How many people do not know how to swim?

[ThreeFingerPete]

I know what you're getting at, and it is definitely interesting as to why swimming doesn't come more natural to us.

Here's one possibility....

When an animal is tossed into the water, it may have fur but no clothing/shoes, etc to disable its ability to tread water. When a human falls in unexpectedly they have several factors against them. Clothing becomes terribly heavy, wet clothing limits mobility, shoes prevent the foot from kicking properly, etc. Shit is stacked against humans in this regard.

I don't understand this either. I've wondered why exactly people are incapable of thinking in stressful situations. Shoes can be kicked off quickly, generally, etc. You don't have to accept the situation as it comes, you have the ability to alter it to a certain extent. Many people do not think quickly enough to do so, and end up eating a big shit sandwich.

[HarrisonTX]

Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas, and water is essential to survival.. but what the hell is the deal with people not knowing how to swim? Are humans the only creature that has individuals that don't know how to swim? You take any dog, mouse, lizard, etc. toss them in water and they swim fine. I just do not fundamentally understand how a person could not flail and keep their head above water. How does one not have the ambition to learn?

I was at a pool party the other day, and my buddy was attempting to seal the deal with this very attractive, but brainless woman. When encouraged to get into the pool, she said she couldnt swim. When she caught a little flak for it, her excuse was "I'm from Dallas ya'll". This was in beaumont. I figure she assumed the coastal people accept that. I continued to tread water, and laugh my ass off. I'm from Fort Worth, and had no problems swimming.
What a dumb woman

[kingjason]

I was at a pool party the other day, and my buddy was attempting to seal the deal with this very attractive, but brainless woman. When encouraged to get into the pool, she said she couldnt swim. When she caught a little flak for it, her excuse was "I'm from Dallas ya'll". This was in beaumont. I figure she assumed the coastal people accept that. I continued to tread water, and laugh my ass off. I'm from Fort Worth, and had no problems swimming.
What a dumb woman

There is truly something wrong with a woman that doesnt like to get wet. LOL

[46Tbird]

Attractive and brainless, I like her already.

[Steve]

have you ever drowned? i have a fear of water. i am sure most burn patients have a fear fire

Having a fear of something so common doesn't make any sense though. It's all in your mind. It's like people who are scared to death of roller coasters, that doesn't make any sense to me. If you stand back from a coaster, you watch people walk on, ride, then walk off. The build up is in your mind. There is nothing scary about it.

It's the same with anything else like that too. If you try something that scares the shit out of you, more often than not you'll find out it was nowhere near as bad as you thought it was from building it up in your mind so much.

Swimming is simple, a very basic thing. The only scary variable in the scenario is YOU and how you decide to react to being in the water. My two year old daughter took to water like a fish, not because she's a "natural swimmer" but because her mind was open to it, she was relaxed and having fun. Nothing scary about it.

When I was a kid, we didn't have a say, everyone learned to swim in our family. You either got in the water on your own doing, or my grandfather would throw you in the pool using the "sink or swim" method. lol. I can't think of one person our family that can't swim.

[matts5.0]

im with cj iv been ran over and have been in some pretty hairy situations in the water and i have no crazy fears.

[forbes]

Having a fear of something so common doesn't make any sense though. It's all in your mind. It's like people who are scared to death of roller coasters, that doesn't make any sense to me. If you stand back from a coaster, you watch people walk on, ride, then walk off. The build up is in your mind. There is nothing scary about it.

It's the same with anything else like that too. If you try something that scares the shit out of you, more often than not you'll find out it was nowhere near as bad as you thought it was from building it up in your mind so much.

Swimming is simple, a very basic thing. The only scary variable in the scenario is YOU and how you decide to react to being in the water. My two year old daughter took to water like a fish, not because she's a "natural swimmer" but because her mind was open to it, she was relaxed and having fun. Nothing scary about it.

When I was a kid, we didn't have a say, everyone learned to swim in our family. You either got in the water on your own doing, or my grandfather would throw you in the pool using the "sink or swim" method. lol. I can't think of one person our family that can't swim.

i stated above it's a mental thing and i agree. i'm not ness scared of water i'm scared of my proven reactions to it. i guess im kinda like a kid with a floaty. i like to surf, ski, tube etc etc... i do not like being out there with nothing but myself. I guess it could be comparable to ski diving, i have done several jumps
and then there are some who wouldnt even think about it

[Treybiz]

Natural Selection.

[Forever_frost]

I grew up on the lake and can't swim at all. I do drown nicely

[MutherjuggZ]

i stated above it's a mental thing and i agree. i'm not ness scared of water i'm scared of my proven reactions to it. i guess im kinda like a kid with a floaty. i like to surf, ski, tube etc etc... i do not like being out there with nothing but myself. I guess it could be comparable to ski diving, i have done several jumps
and then there are some who wouldnt even think about it

I fucking LOVE to ski dive!!! What better way to mix water and air!!

[forbes]

i can get some pretty good deals, my buddy was a flying elvis, had all the certs and chutes etc

[Trick Pony]

Just an FYI, don't throw a bulldog in the water - they sink like a rock.

[Nash B.]

How is skydiving a mix of water and air?

[MutherjuggZ]

How is skydiving a mix of water and air?

skI diving... I was being a smartass

[CJ]

Just an FYI, don't throw a bulldog in the water - they sink like a rock.

They are a freak of our own creation, they also can't reproduce without human assistance.