DH and I took Warner to one of our county's pools yesterday and saw one of the rules being enforced for the first time (well, it was the first time we saw it being enforced...haven't been to this pool a ton).
The rule is that you have to wear an actual bathing suit in the pool, not clothes. It looks like it's fine to wear a t-shirt over a bathing suit, we saw a lot of that. But, surprisingly, there were a handful of people who showed up to the pool in regular clothes and got right in.
The first time we ever went to this pool a couple summers a go, we were a little grossed out that there was a guy who was clearly swimming in his underwear (we go to the nicest places). They were those boxer brief things and it was just a bad, bad look for this guy. But the people that we saw yesterday were fully clothed in t-shirts/tank tops and shorts (men and women), just hanging in the pool.
The lifeguard saw them and blew his whistle and yelled "no clothes in the pool" (which made DH and me laugh because it sounded like everyone was supposed to get nekkid). There was a language barrier and the people didn't seem to understand, then someone from the management came over and told them they had to get out.
At first I thought it made sense that you have to wear a bathing suit, it IS a pool. But then I kind of felt bad, what if they couldn't afford suits and just wanted to cool off. What's the harm in wearing clothes in a pool? It seemed like kind of a mean rule.
I can't think of a great reason why someone who has paid their money shouldn't get to go swimming in their clothes. Am I missing something? What do you guys think?
Hmm, that is a good question. I wonder if clothes would make it harder for a lifeguard to rescue a swimmer in distress since the clothes are heavier? That's the first thing that comes to mind.
Post by basilosaurus on Aug 13, 2012 13:54:36 GMT -5
Why are clothes nastier than bathing suits? I would assume it's some safety thing, not hygiene.
fwiw, many places in Japan have a no clothing rule, and they mean it. You are nekkid. It's considered much cleaner. You also seriously scrub down before getting into the water.
I wonder, too, if looser clothing is a hazard because it can get caught on something, tangled around people, pulled by others who are rough housing, etc.
Last year my kid was not quite 2, and we were walking around in the baby part of the pool, which has some sprinkler type things. I didn't have a bathing suit. As in, could not find anything that fit my big boobs, had been looking for a week in the stores in preparation for going to this pool over the weekend. So I wore suit bottoms, a bra, and a tank top that covered everything up appropriately.
No could do. I had to sit out. We left shortly thereafter. It was embarrassing, as I knew the rule and tried to follow it, I just couldn't find a damn suit. I was surprised it was enforced.
So, yeah, I feel for those that wear their clothes.
Ugh. My Step-sister's son (he's in his 20s so not a kid) did this recently and I could see his junk through the material. So gross, so not necessary. Dude can afford a suit he's just trashy.
I violated this last year with the baby. I didn't know the rules and thought I could just put a t-shirt on him - didn't realize it had to be a special swimshirt. And I heard it was the filter issue to - getting clogged with the fibers.
In SoCal it's common tho see Latinos wearing clothes in the ocean and water parks. I've never understood why. I suppose it could be the money factor, but considering you can get a suit for cheap at certain stores it must be something cultural.
No one should be wearing their skidmarked tighty whities in the pool.
Couldn't that argument be made for bathing suits, though? Kids put on the suit in the morning, go to the pool, run around at lunch, play in the grass, jump back in the pool, all without changing.
In SoCal it's common tho see Latinos wearing clothes in the ocean and water parks. I've never understood why. I suppose it could be the money factor, but considering you can get a suit for cheap at certain stores it must be something cultural.
:-|
I am in Socal and I am a Latino. I can guarantee you I am always in a suit and so is my family. I am also not poor and can afford a suit so I guess you are not talking about every Latino, no?
I wonder, too, if looser clothing is a hazard because it can get caught on something, tangled around people, pulled by others who are rough housing, etc.
I was told when I guarded that beside the items on clothing that could get caught/tangled that with jeans/pants/shorts in particular that the zippers and metail rivets that hold pockets together can cause scraping and physical damage to the slides.
I don't wear swimsuits while swimming in public places. Last time I swam at a pool (swim classes at the Y with my sons), I wore a pair of my husbands long basketball shorts and a T-shirt. I've never had a problem wearing clothing while swimming at our local swimming pond. Luckily I don't like chlorinated pools, so I don't have to worry about not being allowed to wear clothes while I swim.
I wonder if they make exceptions for religions reasons? If a woman showed up in a burkini would they let her swim?
I don't wear swimsuits while swimming in public places. Last time I swam at a pool (swim classes at the Y with my sons), I wore a pair of my husbands long basketball shorts and a T-shirt. I've never had a problem wearing clothing while swimming at our local swimming pond. Luckily I don't like chlorinated pools, so I don't have to worry about not being allowed to wear clothes while I swim.
I wonder if they make exceptions for religions reasons? If a woman showed up in a burkini would they let her swim?
I don't see they wouldn't. It's made of the same material other swimsuits are.
This seems like kind of a strange thread. A public pool/YMCA pool seems like one place where you would need to wear 'appropriate' clothing (ie, a swimsuit) for health and safety reasons.
A gym won't let you run on a treadmill in flip flops for safety reasons...why would a public pool let you swim in clothes?
In SoCal it's common tho see Latinos wearing clothes in the ocean and water parks. I've never understood why. I suppose it could be the money factor, but considering you can get a suit for cheap at certain stores it must be something cultural.
