AITA to use the gym shower room when someone left their belongings there to save spot?

I went to the gym with my 8-year-old daughter for her swim lesson. After she finished, we went to the girls’ shower area. There’s only one shower that has a removable showerhead, which is the only one I can really use to help her wash properly.

When we got there, someone had left their belongings inside, clearly trying to save the spot. I waited for a bit and looked around, but I didn’t see anyone actually using it. So I went in to quickly wash my daughter.

Then a woman suddenly came running out from the sauna and started yelling at me in Chinese. I told her she can’t “reserve” the shower like that. She kept shouting, so I ended up yelling back in Korean.

So… am I the asshole for using a shower when someone just left their stuff there without even being there to use it?

14 thoughts on “AITA to use the gym shower room when someone left their belongings there to save spot?”
  1. NTA. It’s a public shower dog, whoever gets there first uses it first. She obviously wasn’t there at the time so to the bench her clothes and soap go. She’ll have to wait til you’re done.

    1. 😅I was trying to talk to her in English, but she kept shouting in Chinese. I had to do the same. I felt bad all day felt like an asshole 🥲

  2. NTA especially since she was in the sauna. If she was like just peeing for like 1 min, that’s a little different.

  3. NTA the only time I leave my stuff is when I’ve turned the shower on to heat up and go grab my towel. The showers and smaller changing  area are only separated by a wall, it’s all one room so I’m not even leaving the room and I’m gone for all of a minute. You cannot leave your things and go to the Sauna or Steam Room and actually expect your shower to not be used. That’s ridiculous and you’re in the right here. Plus, even if someone suddenly took my shower I’m not going to kick up a fuss cause I’m the one who walked away lol. 

  4. NTA. The lady trying to tie up a communal shower indefinitely while she was off in the sauna is not reasonable. She should have just waited until you were done to claim the shower.

  5. My favourite part of this story is two people having a yelling argument in two totally disparate languages.  NTA. 

  6. NTA. You can’t claim or hold anything in a public place. It’s just rude.
    I will agree with others that the best part of this is the yelling back in a third language after she wouldn’t engage in English. That you were both yelling in different Asian languages is so funny to me.
    I’m sure if you had taken the time to check with staff they would confirm you were correct. Who wants to do that when you are wet and cold though?

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