General Discussion

KatyaR

(3,639 posts)

84. I'm white, 55, and I can't swim.

Thu May 16, 2013, 04:21 PM

May 2013

As a kid, swim lessons were 25 miles away in the middle of wheat harvest--it wasn't possible to go. Plus I'm sure my mother had a phobia about water and bathing suits, she had issues with everything.

Never had the opportunity to go swimming more than once or twice as a child or an adult, probably been on a boat maybe a dozen times in my life. I've considered taking lessons, but I can't afford it and don't really have a body I want to put in a bathing suit. I have a friend with a pool who's offered to teach me, but I've never taken her up on it. I did go dragon boating last year and loved it, but I can't afford to do that, either.

So no, I never learned. I probably should have, but it's a little late in the game for me. It's too bad, I like the water, but I don't have the lifestyle where I'm on the water.

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Watching MSNBC...how does one not know how to swim? [View all] Atman May 2013 OP

I've known several people including my mother who didn't know how to swim. GeorgeGist May 2013 #1

You might feel more comfortable at a website for narrow minded people. Atman May 2013 #4

Me, too, including every black person I know. GoCubsGo May 2013 #21

My dad couldn't swim leftynyc May 2013 #48

Mine's an old, white Catholic guy. GoCubsGo May 2013 #79

Dad passed last year at 75 (may he rest in peace) leftynyc May 2013 #83

Mine grew up in the city. GoCubsGo May 2013 #97

Dad grew up in Brooklyn leftynyc May 2013 #108

My younger brother was a lifeguard. Jazzgirl May 2013 #70

My husband doesn't know how to swim. smokey nj May 2013 #122

i learned in a pool Enrique May 2013 #2

I have known adults who seemed absolutely incapable of swimming or even floating. NYC_SKP May 2013 #3

Maybe it's Darwinian. Atman May 2013 #13

Yes, infants swim instinctively. This dude was no baby... NYC_SKP May 2013 #23

That's stupid. Kolesar May 2013 #40

your darwininian comment is just scientific racism. nt La Lioness Priyanka May 2013 #57

No, it is not. Atman May 2013 #63

no, it's not. you yourself started this convo about race/ability to swim La Lioness Priyanka May 2013 #66

I COMMENTED ON A NEWS SEGMENT! Atman May 2013 #92

Lotta news segments. You chose... aquart May 2013 #106

you picked this news section to declare that swimming was an innate ability La Lioness Priyanka May 2013 #112

I suggest you step back far enough to fall off your high horse. Atman May 2013 #115

Im skinny , so i go straight down. Head first. darkangel218 May 2013 #62

I sink. I can lie still on the bottom of the pool with enough air in my lungs to stay awhile. hunter May 2013 #131

In the pool i use kids floaties just to keep my head above the water. darkangel218 May 2013 #76

You're just a sinker! NYC_SKP May 2013 #96

Yep, thats me. My pic should be attached in the dictionary to the word sinker. I go straight down. darkangel218 May 2013 #120

I don't know, what is this bullshit about black people not being able to swim? CBGLuthier May 2013 #5

It's not bullshit Cirque du So-What May 2013 #6

That is an excellent article. Thank you for posting. Atman May 2013 #22

I served 20 years in the US Navy, active & reserve Cirque du So-What May 2013 #37

I was in the Marine Corp and DocMac May 2013 #135

confession time: I was born in Portsmouth, VA CatWoman May 2013 #7

My DIL is Okinawan. Wait Wut May 2013 #15

Lack of opportunity leading to fear. maxsolomon May 2013 #8

It's not bullshit dems_rightnow May 2013 #9

I grew up surfing. It was not lost on any of us that there were no black surfers. Atman May 2013 #60

Take it from a one time Life Guard.... Walk away May 2013 #10

+1000 Blue_Tires May 2013 #77

I have several incidences surfing where I was ready to take my last breath. Atman May 2013 #103

I agree... Deuce May 2013 #110

I 'know' how to swim... Wait Wut May 2013 #11

my mother has never learned how to swim d_r May 2013 #12

I saw a special on one of the news shows... ohheckyeah May 2013 #14

I don't. Skidmore May 2013 #16

There was NO "racist" sounding remark. Atman May 2013 #24

Not accusing you of making a racist remark only stating that I did not know what you were referring Skidmore May 2013 #29

Me too. I can't swim. Almost drowned at swimming class when I was a kid. n/t Tx4obama May 2013 #52

Basically, people that don't know how to swim sharp_stick May 2013 #17

Or sink. enlightenment May 2013 #127

One reason for many black people not learning to swim MineralMan May 2013 #18

A couple of generations ago Cirque du So-What May 2013 #20

That, too. MineralMan May 2013 #25

Or the neighborhood not having one, or no Y or the like for lessons treestar May 2013 #59

Depending on the city, that's true. MineralMan May 2013 #67

That's true of a lot of white folks, too. GoCubsGo May 2013 #93

All true. Just another of the many obstacles put in the way of MineralMan May 2013 #94

Not everybody has the opportunity to learn NewJeffCT May 2013 #19

that's why kids drown in pools, because of their natural swimming instinct. HiPointDem May 2013 #26

Well, I'm betting you took swimming lessons as a child. MineralMan May 2013 #27

No, I never took swimming lessons, but I grew up on the beach in Florida. Atman May 2013 #35

