General Discussion

GoCubsGo

(34,821 posts)

104. Some people have other issues, too.

Thu May 16, 2013, 03:47 PM

May 2013

A young woman I worked with a few summers ago was from rural the South. She didn't know how to swim, due to lack of pools. One of her problems as an adult in learning to swim was that she just didn't feel comfortable with the fact that her feet didn't touch the ground in deep water. We sometimes had to access our field sites via the river, and got there by boat. At the end of the day, the person who drove the boat would sometimes stop at a sand bar so we could take a dip in the river. She only felt relatively comfortable in the water if she kept on her flotation vest, and she wouldn't go in very deep. Even though she knew she was okay with the vest on, she just couldn't get past the footing thing. No "panic" situation there, but if she hadn't been wearing the vest, it very well could have turned into one.

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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