Pool Etiquette (New Questions)

1.  Get in, stay at the wall until he comes back down.  He'll stop then. 

2.  Tell him you weren't really asking, you were just letting him know you're getting in.  He'll either throw a fit and management can tell him to suck it, he'll get out, or he'll just keep swimming and be mad about it.

3.  I dunno.  Some pools have rules, some don't.  Just go to the least crowded lane if there are no specific lanes regarding how fast you need to go.  There's a swim team that practices when I swim, and they've had 7-8 in a lane before.

I swim in the mornings (when I get up that damn early) at a super nice 50M aquatic center with 15 lanes. It is always packed at 6am with swimmers, masters, and triathletes. Here is what I do.

1. I always ask just to be polite but if they are way at the other end I do the 2nd choice.
2. If they do not notice me I sit down on the side and put my feet in the water, put on my swim cap, clean my goggles and get ready as they come back my way. Usually they will stop and look at me, I then ask "do you want to pick a side or cicle"?
3. I did have a guy ask me one time to go to another lane and I told him no, I was swimming in this lane. He put his head down and went about his workout and we shared sides.
4. I have circle swam with 6 people before, so no max.

The bottom line is, you can ask if you want to. It is not neccesary but do not jump in and start swimming; at least give the other person a heads up you are in the water with them so you do not colide. But no one OWNS a lane and you all pay money to be there. Unless the lanes are marked B,S,M, and Fast; it is up for grabs...

Stay right and slow down a bit is the general etiquette (if you're circling, which  is my assumption from your post). 

I'm going to disagree with you here:  I think it's a good scenario when you put your feet in and the person moves over to one side.  That's what I do 90% of the time.  I see you there and I choose which side I want to swim on.

Unless it's the lifeguard, I'm not going to stop in the middle of my set.  If I'm swimming down the middle and I see you, (because you're feet or body is in the water) I will move over.  That means you are free to swim on the other side.  And do not think that I am going to pick the wall if I'm on the end lane.  I had someone jump in on the nonwall side and then ask me why I didn't move over to the wall.  Ummm...because I got here first.

The best thing to do when getting to the pool and you have to share is observe.  You will quickly see which lane is best for you.  I'm serious.  Just observe.  If there are 2 people in the lane, you split the lane.  There is no need to have a long drawn out conversation (most of my rest periods are 10-15 sec) so I'm probably just getting my breath back before I start again.

If a 3rd person joins and all other lanes have 2 in them then you discuss it.  IMHO, that's the only time you really have to have a conversation.  I am friendly and say hello between sets, but don't feel that I'm being rude when I take off and you're in mid sentance.

whatever... you only know this rule because you always have to stop at the wall Dan... I heard you get tapped so much it is like little fishes following you down the lane line nipping at your toes when you swim

so is it like a toilet bowl, if you are below the equator you have to swim counter clockwise and clockwise if above the equator?

First, I have never not shared my lane, but if someone were to ask and I said no, that would be it.  I would take strong offense if after I turned someone down they decided to tell me they were being polite, or it was a rhetorical question.  No where at my pool, or pools that I have been, says that I have to share lanes.  I just called to verify. 

Again, I share and have given up a lane to others, but if you basically demanded that I swim the way you want me to, I would suggest that you arrive earlier to the pool or learn patience.