I am in Socal and I am a Latino. I can guarantee you I am always in a suit and so is my family. I am also not poor and can afford a suit so I guess you are not talking about every Latino, no?
Of course not, but wouldn't you say it's common? I've seen it at the local beaches (Newport, Huntington) and at 6 Flags Hurricane Harbor.
This seems like kind of a strange thread. A public pool/YMCA pool seems like one place where you would need to wear 'appropriate' clothing (ie, a swimsuit) for health and safety reasons.
A gym won't let you run on a treadmill in flip flops for safety reasons...why would a public pool let you swim in clothes?
to be clear, this pool was not a lap pool...it's the "big kids" pool at this pool complex, it's just for playing not exercising. it's starts at 2' deep and goes to 4'. There is a lap pool with lanes that's for actual swimmers, but it's in another part of the pool complex.
I posted because I wondered if a policy like that was kind of classist. I have no idea if these particular people could afford bathing suits or not, but if they couldn't it sucks that they wouldn't be able to enjoy the pool on a hot day. I didn't know about the safety reasons that other people brought up, but now I do and that makes sense to me.
And to AW's point, the 2 women in the group were wearing tank tops with spaghetti straps and shorts that were shorter than mid-thigh, so I don't think it was a modesty issue.
I don't wear swimsuits while swimming in public places. Last time I swam at a pool (swim classes at the Y with my sons), I wore a pair of my husbands long basketball shorts and a T-shirt. I've never had a problem wearing clothing while swimming at our local swimming pond. Luckily I don't like chlorinated pools, so I don't have to worry about not being allowed to wear clothes while I swim.
I wonder if they make exceptions for religions reasons? If a woman showed up in a burkini would they let her swim?
honest question, isn't a wet tshirt and a wet pair of basketball shorts just as form fitting (if not more so) than a bathing suit?
I don't wear swimsuits while swimming in public places. Last time I swam at a pool (swim classes at the Y with my sons), I wore a pair of my husbands long basketball shorts and a T-shirt. I've never had a problem wearing clothing while swimming at our local swimming pond. Luckily I don't like chlorinated pools, so I don't have to worry about not being allowed to wear clothes while I swim.
I wonder if they make exceptions for religions reasons? If a woman showed up in a burkini would they let her swim?
honest question, isn't a wet tshirt and a wet pair of basketball shorts just as form fitting (if not more so) than a bathing suit?
I'm not sure that anything can be more form fitting than a bathing suit. I mean, it's like a second skin.
But if you have looser clothing on and give it a quick squeeze right as you get out of the water, it doesn't stick to your skin quite so much. It's still going to show your form a little, but definitely not in the way a swimsuit does.
I'm just not quite ready for a Duggar swim dress. lol
Post by statlerwaldorf on Aug 13, 2012 23:00:04 GMT -5
I've seen them call out men wearing t-shirts at my local pool. I was confused once because I saw a woman wearing a bikini with a thin white tank top over it. That didn't hide a thing once it got wet.
I really wish it was socially acceptable to wear something like this:
It's not so strange looking!
No, it really is very strange looking.
I don't think it's strange looking at all. I think it's cute and flattering. I would wear it if it were a little looser up top and the length of the skirt was longer. I've been considering making my own swim dress out of pretty fabric.
It's crazy to me that it's socially acceptable to stuff your body into something that doesn't flatter or fit you and that shows enough to require a Brazilian shave, but the picture above is strange. ::shrugs::
I just don't see that a swim suits only policy is classist. Our local pool has the same policy, as do most and I assume, like others touched on, it is due to regular clothing causing issues with the pools filtration system and the drowning factor. Sometimes there are just rules.
I just don't see that a swim suits only policy is classist. Our local pool has the same policy, as do most and I assume, like others touched on, it is due to regular clothing causing issues with the pools filtration system and the drowning factor. Sometimes there are just rules.
Also, I would think that it's fairly easy to find an affordable bathing suit at Goodwill, etc?
I just don't see that a swim suits only policy is classist. Our local pool has the same policy, as do most and I assume, like others touched on, it is due to regular clothing causing issues with the pools filtration system and the drowning factor. Sometimes there are just rules.
Also, I would think that it's fairly easy to find an affordable bathing suit at Goodwill, etc?
A used bathing suit? I'd rather get a cheap one at Old Navy. I got a suit for $20 on sale there.
I just don't see that a swim suits only policy is classist. Our local pool has the same policy, as do most and I assume, like others touched on, it is due to regular clothing causing issues with the pools filtration system and the drowning factor. Sometimes there are just rules.
Also, I would think that it's fairly easy to find an affordable bathing suit at Goodwill, etc?
Just because you are poor doesn't mean that you want to wear a used bathing suit. I grew up pretty poor, but even we drew the line at used underwear and bathing suits. +o(
I worked at a DV shelter for 3 years and during the summer when it's over 100 degrees the Ys have free admission to the pools. Ours do allow people to go in clothing (well they did at that point, not sure about now.) The moms rarely had money available to buy a swimsuit for their kids and themselves, and we didn't usually have them in our clothing closet or thrift store to give as people don't really donate used swimwear. The moms and kids always had such a good time and I was really glad they were able to go and swim in the summer just like many families do even though they were living in a shelter and dealing with all kinds of difficult things.
however I see why it's a policy many places for safety and sanitation.