psipike02 0 #51 May 23, 2006 I almost drowned when I was 6 at my friends birthday party. When we moved to my home now 2 years later, my parents enrolled me in swim lessons at the Y during summer camps.... I didn't like it at the time because other kids were better at it than I was.....then I got better....way better...and ended up being better than the kids I grew up with... My parents said that I always liked the water and once I learned, i swam like a fish....it was a second home for me....kind of like the sky is nowPuttin' some stank on it. ----Hellfish #707---- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #52 May 23, 2006 Quote My family has recently had a pool built and donated to a small village in South America. In my hurriedness I forgot to add this is a very wonderful & generous thing your family did. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydemon2 0 #53 May 23, 2006 Quote Neglet is child abuse.... Figured they put that in those books about being a parent and such... Being able to swim is not like playing soccer, while it is recreation your life could someday be at risk because you cant swim. If your child drowned because you didnt enroll him in classes, is it neglect? You knew he could drown and you neglected to have him taught to swim???? Its a fine line true but if you have the opportunity to have your kids taught to have a skill to save their life why wouldnt you enroll them and make them learn the basics? You make them take driving lessons right? you wouldnt just give them the keys at 16 and say good luck, would you?Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #54 May 23, 2006 I agree with Rosa on this - in most places around the world, there is not the access to swimming like here. You may have a river to cool iff in, but not a recreational swim-type situation. We're teaching my son to swim because here in Fresno, it gets hot and people swim. He should be able to do that, and the sooner he learns, the better. On the other hand, it is necessary for his safety that he know how to swim. I totally see Rosa's points and absolutely understand all of them. I also see Carrie's points, and understand all of them. I lie in the middle here. Swimming shouldn't be required, but in situations like mine, teaching a young child to swim is the responsible thing to do. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #55 May 23, 2006 Quote What does that have to do with learning to swim? I do not know how to swim and the only reason I am going to learn is so I can get my B lisence. Insisting that someone learns to swim is like forcing a child to enter a beauty pagent or forcing them to play soccar. I never insist my children do something that is supposed to be fun unless they want to. I understand much better where you are coming from now. All I can say is I got nothin' but love for ya, however I stand by what I've said here.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #56 May 23, 2006 Three-way pissin' contest!!! WooooHoooo! Isn't it obvious ladies that what was being said implied that if you had the opportunity to do so, you should do so... for the safety and betterment of the child? And isn't it just as obvious that if you don't have the opportunity it is an entirely different story? sheesh.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #57 May 23, 2006 Playing soccer or entering a pagent is not a life safing skill, swimming is. I life guarded at summer camps growing up. I always felt bad for the kids that had to stay on the beach since they did'nt know how to swim. I felt worse for the kids we had to pull out of the lake or pool since they could'nt swim but tried to anyways and ended up sinking like a stone. If a child will have access to water at any point (lake, river, pond, pool, ocean) then they should at least know how to swim, it is a life saving skill.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #58 May 23, 2006 Quote If a child will have access to water at any point IF is right, however its only a life saving skill when they are exposed to water in their life. Many children are not. Not all children go to summer campsSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buried 0 #59 May 23, 2006 Quote Quote If a child will have access to water at any point IF is right, however its only a life saving skill when they are exposed to water in their life. Many children are not. Not all children go to summer camps i'm sure there are community pools, ponds, lakes or oceans near by a fair portion of the the population. there are also times when you go on vacations. a fair amount of hotels have pools too. Where is my fizzy-lifting drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #60 May 23, 2006 Quote I totally see Rosa's points and absolutely understand all of them. I also see Carrie's points, and understand all of them. I lie in the middle here. Swimming shouldn't be required, but in situations like mine, teaching a young child to swim is the responsible thing to do. I agree with the both of us, too. I just hate when others put words in my mouth/posts, that I didn't say. Everything is a case-by-case situation here. I am talking about the world inh general because this whole thread was aimed at not only us in the US, but in reference to people who don't know how to swim, in general. Learning to swim at a young age is not as common in Europe, South America, etc. We sometimes get upset about things that we should really be thankful to have the opportunity to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #61 May 23, 2006 Quote Carrie, I'm confused here. Was this in response to me or my post? What is this in reference to, exactly? I am posted to answer to what you posted to me and to others. I hate when people put words in my mouth. I never said that I discounted your opinion, but I have MY own opinion, which is also just as valid. The difference, Rosa, is I made NO assumptions about you, where you have or have not been and what you do or do not know (specifcally about thrid world countries). First of all, one does NOT have to go to a third world country to understand, know about and be very knowledgable about life there. Environmentally speaking, another article I once wrote was my disagreement with large American companies setting up shop in third world countries and polluting their environment freely b/c they did not have the EPA on their backs, nor the safety regulations, so they also put the workers there in danger. Of course, others will argue "at least they provided jobs". I'm getting off track, but the reason I said what I said (and stand by it) is this is not the first time you've made an assumption about me. I believe I have NOT given you the same disrespect. I have a lot of loves and enjoy a lot of things and care about a lot of things, and fortunately have had the opportunity to do a lot of things. I sometimes may come off a lot as "me too" or "yes, I've done that, too" and I try not to be too annoying in that respect. Assumptions---well they just irritate me when they come from people I actually put some level of value in. I don't know you, but we've certainly read enough of each other's posts on dz.com and I certainly know you're a good egg. Ordinarily I don't care too much about assumptions being made. BELIEVE ME, I've learned to deal with that in various industries.