WTF Stories of the Week

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Betty

You know how when you were a kid the other kids told you to stay away from the drain in the bottom of the pool because it would suck you down and you would drown. Turns out - they were right.

Alan Korn, public policy director of the Washington-based nonprofit group Safe Kids Worldwide, said the vast majority of American swimmers do not realize that the bottoms of pools, spas and wading pools are hidden hazards, especially to children.

He said one person dies because of pool or spa drain suction in a typical year. His agency cited 33 deaths of children under age 14 between 1985 and 2004.

Okay, ONE person, in AMERICA, dies PER YEAR... and because of that, every public pool owner has to spend up to $15,000 to change their drains? 33 *gasp!* children over a span of 20 years, and this is considered the major threat to safety in this nation? I can think of hundreds of things that probably kill/maim/injure more children per year than this, and this is what they focus on?





(I'm not saying it isn't nice to protect the children, but let's start with the stuff more likely to kill more kids, shall we?)

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Why should the owners of these pools be forced to either fork over thousands of dollars or be forced to close? Where are the parents? Who in their right mind allows a child that young to swim in a pool unsupervised? Why should the rest of the public pay the price for parents who don't adequately supervise their children?

It’s nanny government any time laws or regulations are enacted that take away personal responsibility – in this case, the responsibility of the parents to keep their children from harm.

I find your indignation bizarre (but then I find the pervasive anti-child attitude on this board rather puzzling). Maybe I missed something, but doesn't your job depend on servicing adults who, it might be said, can't manage their own sh*t?

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Okay, ONE person, in AMERICA, dies PER YEAR... and because of that, every public pool owner has to spend up to $15,000 to change their drains? 33 *gasp!* children over a span of 20 years, and this is considered the major threat to safety in this nation? I can think of hundreds of things that probably kill/maim/injure more children per year than this, and this is what they focus on?

(I'm not saying it isn't nice to protect the children, but let's start with the stuff more likely to kill more kids, shall we?)

I think the difference is 1) these stories are truly horrible and 2) it's not a speed limit situation where you're dealing with more theoretical risks and countervailing lifestyle choices. It's a clear risk, with a fatal outcome, and an obvious fix.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I find your indignation bizarre (but then I find the pervasive anti-child attitude on this board rather puzzling). Maybe I missed something, but doesn't your job depend on servicing adults who, it might be said, can't manage their own sh*t?

Ditto all of the above. Especially the anti-child part.

From the article's description, it sounds like it isn't about whether a parent is watching or not. It cited an example of a child getting pulled under, and people trying to free her from the drain and her drowning anyways. It's not like no one noticed she was under water. So, yeah, I think pool companies should make products that don't kill people.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Maybe I missed something, but doesn't your job depend on servicing adults who, it might be said, can't manage their own sh*t?

Perhaps you have, but then you would be prey to a common misconception regarding public assistance. The majority of those who come through our doors can, as you so colorfully phrased it “manage their own sh*t”. The stereotype of the “Welfare Queen” is outdated and false. Most are here because of something outside of their control; the death of a spouse, the primary wage earner being laid-off (especially poignant right now), illness, disability… Many of the families we see would have bee considered middle class ten/twenty years ago. Now, they can barely make ends meet; one paycheck away from destitution. Often it takes just one setback to send them over the brink, then they have little choice but to come here. I talk to these people every day. I hear their stories and see the fear and desperation in their eyes. Trust me, they would rather be anywhere than standing in line at the welfare office!