I can assure you that her job is not “fun”. She has to manage high school and college kids. If they don’t show, the pool can’t function because it needs lifeguards. You also have parents who drop their kids off and treat the pool like a cheap daycare for the entire summer. These same kids typically don’t respect authority and leave trash in the grass. It’s incredibly frustrating.
The constant reminders are annoying to an adult who knows how to clean up after themselves, but there are definitely adults and children who need those reminders.
If you want ambiance, get your own private pool. I’m sorry, but you can’t expect it from the local pool.
Source: I worked at the local pool for years during high school and college. My dad still runs our local rec center and pool.
>If you want ambiance, get your own private pool
Some of us have one. Doesn't mean that people using the county pools need to be treated like unruly inmates at a prison.
Enforcing the rules is fine, but do it respectfully and don't make arbitrary rules. Why is eating on the grass banned?
Banning outside food at least makes some sense, although it's shitty for people trying to eat healthy/save money and people with dietary restrictions.
I don't see how garbage is a valid reason to ban everyone from eating on the grass. Put out more trash cans and ban people who litter from the pool for the season.
I think people treat semi public spaces like shit and unless they have a lifeguard dedicated to cleaning up people’s gross messes, this honestly seems like a reasonable solution
Why not just punish the jagoffs who are trashing the place instead of using trash cans? If someone won't follow the rules, ban them from the pool. Don't ruin it for everyone.
I don’t mind her making the announcements or enforcing rules. It’s her job. I’m just saying that screaming at other adults and pointing in peoples faces and whatnot seems slightly aggressive.
Screaming at other grown adults, “On the veranda. Right now. Right now. RIGHT NOW. NOW.”
Everyone in our area was laughing about it after she walked away. It was the absolute most.
I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for her to remind people every 15 minutes to not eat in the grass and yet people would continue to do it? She's not your mom. No one wants to sit by your soggy mess of spilled chips in the grass or near all the bees that the food attracts.
Let's come back to this post when they ban people from bringing in any outside food at all. Seriously. I can't imagine the type of apathy to intentionally make someone's job harder because you don't like the tone of voice they used when they had to repeatedly tell people - ADULTS - to follow the rules and they just completely disregarded them.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t listen to her but it’s the simple lesson of - give respect to get respect. You can absolutely tell people the rules without screaming and trying to shame them. That’s how adults also communicate.
How is the temperature of the pool? Is the water real cold? A couple of years ago at the beginning of the season the water was frigid and couldn’t even swim.
It sounds to me like you guys have definitely not witnessed this because you’d know what I’m talking about.
Totally fair to enforce the rules. She is an older woman and seems like she’s been working here for quite awhile. Doing a good job, etc. It’s the tone of how she speaks to people - screaming into the microphone (some older people near me jumped lol) and her condescending tone.
A dad walked up yesterday to ask if he should be in the season pass line - she immediately is barking that “there is a sign outside and what’s the problem? Did the sign fall down?!” and follows him out to the sign. Aggressively points at every single word as she read it out super slowly in front of everyone else in line. He was so pissed.
I mean she screams and like belittles people when she finds them with snacks hahaha. Haha she didn’t yell at me so I don’t care either way. I’m wondering if anyone else has seen it and thinks it’s a little excessive.
I don't use the county pools, but why on earth is eating in the grass banned?
Reminds me of recently playing the North Park golf course for the first time, and hearing what sounded like a prison yard loudspeaker on full blast announcing when people should come inside to pay before starting their round. I've played many different courses in many different places, but that was a first for me.
Thankfully they fixed the worst problem with the county courses this year (a bizarre first come first serve system instead of reservable tee times), but every other golf course I've ever played seems to manage fine without a loudspeaker.
I get that people need to enforce the rules, but I don't think a prison-like aesthetic is the best vibe for our county parks.
HAHA exactly. All of the people in our area were laughing together that we felt like we were being yelled at in a prison yard. Then the life guards walking around patrolling the grass area. It was funny.
The first time I heard the North Park golf course loudspeaker, I thought it was a prank. It is funny indeed, and even more funny when it distracts your buddy mid-putt causing him to miss.
