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Traditionally many sailors couldn't swim, so it almost fits! In the UK most children are taught to swim, and in many European countries the same. I'm often su

Traditionally many sailors couldn't swim, so it almost fits! In the UK most children are taught to swim, and in many European countries the same. I'm often surprised to learn that Americans swim less frequently, but I guess it's just another one of those culture and facilities differences.

ip26 4y ago
America has a lot of land with no ocean or nearby significant body of water. Meanwhile, the UK is an island and the British Empire was built on naval power. Swimming is a cultural imperative.
- okasaki 4y ago
  Presumably you have pools, lakes, and rivers though.
- tokai 4y ago
  >British Empire was built on naval power. Swimming is a cultural imperative. You are answering this to a post that state that not being able to swim was a part of naval culture.
- notfromhere 4y ago
  Pools exist. Feel like it’s more common for Europeans to go to a local pool to swim than it is for Americans
  - throwaway173738 4y ago
    I never learned to swim as a child because I almost drowned during a lesson. Most of the people in the swim class I took as an adult had similar experiences. I think that’s it’s less about access and more about fear of the water.
    - DiggyJohnson 4y ago
      That seems like... a very good reason to learn how to swim, not a reason to quit. I'm making light of what sounds like a pretty serious situation, I guess, but that is my genuine reaction to your comment.
  - kevincox 4y ago
    I think it is very different. In Canada it is very common to go camping or be invited to someone's cottage and you may end up in a dock or boat. Places where you may not be planning on swimming but fall it by accident (or in the case of a boat due to an accident). For this reason children are generally taught to swim as a safety measure. Drowning incidents are fairly common in Canada so it is good to help reduce them. If most of your swimming is in pools (especially public pools) it is far safer (shallow end, more people around, limited depth, no trauma from a boating accident) so it is less necessary to learn from a safety point of view. Obviously many people will still learn for fun but it generally isn't pushed as much in school or other community services.
wil421 4y ago
According to these results [1] North America and West/North Europe is the exact same for Men at 89%, I didn’t realize there was a gap between men and women. At 78% for US and 85% for West/North Europe. Living near water has nothing to do with it as most places have pools, rivers, lakes, or springs in close proximity. [1]https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/352679/majority-worldwide-cannot-swim-women.aspx https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/352679/majority-world...

ip26 4y ago

America has a lot of land with no ocean or nearby significant body of water. Meanwhile, the UK is an island and the British Empire was built on naval power. Swimming is a cultural imperative.

okasaki 4y ago
Presumably you have pools, lakes, and rivers though.
tokai 4y ago
>British Empire was built on naval power. Swimming is a cultural imperative. You are answering this to a post that state that not being able to swim was a part of naval culture.
notfromhere 4y ago
Pools exist. Feel like it’s more common for Europeans to go to a local pool to swim than it is for Americans
- throwaway173738 4y ago
  I never learned to swim as a child because I almost drowned during a lesson. Most of the people in the swim class I took as an adult had similar experiences. I think that’s it’s less about access and more about fear of the water.
  - DiggyJohnson 4y ago
    That seems like... a very good reason to learn how to swim, not a reason to quit. I'm making light of what sounds like a pretty serious situation, I guess, but that is my genuine reaction to your comment.
- kevincox 4y ago
  I think it is very different. In Canada it is very common to go camping or be invited to someone's cottage and you may end up in a dock or boat. Places where you may not be planning on swimming but fall it by accident (or in the case of a boat due to an accident). For this reason children are generally taught to swim as a safety measure. Drowning incidents are fairly common in Canada so it is good to help reduce them. If most of your swimming is in pools (especially public pools) it is far safer (shallow end, more people around, limited depth, no trauma from a boating accident) so it is less necessary to learn from a safety point of view. Obviously many people will still learn for fun but it generally isn't pushed as much in school or other community services.

wil421 4y ago

According to these results [1] North America and West/North Europe is the exact same for Men at 89%, I didn’t realize there was a gap between men and women. At 78% for US and 85% for West/North Europe. Living near water has nothing to do with it as most places have pools, rivers, lakes, or springs in close proximity. [1]https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/352679/majority-worldwide-cannot-swim-women.aspx https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/352679/majority-world...