Aside from "Don't pee in the pool", "Don't swim naked", and other common public pool rules, there are some ridiculously obvious DON'Ts that the swimmer's association (totally made-up group) neglected to include as part of the general rules. A little background - Manoa pool is a public swimming pool that has lap swim everyday. Each lane has an arrow that shows the direction that the swimmers should go. Basically, you swim to the opposite end in one lane and swim back in the adjacent lane.
Now, back to the general pool rules and why I get so pissed when ignorant non-first-timer swimmers do something stupid! To the swimmer's association, I humbly suggest creating a separate set of pool rules and title it "You are stupid if you..." (BTW, you doesn't mean YOU so don't get offended).
1) ... jump in the same lane that an oncoming swimmer is about to make a turn and kick off. Now the oncoming swimmer has to stop suddenly, wait for you dim-wit to adjust to the cool temperature of the water and finally decide to start swimming.
2) ... see that an oncoming swimmer swims faster than you but you still jump in the pool and begin swimming slowly in the same lane that the oncoming swimmer will be in after he makes the turn. Now the oncoming swimmer is stuck behind you because you don't happen to swim in a straight line!
3) ... see that an oncoming swimmer swims slower than you but you jump in the pool after he makes the turn and then you zoom past him, leaving him drowning in a giant tsunami-sized wave that you have made.
4) ... swim in the fast lane but you are obviously a slow swimmer.
5) ... swim in the slow laed but you are obviously a fast swimmer.
6) ... stop swimming in the middle of the lane and decide the walk the rest. You have just created a bottleneck!
7) ... jump in the pool, put on your goggles, and act like you are ready to swim but then you don't. All this time, the swimmer next to you has been waiting politely for you to go.
8) ... stand side-by-side with 5 other people along the end of the pool, leaving no room for oncoming swimmers to make a turn and kick off the wall.
Swimming in a public pool is all about timing. If everyone observes the flow of the pool, pay attention to the speed and position of each swimmer before getting in, you will make the pool a much more friendly environment than ignorant swimmers who think they own the pool. So please, kokua, be mindful of others when you are in a public swimming pool.