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buried 0 #62 May 23, 2006 Quote Three-way pissin' contest!!! WooooHoooo! i didn't start it! i was just curious since i think it's crazy people don't know how to swim. growning up a friend who didn't know how to swim and me would walk around the frozed beach front along lake michigan where the ice would build up 4-5 ft from the water line. being kids, we'd walk to the end and break peices into the water. once he said.. I need to find another stick and walked off the overhanging ice. not 5 seconds later that large peice of ice fell into the lake... with 20 deg outside temps and 35 deg water, i'm not sure if he would have had much of a chance. Where is my fizzy-lifting drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #63 May 23, 2006 Quote i'm sure there are community pools, ponds, lakes or oceans near by a fair portion of the the population. there are also times when you go on vacations. a fair amount of hotels have pools too. Of course there are in the community, however MANY children do not go out into the community without supervision. I know mine are never out of my sight when outside of my home. If the parent has a pool then yes they need to give lessons. If they live on the beach or on a body of water, then yes they should give lessons but it is not neglet.Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daizey 0 #64 May 23, 2006 Ever watch a kid nearly drown? I have. Changes one's perspective on this quite a bit. As for the there being supervision? The child I watched nearly drown was at a birthday party. Tons of kids around. Tons of parents too. Kid was in the middle of a bunch of kids playing..noone even noticed they were under water and not resurfacing. Luckily the lifeguard noticed. *daizey* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #65 May 23, 2006 Quote Swimming shouldn't be required, I suppose I could clarify I was speaking of my own country here folks, noting the conversation did not turn to "third world countries" until later. I have to also add, however, that one doesn't need a pool or recreation to learn to swim. There are tribes in third world countries everywhere that know how to swim and learned w/out the luxury of a pool or a licensed instructor. Though I DO find it much more understandable in those circumstances. Again, noting most of these comment references were before the subject of third world countries came in to play. Perhaps I forgot for a moment we have many different countries represented on dz.com and in the skydiving community. Most often, I think however it is safe to assume when one speaks of laws and requirements and this or that, likely there are referring to their own country. Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #66 May 23, 2006 Quote Quote If a child will have access to water at any point IF is right, however its only a life saving skill when they are exposed to water in their life. Many children are not. Not all children go to summer camps ...and not all adults have to take water training for a B license...would have been nice to know how to swim already, eh?My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buried 0 #67 May 23, 2006 i wouldn't let them roam around TX either without supervision yes, but they shouldn't be out of your sight if you are teaching them how to swim in a community pool or enrolling them in a class Where is my fizzy-lifting drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #68 May 23, 2006 Quote Not all children go to summer camps No, but most eventually in their lives go to a friend's house with a pool or lake in the backyard. Lakes, especially drop off sometimes very quickly--one might think they're OK in knee-deep water and suddenly find themselves where they can't touch.. Hell, it happened to my Oma in her condo pool and I had to help her (she, too, never learned to swim). Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #69 May 23, 2006 Quote and not all adults have to take water training for a B license...would have been nice to know how to swim already, eh? Thats my personal motivation for overcoming fear. I do not think parents should force their children for recreation .... going to summer camp or pool partys is for fun. NOT A NEED. Would it have been nice to know how to swim already? Well I dont know, IF I didnt have the B lisence motivation I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing. And since I have had the motivation for say 9 months now but have avoided it, I would also say the motivation is not that high yet. Its a personal choice.Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daizey 0 #70 May 23, 2006 In response to the original post... I know how to swim...learned when I was young. Swam competitively for a few years but grew to dislike it. Was a lifeguard for 4 years and a water safety instructor as well. Went on to coach a team and give swimming lessons and loved every minute of it. Just about everyone I know knows how to swim...partially because I made sure to teach the ones who didn't *daizey* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #71 May 23, 2006 When I was about 6 years old, I swam to the bottom of the deep end (12 feet?) and fetched a $5 bill (American) and gave it to my parents saying I found money! They found the owner of the $5 bill, so I think I was dissapointed in not keeping it. My memory is a bit foggy, but I think I got some treat in return. And that was without goggles... I can't swim that deep underwater with my eyes open as comfortably anymore (chlorine in my eyes), would need to use goggles for this... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #72 May 23, 2006 Quote I just hate when others put words in my mouth/posts, that I didn't say By "others" she means me, and what I said was in response to her (incorrect) assumptions. Good Lord---I can't take this anymore.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #73 May 23, 2006 Quote Of course! I don't disagree with that. I think that it just bothered me to have Jerry worried that his child is too old at under 2, when I know that he is a good father and 2 is perfectly acceptable anywhere around the world. It just seems that we are so focused here with problems that truly don't exist. By that, I mean that Jerry's child is learning at a good age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #74 May 23, 2006 By not knowing how to swim you have prevented yourself from a whole world of possibilies. Rafting down a river in a tube, Waterskiing, even boating becomes limiting if you can't swim. You might not think you are missing anything, but you have limited your self in many ways with out even knowing it.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #75 May 23, 2006 Quote then yes they should give lessons but it is not neglet. Well, currently there IS no law that says not teaching your child to swim is neglect. In that respect you are correct. I'm sure lawrocket might know of MANY suits, however, that have been won against parents for turning their backs for two seconds and a child falling into the water and drowning. I'm NOT saying I agree with those suits being won--just that it happens.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
