I'm gonna be careful here since this is bound to attract trouble.

I was watchin' "Survivor" last night and once again the black guy can't swim worth beans. Same was true in the first edition.
I know from my own experience in the Navy that most if not all of the black guys in my company couldn't swim. Made me wonder why they chose the Navy.

I figure there must be black Navy seals and since so many military types are here maybe this could be confirmed.

Can someone explain this not swimming thing to me?

 

well...I for one and pretty upset with that guy...he is the biggest, strongest guy there and in my opinion up to this point has been the biggest disappointment in the challenges....and wanting to go home after just a day or two there....come on, did he not know what he was getting into....has he not watched the other episodes?

yes sinjin...I think this thread is probably on very delicate ice and wouldn't be suprised at all to see it ended quickly.

 

I know it's a delicate thread but I certainly don't think it's racial but more likely regional or possibly cultural.

As I said it's not just this guy this time but unless I'm mistaken not one of the blacks on any of the "Survivors" were strong swimmers.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here, so cut me some slack. Swimming is probably available to kids who are a little more privileged when growing up, IE. neighborhood pools, health clubs, lake homes, etc. I'm not saying that only white people have the opportunity, but up until recently, they probably had more exposure to those things. As time goes on, lots of activities like swimming, golf, hockey, tennis, etc. are starting to bridge the racial and cultural boundaries. Just a thought.

 

I thought of that too jskufan and maybe it's so. Like an inner city vs, suburban thing. But all the guys in my Navy company were rural southerners.
I believe it was 8 black men out of 84 total. Not one could swim. This of course was 25 years ago but the "Survivor" thing reminded me.

Thanks for having an eleven foot pole.

 

I haven't seen any water in the rural south that makes me want to go in. Here in east Texas anyway. There is one rec area where my wife takes the kids and I have went twice but other than that most of the local ponds ect. are gross.
I bet if you had 8 Alaskans out of 84 none of them would swim either. Just my 2 cents worth.
I don't think of myself as racist but I can always find differences between whites and blacks. My 18 year old daughter has a very culturally diverse group of friends and has dated some black guys. All of them from good familys but one of them was the best guy ever and I didn't even ask questions if she was going with"Verlin". Another black kid she dated I didn't like at all. I could hear his BOOM-chica-BOOM rap in side the house when he pulled up, and he would suanter into the house all kind of flopping around as he walked, with this rag tied over his head. Just trying his best to emulate his favorite MTV rap video or something. I just flat didn't care for him. I never let my daughter know though.
I know this is getting way off the subject of swimming but can you believe how upset everyone gets over dumb little stuff, like Rush Limbaugh's comment about wondering if some guy was going to be the first black quarterback. I don't like Rush but give me a break. Or how about the time Whoopie Goldberg convinced whats-his-name ( Sam Malone ) to paint his face black at some roast or something and all the black people got outraged, Montel Williams walked out and the Sam dude got shredded in the press for weeks. I just think some people need to lighten up over this stuff. It is like a witch hunt sometimes. Well that's my rant

 

I think we must have been in the same company! Which boot camp did you go to, and year? I was in Orlando, 1976. We had the Rocks( non swimmers) and the wrecks ( couldn't pass the physical tests).

 

I have several black friends and they are all pretty good swimmers. I dont know about what you guys are saying. I guess it could be inner city or something. Of course, it could be that I live in Arizona and water is such a welcome sight that everyone makes it a point to be able to swim. We have public swimming pools all over the place. So around here there is no excuse for not knowing how to swim other than you did not want to know.

 

first off...i'm impressed, we're keeping this above the questionable material line...good job.

Secondly i think it comes down to the place where you grew up. I for one can't play basketball if i had to to save my life. I never played growing up, and i still can't. But then again, i swam, played football, and wrestled, all of which i'm proud to say i can do fairly well...So i'm going to have to say that i agree that its the upbringing, I for one know a black guy that i went to school with that could outswim me....then again he could out run me, out shoot me in basketball....I could beat him in wrestling though...

 

That's right, white guys can't play basketball.

 

Good comparison, Ryan. I too am basketball challenged, and I asusme it is for the same reason blacks arent the best swimmers.

 

rikfish,

I entered basic at Camp Nimitz, San Diego in January of 1979.
I severely aggravated a pre-existing injury and was forced to separate with an honorable/medical discharge less than 8 weeks later. Total service time 46 days. I can hardly consider myself a veteran.

 

I remember Camp Nimitz. In 10 weeks I had the flu and two bad colds.

 

It rained almost every day I was there. Will never forget standing outside the mess at 0530 hrs in a downpour over and over.

 

Let's see, Orlando in the late spring = set your clock thunder storms every morning and evening. I didn't catch a cold, I caught the MEASLES!!!! They're fun as an adult, trust me. Did keep me from the mess hall during service week, I worked at the Naval Base post office.......tough job, sorting mail, riding in the white jeep delivering....etc.