Drownings in the area (Boston: income, pool, title)

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Lampert

Yeah is the same thing with ice skating or ice sports in general. You don't see that many black playing hockey, why? They don't care. Can they do whatever they want?

Well I think there are more black people playing hockey these days. It's definitely a white male dominated sport but more girls are playing along with kids of color. Hockey is also expensive. I think any kid who plays hockey it's initially because the parents want them to play.

Also skating is a good skill to have but it's generally not going to save your life. Knowing how to swim can.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by msRB311

It's sad but I hope these recent drownings are awakening to people. I mean anyone living in Massachusetts is near the freaking ocean! I'd say swimming lessons are a must if you live i. Coastal area.

In Japan most people can't swim and the entire nation is a collection of island.

According to NBC the 6th best place in the US to swim is Fort Collins. I don't think proximity to the sea is that important

[msRB311]

I thought if you lived in Boston the ymca is basically free

I'm starting to get pissed off with the way people are thinking here though. It is someone's own responsibility to learn a basic skill like swimming. If you choose not to do it then stay the hell out of the water and don't blame someone else because people chose not to learn how to swim.

[Beachcomber4]

Well, here it is. Free swimming lessons after this rash of tragedies.


https://whdh.com/news/mass-offering-...kwVFY8v86YAs2s

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Lampert

You don't need a swimming pool to learn how to swim if you care. It's just something they don't care about, if they cared they would have started bringing their children to the pool. Or they would do it now.

That's a pretty bold sweeping generalization, no? The median income for a black family in Boston is around $41k. It's tough to swing swim lessons for a kid a $200 each per session at or below that income bracket in Boston no matter how much you care.

I don't disagree that people are taking unnecessary risks, but it shouldn't be hard to have empathy.

• For starters, most of the people dying are kids. They have to be taught the risks, and if the people around these kids don't know the risks then how can we expect the kids to learn? They may know not to go in water that's over their heads, but do they know that rip currents, undertows, uneven pond/lake bottoms, etc. can put you at risk even in knee-waist deep water?
• And even if there are instances where they do know it's risky, is there a single person on CD or elsewhere that can say they never took risks as a kid/teen? It's pretty easy to be empathetic knowing that I've also taken risks and emerged alright when it could have ended worse.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I thought if you lived in Boston the ymca is basically free

I'm starting to get pissed off with the way people are thinking here though. It is someone's own responsibility to learn a basic skill like swimming. If you choose not to do it then stay the hell out of the water and don't blame someone else because people chose not to learn how to swim.

Who else has been blamed by anyone here?

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by lrfox

That's a pretty bold sweeping generalization, no? The median income for a black family in Boston is around $41k. It's tough to swing swim lessons for a kid a $200 each per session at or below that income bracket in Boston no matter how much you care.

I don't disagree that people are taking unnecessary risks, but it shouldn't be hard to have empathy.

• For starters, most of the people dying are kids. They have to be taught the risks, and if the people around these kids don't know the risks then how can we expect the kids to learn? They may know not to go in water that's over their heads, but do they know that rip currents, undertows, uneven pond/lake bottoms, etc. can put you at risk even in knee-waist deep water?
• And even if there are instances where they do know it's risky, is there a single person on CD or elsewhere that can say they never took risks as a kid/teen? It's pretty easy to be empathetic knowing that I've also taken risks and emerged alright when it could have ended worse.

Well said.

In addition, along with the cost of the lessons is the time and ability to get to and from them. We suburbanites take for granted we can jump in the car and go.

This loss of life is tragic.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Who else has been blamed by anyone here?

Some people equate reasons and explanations for things in society as placing blame. Its really weird.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Lampert

In Japan most people can't swim and the entire nation is a collection of island.

Most Japanese folk just don't have access to a pool. Space constraints mean very few homes have pools and their short summer season (like here in MA) means not a lot of time to swim.

Goes back to access like many have said here. In order to be a proficient swimmer, one needs regular access to actually practice said skills. You'll have varying levels of access through the various demographics.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Most Japanese folk just don't have access to a pool. Space constraints mean very few homes have pools and their short summer season (like here in MA) means not a lot of time to swim.

Goes back to access like many have said here. In order to be a proficient swimmer, one needs regular access to actually practice said skills. You'll have varying levels of access through the various demographics.

People swam 2500 years ago when pools weren't really a thing though. When I was a kid most of my swimming was done in shallow irrigation canals.

In some cultures swimming isn't a big thing, in others it is. That's a part of it.