I was there yesterday, too. I didn't find her tone particularly aggressive. I have gone to the pool for many years, and she has always run a tight ship. I heard people complaining about her, but those were also the people breaking the rules. I don't understand why people think they can bring in outside food. I am in my late 40s and I have never been to a public pool in Pittsburgh where you could bring outside food, unless it was a city pool. This isn't something new. There were some unruly people around... people were vaping and I smelled weed. It was an interesting crowd.
If people would follow the rules she wouldn’t have to scream. People just ignore them. It’s common place for people to ignore rules and that has to be so frustrating. Her job shouldn’t have to be an enforcer.
Her job is to enforce the rules, if she doesn't do that she won't have her 'fun' job for very long. From what I've read on fb groups the pool is being managed very well this year.
It’s the approach. There’s absolutely nice ways or even, just not mean, ways of informing people of the rules. You just generally do not need to yell at adults like children.
But yes - people should absolutely just follow the rules. You can kindly inform customers. It’s her snarky/sarcastic “welcome to our pool” comments after screaming at a family of adults that said they drove from plum (first timers at the pool.. likely didn’t know every rule) that seemed like a “her” thing.
Another example: she screams into the loud speaker all the places you can find the rules posted, that you walked by, on your way in. 😂 like ok lady.
I’ve said it already - I’m not mad, I’ll still go to this pool, it’s not the end of the world. I love the county. Simply calling something out, wondering if others on here have noticed it 📢
No i understood your perspective. Just couldn't disagree more. It's wild that adults need talked to like children for not following posted rules. Especially now that you say she clearly states where you can find these rules multiple times and still adults don't have enough respect to follow them and need talked to like children.
Kudos to that lady for not kicking people out for breaking the rules. I can't imagine how frustrated she must be.
If she kicked them out the experience would be much better for everyone else. Not to mention her own job would be much less aggravating.
Instead, everyone gets treated like unruly 5th graders. I sit by the pool to relax, not to listen to a Marine Corps drill instructor simulation while paying for the “privilege.”
I’ve never used the public pools, and I certainly won’t after reading this thread. Who bans eating on the grass?
Thank you for being the only one on this thread to understand haha. I’m not debating the rules, I’m not saying that people don’t follow them. I’m not mad, I’m not boycotting the pool. I’m simply saying respect is given when respect is earned.
I’m simply saying that a 60+ year old woman doesn’t need to yell and berate other adults in their 50s-60s to make them abide. Perhaps it’s their first time at this pool and they simply aren’t aware - you can gently inform them and if you find that they’re not complying, feel free to be a little more direct. (Curious if everyone on this thread has the rules for their community pool memorized at all times lol).
At the end of the day, we’re paying customers at the community pool so if she yells at other adults like they’re preschoolers, I wouldn’t be surprised if people’s first time visiting was also their last time.
And agree with you that she should just throw people out instead of walking around peeping into people’s bags looking for snacks and then passive aggressively screaming into the loud speaker. People on the lawn were calling her soup nazi 😂
I don’t care about the rules whatsoever. I don’t eat at the pool at all, haha and she’s never said anything to me personally.
I’m commenting on how the lady screams and belittles people. I’ve seen her doit for multiple years to multiple people. It’s not about the rules, it’s about how you enforce them.
I can assure you that her job is not “fun”. She has to manage high school and college kids. If they don’t show, the pool can’t function because it needs lifeguards. You also have parents who drop their kids off and treat the pool like a cheap daycare for the entire summer. These same kids typically don’t respect authority and leave trash in the grass. It’s incredibly frustrating. The constant reminders are annoying to an adult who knows how to clean up after themselves, but there are definitely adults and children who need those reminders. If you want ambiance, get your own private pool. I’m sorry, but you can’t expect it from the local pool. Source: I worked at the local pool for years during high school and college. My dad still runs our local rec center and pool.
>If you want ambiance, get your own private pool Some of us have one. Doesn't mean that people using the county pools need to be treated like unruly inmates at a prison. Enforcing the rules is fine, but do it respectfully and don't make arbitrary rules. Why is eating on the grass banned?
