Can you swim? (And what country are you from?)

[MrPopo]

I've been swimming for as long as I can remember. The only person I've known in my life that couldn't swim was from Mexico and lived right beside the sea for her entire life. So I doubt warm climates have anything to do with it.
Personally, I think it's a travesty that people can actually get through elementary school without learning how to swim. In fact, in terms of education I'd put learning to swim at a higher priority than learning how to read since not being able to swim actually carries a risk of death.

Id argue not being able to read increases death risk as well. Warning signs and such amongst other things...

That's why there is a use of pictograms and general trends that allow the illiterate to know that there is danger and possibly the type of danger.

[Jmustang1968]

I've been swimming for as long as I can remember. The only person I've known in my life that couldn't swim was from Mexico and lived right beside the sea for her entire life. So I doubt warm climates have anything to do with it.
Personally, I think it's a travesty that people can actually get through elementary school without learning how to swim. In fact, in terms of education I'd put learning to swim at a higher priority than learning how to read since not being able to swim actually carries a risk of death.

Id argue not being able to read increases death risk as well. Warning signs and such amongst other things...

That's why there is a use of pictograms and general trends that allow the illiterate to know that there is danger and possibly the type of danger.

Oh I am aware... it still doesn't mitigate the risk. And not all warnings are on standardized road signs either.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm a great swimmer, but I'm not a huge fan of it like I used to be.

[BoringSupreez]

I'm a great swimmer, but I'm not a huge fan of it like I used to be.

I only ever swim when there's a diving board (or a really cool water slide). Otherwise, it's dull.

[weaponepsilon]

Phhttt. Pathetic. Im in MN, land of 10000 lakes. Grew up on a lake, lived about 300 feet from another....You can't grow up here and NOT learn how to swim. (unless all the drinking made you forget)

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I don't think the temperature has much to do with it. Wisconsin is one of the coldest states, but we also have a lot of lakes and rivers. I think a general lack of deep water would be the main reason not to learn, but it's an important survival skill. Hm.

[flex wood]

Phhttt. Pathetic. Im in MN, land of 10000 lakes. Grew up on a lake, lived about 300 feet from another....You can't grow up here and NOT learn how to swim. (unless all the drinking made you forget)

This pretty much.

Living in Minneapolis going to the beach and drinking is pretty much what you do in the summer. There's like 6 lakes that all have a couple beaches that I can think of off the top of my head and I know there are more then that many here those are just the 6 that are off the top of my head.

[Vita Mayo]

I'm from the Philippines, you would think that everyone knows how to swim given that we are a country made up of islands. But no, seriously, I know more people who doesn't know how to swim than those who can. And for those who can, half of them can't even float for more than 15 minutes.

But me, I learned how to swim because I got envious with my cousins and friends being able to jump out of a boat and having fun swimming while I stare at them, clutching the arm of the nearest adult. I learned how to swim at eight years old, like swim in the Pacific Ocean level of depth, waves and stuff. But I easily sink when guiding other people who doesn't know how to swim.

[Michi]

I live in Florida, so, yeah, I can totally swim. It's really sort of expected if you grow up down here, and it's not even integrated into our school system. Or at least it wasn't integrated into mine.

[Breetai]

Something pretty strange I noticed today. None of the foreign exchange students in my school can swim! They all have a horrible time in PE class. So far, they've all been surprised to know that pretty much every American can - at least, in my area and 5 or 6 States I've been to. None of the missionaries who come to my church or a camp with a huge lake have mentioned being able to swim either. We're talking people from Mexico, Canada, Japan, China, Ukraine, Russia, South Africa, Britain, and Romania.

Obviously I'm not saying that Americans are the only ones who can swim But in your area, how many people can swim? Is it required in high school, or is it just assumed? Does anyone live in a place where being able to swim is weird?

I'm from Canada. We had lessons in elementary school where everyone had to go, so, at least for me, everyone at least learned the basics. I was always in the "advanced" group, so perhaps the people in the beginner's group never really got it. I also went to regular swim lessons on my own, up to right before you can get your lifeguard certificate (but where I can legally be responsible for up to 30 people without pay), so I've got no problems swimming. I currently teach in Catholic schools (some grade 7/8 at the moment), and students do have swimming lessons a few times a year. That's not a lot.

In Japan, most private schools have swimming. Public schools often do, but it depends on the school and district. It just depends on each individual. I suppose that's the case in most countries.

Many scientists have avoided studying why blacks make better sprinters and whites better swimmers because of what the study calls the "obvious" race angle.

I find this sort of stuff to be fascinating. How the human race has evolved in shape, color, etc to adapt to the environment.

So do I, but it's unfortunately taboo because of racism in the past.

Of course, some take this in it's "logical" progression and make some very... controversial claims:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302836,00.html
DNA Discoverer: Blacks Less Intelligent Than Whites