infuriating.
Apart from parents who encourage their kids to break the rules, and become all snippy and aggressive if you calmly remind them of the rules (and afterward, said parents of course run to the lifeguards to complain about us),
the thing that gets most on my nerves are the couples making out.

Doesn't matter whether it's dark, bright day, morning, afternoon or evening, there are ALWAYS several couples who only come to the pool to sit in it on top of each other, knot their tongues and do screwing motions that would put any porn movie to shame.

Guess what the lifeguards do?...
you guessed it: nothing.
If I swim underwater, even if I look only straight forward, I'm lined with screwing couples, some of them masturbating.

I'm sick and fed up with it, but I've asked around, and it seems it's the same for any pool in this awesome country.

/Rant

[Seatan]

LOL, well, all I've found at 24 Hour Fitness is old men in swim shorts who oogle me. No kids or lifeguards to worry about, but PLENTY of bald guys in their late sixties. This old Asian guy even looked at me when I was practicing swimming gracefully with a pretty smile and said "Aaaaah, *beautiful*!"

Haha, I wasn't sure whether I should be grateful for the compliment or mildly weirded out. I mean, it definitely wasn't meant in a 'beautiful mermaid' sort of way since I was wearing men's swim trunks and using my bright yellow Rapid.

But hey, as I said before, it's got a HOT TUB. Even if I occasionally must share with creepers.

[Fun123joker]

i dont really have so much rants of pools. the thing is that im a teen that cant drive yet so its been awhile scince my last swim. the thing is that my sister really likes this pool at a country club but im not allowed to swim in it because there are alot of high class people there and my sister says that they are too serious there but really nothing else is stopping me. but there is a rec center 2 miles from me so if o really wanted too i can go for a 2 mile walk and go up hill

[Amphitrite]

So I'm learning to lap swim (gotta start somewhere! ) and the people there seem very nice. My instructor is also very nice and keeping things fun and not too hard and she's not going too fast!

[Seatan]

I've met some friendly people since I posted this. I think maybe people are just worried about what they look in swimsuits or if they look silly swimming and it comes off as being in a bad mood. When you talk to them, they're really nice. I just usually have a big smile on my face when I swim (even if I don't feel happy, as practice for mermaiding so that I will automatically smile without thinking about it), and I love to swim, so all the frowns make me raise an eyebrow.

[Ilyena]

Besides the older men who continuously stare creepily while I swim, where I swim is pretty good, they allow monofins and my tail (even more looks during that part). But the older ladies during the aquarobics are just a tad stuck up and its like they can only talk amongst themselves before/after the class, even when obviously talking about the mermaid in the pool, the kids have more respect than them sometimes.

Best I've done to those who frown is smile, wave and swim away, they're the grumpy ones and they shouldn't ruin your time swimming ^_^

[Mermaid Kelda]

Best I've done to those who frown is smile, wave and swim away, they're the grumpy ones and they shouldn't ruin your time swimming ^_^

Best philosophy to have, right there. Let them ruin their own day by being grumpy!

[Blondie]

I hate that! There's a big competition pool near the beach here at a club. And some of my friends and I went in and were sitting near the edge talking. This is about 10 lanes mind you. We're the only ones in the pool and this older gentleman comes into the pool and is skulking at us like we're taking up the entire pool. You only need one lane to swim in. I get if it's crowded and you're not swimming laps you should get out. But come on... No one was there!

[Nyxie]

OMG!! im the same way with the whole rank BS...what kills me is when you meet their husbands and they're only a SrA or SSgt!!! bahahaha...like seriously? if you're gonna try to act your hubby's rank he better be a Col or a General...like dang!!

You think THATS bad, try going to the gym on a military base (The only gym the people on military payday can afford). Shit is ridiculous.

Even during "family time" in the pool, the moms get outraged that I've allowed in there with the monofin. I've had some yell at the lifeguards because of me. Chick, I'm not anywhere near you or your kid. Chill the heck out. What's worse is they try and pull rank on you. First of all, I am not in the military, my husband is. Second of all, if your husband that has the rank, not you. Ranks don't mean anything to me! Seriously screw off.

Don't even get me started on the actual exercise and weightlifting rooms…

[drucilla]

She was afraid I'd hurt her kid with the blade. It was a tempo monofin, btw. Her kid was a 2 year old that she had a hold of at all times, they were both in the shallow end, and I swam by 4 feet away and she freaked. I told her that I had my fin approved by the lifeguards, she said not in this part of the pool, and I said yes for all areas of the pool. Like she owned that area of the pool. She yelled at the lifeguard and the lifeguard told her yes, I was allowed there with the fin and she got all huffy with me. *rolls eyes* Military wives can be such entitled bitches sometimes. Thus the reason I won't live in on base housing. The drama is like high school, except it can get your spouse fired because everyone always ends up escalating it by dragging higher ups into it. Noooo thank you. I've seen people literally rent out coat closets (to put a air mattress in) in other people's apartments just to get the hell off base because the drama is so bad.

I actually use to be a part of a forum called Coastie Chicks. It's a forum for women who have men who are in the CG (brothers, husbands, fathers, ect). They actually have to shut down the entire forum sometimes for days or weeks at a time because drama gets so insane. Also because even though they have disclaimers everywhere about not posting classified info, people still do it anyway. They have to have a million mods to keep on top of those posts so they can be taken down ASAP. I mean, it's only national security you're compromising because you have some drama you want to bring up. -_-

/rant

GOD THANK YOU!!!!! All the military wives I've met are judgemental they act like I have a disease because I do this stuff, I'm so sorry I don't fit into your cookie cutter world where I'm supposed to treat you like a queen because my husband is a lower rank than yours, meanwhile I show some class at the parties while you all dress like streetwalkers. What is wrong with these women? One is living in the same complex as me and she's always watching our car all day and night if I go somewhere she always has to know where I'm going and asking a ton of questions, it's like I don't have any rights anymore, why doesnt keep an eye on her husband instead of me. They are so rude even in pools off base.
　

[bitterfish]

I'm kinda glad my husband tries to keep me away from his base and crew mates now. I just thought he was pushing me into his keep work and personal life separate. I'm giving him a big kiss when he gets home.
Back on topic, yeah I always run into angry people. It's why I was excited when we found out our apartment has a small work out room that almost no one uses.

[TheChimera]

GOD THANK YOU!!!!! All the military wives I've met are judgemental they act like I have a disease because I do this stuff, I'm so sorry I don't fit into your cookie cutter world where I'm supposed to treat you like a queen because my husband is a lower rank than yours, meanwhile I show some class at the parties while you all dress like streetwalkers. What is wrong with these women? One is living in the same complex as me and she's always watching our car all day and night if I go somewhere she always has to know where I'm going and asking a ton of questions, it's like I don't have any rights anymore, why doesnt keep an eye on her husband instead of me. They are so rude even in pools off base.
　

That would irritate the crap outta me, i can't stand nosey people , i can dig it if you are just casually curious, but the line is crossed all too often in my opinion. Especially when it comes to new aqaintances , as if by now meeting you they are entitled to your life story, phhst! The attitude in the pool by the gym i use to go to was the same, frowny frump faces everywhere, luckily we have a pool at home and i stopped going to the gym because my brother quit his job there as a Personal Trainer over some drama where one of the other PT's wanted to beat him up in the parking lot. I used to go there to keep my bro company, but it just got too much.