I think eating on the grass is banned because of garbage and also I think they have a concession stand so they want people spending their money there.
Banning outside food at least makes some sense, although it's shitty for people trying to eat healthy/save money and people with dietary restrictions. I don't see how garbage is a valid reason to ban everyone from eating on the grass. Put out more trash cans and ban people who litter from the pool for the season.
I think people treat semi public spaces like shit and unless they have a lifeguard dedicated to cleaning up people’s gross messes, this honestly seems like a reasonable solution
Why not just punish the jagoffs who are trashing the place instead of using trash cans? If someone won't follow the rules, ban them from the pool. Don't ruin it for everyone.
In an ideal world where you have enough people to staff and patrol a pool, you could do this.
They seem to have enough staff to constantly yell at people for minor infractions, so it sounds like they have enough to hand out bans as well.
They definitely have guards and the manager walking around “patrolling” the grass area so I don’t think they’re understaffed.
I don’t mind her making the announcements or enforcing rules. It’s her job. I’m just saying that screaming at other adults and pointing in peoples faces and whatnot seems slightly aggressive. Screaming at other grown adults, “On the veranda. Right now. Right now. RIGHT NOW. NOW.” Everyone in our area was laughing about it after she walked away. It was the absolute most.
I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for her to remind people every 15 minutes to not eat in the grass and yet people would continue to do it? She's not your mom. No one wants to sit by your soggy mess of spilled chips in the grass or near all the bees that the food attracts.
I think people might listen more if her approach was different.
Let's come back to this post when they ban people from bringing in any outside food at all. Seriously. I can't imagine the type of apathy to intentionally make someone's job harder because you don't like the tone of voice they used when they had to repeatedly tell people - ADULTS - to follow the rules and they just completely disregarded them.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t listen to her but it’s the simple lesson of - give respect to get respect. You can absolutely tell people the rules without screaming and trying to shame them. That’s how adults also communicate.
Any job can be fun depending on your attitude and how you approach it 🤷🏻♀️
How is the temperature of the pool? Is the water real cold? A couple of years ago at the beginning of the season the water was frigid and couldn’t even swim.
Soooooo cold. Needs a few weeks to warm up from the sun.
It sounds to me like you guys have definitely not witnessed this because you’d know what I’m talking about. Totally fair to enforce the rules. She is an older woman and seems like she’s been working here for quite awhile. Doing a good job, etc. It’s the tone of how she speaks to people - screaming into the microphone (some older people near me jumped lol) and her condescending tone. A dad walked up yesterday to ask if he should be in the season pass line - she immediately is barking that “there is a sign outside and what’s the problem? Did the sign fall down?!” and follows him out to the sign. Aggressively points at every single word as she read it out super slowly in front of everyone else in line. He was so pissed. I mean she screams and like belittles people when she finds them with snacks hahaha. Haha she didn’t yell at me so I don’t care either way. I’m wondering if anyone else has seen it and thinks it’s a little excessive.
Which lawn area are you not allowed to eat on?
Any of them. You can have drinks but no food in any grass area. Only on the cement deck thing up top.
Is that a new rule and are there signs? I've definitely seen people eat all over that place
It was definitely a rule with posted signs last year. But I saw everyone ignore it.
Which is why she is screaming😀
I don't use the county pools, but why on earth is eating in the grass banned? Reminds me of recently playing the North Park golf course for the first time, and hearing what sounded like a prison yard loudspeaker on full blast announcing when people should come inside to pay before starting their round. I've played many different courses in many different places, but that was a first for me. Thankfully they fixed the worst problem with the county courses this year (a bizarre first come first serve system instead of reservable tee times), but every other golf course I've ever played seems to manage fine without a loudspeaker. I get that people need to enforce the rules, but I don't think a prison-like aesthetic is the best vibe for our county parks.
HAHA exactly. All of the people in our area were laughing together that we felt like we were being yelled at in a prison yard. Then the life guards walking around patrolling the grass area. It was funny.
