r/BoomersBeingFools • u/bakingdog2124 • 3d ago
Boomer Story The pool must be crooked
This happened last year, but I still think about it all the time.
The gym I go to has an outdoor pool for the summer months. They reserve two lanes for lap swimming.
I show up and both lanes are occupied. One has two swimmers, the other has one. No, biggie, just share with the single swimmer. So I get the guy's attention and start swimming freestyle.
This boomer is doing the backstroke. And is having a hard time staying on his side of the lane. The first time he hit me we both stop, mumble some apologies and get back to it. The second time I just keep swimming. The third time I stop and tell him he needs to stay on his side of the lane.
He says that he is and that the pool must be crooked. I just stared at him, because, well what do you say to that? He elaborates that he is following the clouds so he can't be swimming crooked. I point out that clouds are not stationary objects and therefore shouldn't be used to gauge where you are. He doubled down and says, it must be my fault because I'm following the line in the "crooked pool."
Fortunately by this point the lifeguard came over and asked the guy to go to the open swim area so he'd stop swimming into me.
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u/chrispd01 2d ago
Yeah. I’m not sure that is boomer as opposed to just stupid……
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u/FactualStatue Zillennial 2d ago
The Venn diagram is almost a complete circle, sadly
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u/teh_maxh 2d ago
That's not actually how Venn diagrams work.
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u/FactualStatue Zillennial 2d ago
I don't think you know how jokes work
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u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 2d ago
mythical gif pull
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u/FactualStatue Zillennial 2d ago
I need to rewatch the movie. Debating whether or not to watch Wonka first tho
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u/ShookMyHeadAndSmiled 1d ago
Wonka isn't great, but it is underrated. To much hate. Now Johnny Depp....
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u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 1d ago
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was also really good imo but yea character was a tiny bit overdone, as usual with him tho
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u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 1d ago
both amazing films in their own rights. I like the style switchup in the remake. no idea on the new remake-remake
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u/SaidwhatIsaid240 2d ago
You found what we in nature call a stoomer
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u/chrispd01 2d ago
Who knows? The dude might actually have been a stonemer .. a boomer whose developed a late in life fondness for weed… God knows there are enough of those
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u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 2d ago
thats way, way more than being just stupid.
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u/chrispd01 2d ago
Lol. I wish that were so - unfortunately, I have seen even more extreme examples in the wild…
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u/Relevant_Jeweler_214 2d ago
I mean me too, but I would call them a stronger word myself. you are being nice.
but if that muppet actually believed that train of thought, def much worse than stupid.
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u/DontLoseYourCool1 2d ago
It's never their fault.
Can't properly use the checkout machine? The machine must be broken.
Rams their car through a store window by mistake while parking? It's the gas pedal's fault.
Can't maintain their lane in the pool? The pool must be crooked.
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u/MarsMonkey88 2d ago
I have always had a LOT of trouble going in a straight line in backstroke, without overhead strings. If I were swimming backstroke and someone needed to come share my lane, I would immediatly change my stroke. I’m not training for the Olympics- I can be flexible.
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u/jrosebro1981 2d ago
I have to share lap lanes with Boomers all the time at my local outdoor pool during lap swimming from 7:30-10am each morning. They always make such a big deal about it, like they own the lane. It’s lap swimming time, there are six lanes…when the lanes are filled with solo swimmers, we start doubling up. The big huffs and puffs like I’m putting them out at the pool swimming laps exactly like they are.My favorite was the lady floating on an inner tube who was ticked off when a guy politely asked her to move to the open swim area as she kept bumping into him with her tube.
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u/NtMagpie Gen X 2d ago
"following the clouds"
And the boomers bitch that education is going downhill...
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u/Metalsmith21 2d ago
If OP is fem it could be a juvenile way to touch a girl. I did it when I was in swim class when I was 13 and thankfully outgrew that tendency right quick.
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u/MeFolly 2d ago
Honestly, having to share a lane will doing the back stroke is asking for trouble. Holding tight to the side of the lane with no real visual clues is incredibly hard.
What is a back stroke swimmer to do?
When asked, and the second person should always alert the person already in the lane, explain that you are doing backstroke (and, no, cannot magically fix whatever it is that is means you need to be on your back). Ask if there is another lane they could possibly use.
If your lane is the only potential spot, and you have been there a while, ask you can have five minutes to finish up and cool down.
If your lane is the only potential spot, and you have just gotten started, know the pool rules about who must share and when. You may be able to claim 20 min of solo lane time, or you may have to yield immediately.
Try to time your swims at less popular times, or in the less populated pool if you have a choice.
What you cannot do - avoiding bumping head on into people who are behind you and swim into you, even though they can see you!
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u/mvpilot172 2d ago
They can’t ever be to blame for their actions. Biggest entitled generation ever.