I grew up on a FL beach, too, and don't even remember learning to swim--my bro and I Nay May 2013 #113

whitey here d_b May 2013 #28

I can't swim. Are_grits_groceries May 2013 #30

just like there are dentists for people terrified of dentists Skittles May 2013 #89

I didn't know how to swim when I got Scuba certified, lol. Marr May 2013 #31

babies cannot "swim"...they thrash around then drown if nobody is there to help them msongs May 2013 #32

I know it's serious but this got a chuckle out of me Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #47

Really, I didn't learn to swim (and still do it badly) until I was over 40! sinkingfeeling May 2013 #33

I could have written your words. My kids virgogal May 2013 #56

I can't swim either WoodyD May 2013 #34

WoodyD Skittles May 2013 #86

I'm a Pisces and can't swim Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #36

Lol! I recommend donuts. napoleon_in_rags May 2013 #41

My legs are heavy Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #46

KEEP trying to learn! Skittles May 2013 #90

I love, love, LOVE the water. And I can't swim a lick. My daddy threw me in nolabear May 2013 #38

People do not know instinctively how to swim. NCTraveler May 2013 #39

Yes, people drown all the time (including children) because they were never taught how to swim. anneboleyn May 2013 #114

I can't swim or ride a bike. Myrina May 2013 #42

How Old Were Your Parents? HangOnKids May 2013 #123

I was a menopause oops. Myrina May 2013 #129

I was 42 when my 4th was born HangOnKids May 2013 #134

I can't remember not being able to swim BainsBane May 2013 #43

Some people don't float TrogL May 2013 #44

I was 10 LeftInTX May 2013 #45

Tim Duncan - NBA player - is an excellent swimmer and he's black LeftInTX May 2013 #49

I was about to make the point Blue_Tires May 2013 #72

I taught my ex how to swim in his 20s; childhood swim lessons was told he'd never learn eShirl May 2013 #50

I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for about 20 years Buns_of_Fire May 2013 #51

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... OriginalGeek May 2013 #85

Wow. Hey, my friends, I didn't think this would be so crazy! Atman May 2013 #53

They give you three, I've been down nine, and I'm goin' down just one more time... Buns_of_Fire May 2013 #61

I thought I figured it out... Libertas1776 May 2013 #54

If you don't have access to a safe body of water you'll never learn how to swim. Yo_Mama May 2013 #55

Maybe the instinct is replaced by fear treestar May 2013 #58

I'm AA, my dad can't swim, I mostly taught myself. CakeGrrl May 2013 #64

I've been told that "panic instinct" is the real thing to be overcome. Buns_of_Fire May 2013 #91

Yes, the panic of taking in water is the big issue - at least for me. CakeGrrl May 2013 #100

Some people have other issues, too. GoCubsGo May 2013 #104

My son's best friend drowned Control-Z May 2013 #65

It may have been instictual for you but I can't swim for anything. Jazzgirl May 2013 #68

I live on a lake... Atman May 2013 #88

Seems as though the responses in the thread somewhat invalidate your premise LanternWaste May 2013 #69

I rarely agree with you on anything... Atman May 2013 #80

There is a relex that babies have indie9197 May 2013 #71

Unlike dogs, people have the capacity to think...and panic wercal May 2013 #73

Atman, young babies are a special case because they do have a bradycardic reflex, Tanuki May 2013 #74

Thank you. Understood. Atman May 2013 #78

I'd think most people in theory could instinctively dog-paddle Blue_Tires May 2013 #75

I am absolutely appalled when someone tells me they cannot swim Skittles May 2013 #81

I didn't know how to swim. Baitball Blogger May 2013 #82

I'm white, 55, and I can't swim. KatyaR May 2013 #84

ymca kimsterdemster May 2013 #87

I'm black and I can't swim... onpatrol98 May 2013 #95

Thank you for sharing your experience. Atman May 2013 #98

Babies and very young children cannot swim properly, SheilaT May 2013 #99

Well, you're wrong on one count... Atman May 2013 #107

Notice they moms and dads rescued the kids. SheilaT May 2013 #111

I grew up in the city CanonRay May 2013 #101

Maybe... But there are reasons. Xyzse May 2013 #102

Gosh. If you aren't near a pool and no one teaches you, you won't be able to swim. aquart May 2013 #105

how does one not know how to play a musical instrument? unblock May 2013 #109

Speaking as an older women (70) I never learned how life long demo May 2013 #116

Okay, there is a bright side to this... Atman May 2013 #117

I don't and I have had swimming lessons. Cleita May 2013 #118

i'm 71 and never learned how to swim. i tried, DesertFlower May 2013 #119

I can't swim. Still Blue in PDX May 2013 #121

Well, I hope you took this thread as an opportunity to better educate yourself nobodyspecial May 2013 #124

If you were never exposed to water as a child, you would probably react differently to water now. RedCappedBandit May 2013 #125

I grew up around water too darkangel218 May 2013 #126

Self delete. Safe some face. n-t Logical May 2013 #128

We rich kids sometimes just don't get it. Democracyinkind May 2013 #130

Easy. I am 72 years old and my father was deathly against swimming since his arthritis would kick in jwirr May 2013 #132

Inner city people often do not know how to swim SoCalDem May 2013 #133

My city certainly offers swimming and aquatings lessons...yours does not? Bluenorthwest May 2013 #137

Lots of people don't know how, yours truly included. duffyduff May 2013 #136

I can't swim.. PasadenaTrudy May 2013 #138

If you don't go to the lake or swimming pool when you are younger LiberalFighter May 2013 #139