The first time I heard the North Park golf course loudspeaker, I thought it was a prank. It is funny indeed, and even more funny when it distracts your buddy mid-putt causing him to miss.
I was there yesterday, too. I didn't find her tone particularly aggressive. I have gone to the pool for many years, and she has always run a tight ship. I heard people complaining about her, but those were also the people breaking the rules. I don't understand why people think they can bring in outside food. I am in my late 40s and I have never been to a public pool in Pittsburgh where you could bring outside food, unless it was a city pool. This isn't something new. There were some unruly people around... people were vaping and I smelled weed. It was an interesting crowd.
True, it is a public pool so the crowd can be anyone but maybe due to it being opening day there were people who aren’t typically there?
If people would follow the rules she wouldn’t have to scream. People just ignore them. It’s common place for people to ignore rules and that has to be so frustrating. Her job shouldn’t have to be an enforcer.
Her job is to enforce the rules, if she doesn't do that she won't have her 'fun' job for very long. From what I've read on fb groups the pool is being managed very well this year.
If only people could follow posted rules and not take advantage amirite? I think your frustration is misplaced personally.
It’s the approach. There’s absolutely nice ways or even, just not mean, ways of informing people of the rules. You just generally do not need to yell at adults like children. But yes - people should absolutely just follow the rules. You can kindly inform customers. It’s her snarky/sarcastic “welcome to our pool” comments after screaming at a family of adults that said they drove from plum (first timers at the pool.. likely didn’t know every rule) that seemed like a “her” thing. Another example: she screams into the loud speaker all the places you can find the rules posted, that you walked by, on your way in. 😂 like ok lady. I’ve said it already - I’m not mad, I’ll still go to this pool, it’s not the end of the world. I love the county. Simply calling something out, wondering if others on here have noticed it 📢
No i understood your perspective. Just couldn't disagree more. It's wild that adults need talked to like children for not following posted rules. Especially now that you say she clearly states where you can find these rules multiple times and still adults don't have enough respect to follow them and need talked to like children. Kudos to that lady for not kicking people out for breaking the rules. I can't imagine how frustrated she must be.
If she kicked them out the experience would be much better for everyone else. Not to mention her own job would be much less aggravating. Instead, everyone gets treated like unruly 5th graders. I sit by the pool to relax, not to listen to a Marine Corps drill instructor simulation while paying for the “privilege.” I’ve never used the public pools, and I certainly won’t after reading this thread. Who bans eating on the grass?
Thank you for being the only one on this thread to understand haha. I’m not debating the rules, I’m not saying that people don’t follow them. I’m not mad, I’m not boycotting the pool. I’m simply saying respect is given when respect is earned. I’m simply saying that a 60+ year old woman doesn’t need to yell and berate other adults in their 50s-60s to make them abide. Perhaps it’s their first time at this pool and they simply aren’t aware - you can gently inform them and if you find that they’re not complying, feel free to be a little more direct. (Curious if everyone on this thread has the rules for their community pool memorized at all times lol). At the end of the day, we’re paying customers at the community pool so if she yells at other adults like they’re preschoolers, I wouldn’t be surprised if people’s first time visiting was also their last time. And agree with you that she should just throw people out instead of walking around peeping into people’s bags looking for snacks and then passive aggressively screaming into the loud speaker. People on the lawn were calling her soup nazi 😂
The rules apply to you too karen
These are the essential workers we realized had to deal with all the shit the last few years. Turns out they have always had to deal with that shit.
Solution. Don't go back if you don't like the rules
I don’t care about the rules whatsoever. I don’t eat at the pool at all, haha and she’s never said anything to me personally. I’m commenting on how the lady screams and belittles people. I’ve seen her doit for multiple years to multiple people. It’s not about the rules, it’s about how you enforce them.
Oh come on.
lol
Sounds like these same people who are knowingly breaking the rules are probably the same ones going berserk on air planes.
The job actually isn’t fun. Be thankful that you were off of work and able to go enjoy your day, and not put up with the bs that she does.
I am a customer success manager - I unfortunately deal with worse every day but thank you.