Are You Above The Rules?

If you ever want to start a heated debate on a triathlon forum, there are two things you can ask:  Should I do flip turns?  Should I shower before I enter the pool?

Now, I don't really care about flip turns since it's a pool and I'm not racing in the pool.  However, I do care about the shower before swimming.  So I started to ask around and get the low-down on why some and some don't shower before the pool.  Being adults, I expected the majority would follow the rules, which was the case.  But there were some adults who still felt they were above the rules.

The majority of people who swim in a public pool acknowledge that there is a rule that you must shower before entering pool.  At my gym, there are two HUGE red signs that you have to walk past before you get to the pool.  So pleading ignorance is not an option.  I tested the rule out once by asking a member to shower before he entered the pool.  He told me to mind my own business, which I thought was interesting since we were about to share the same pool so that makes it my business.  The life guard stepped in and asked him to shower.  He left and never returned for his swim.  I'd expect that type of reaction from a child, not an adult.  But whatever.

I posted this situation on a few triathlon forums and some people are so adamant about not showering that they said they would have gotten vulgar with me if I asked them to shower.  Again, these are adults.  Why do they feel they are above the rules?  Main reason is that they don't believe showering serves any real purpose.   I don't see how that is relevant since it is a rule and when they joined the club, they agreed to follow the rules, regardless if they agreed with them.  Thus, those adults are making a conscious decision to put themselves above the rules and disrespect the other members by not following the rules.

Now, If everybody had the same mentality as these adults it would be mass hysteria.  Think about what just happened this past Friday.  A bunch of people were waiting outside a Footlocker for a new shoe release.  They were all in an organized line, however, one individual showed up and felt he was above the rule.  He went to the front and next thing you know people are being peppered sprayed and the store refused to open.

Another situation to think about is if a restaurant employee felt he was above the rules and didn't wash his hands after going the bathroom.  I'm assuming those who feel they are above the rules would be perfectly okay eating food that this employee prepared.

The bottom line is that if it's a rule, you should follow it regardless if you agree with it.  In this case, by not showering, you are really saying that you are above the rules and that you don't care about the other members.  There is no other way this action can be interpreted.  Your other option is to find a gym that only has rules you agree with.