I bet her father knows her medical history and the family medical history better than Frazz does. Has Frazz ever heard of “congenital heart defects”? His assumed superiority over all those “stupid” parents could get someone killed.
When I was ~9, my family spent the most part of the summer traveiling around in a pop-up camper. We were in the mountains of North Carolina for a while, and stopped at Sliding Rock (no idea exactly where). It was a mountain stream that passed over a large, flat boulder that tilted towards a deep pool. Slide down the rock into the pool, get out, run back around, repeat. Lots of fun – for me.
My brother was a year older, but he was born with heart and lung problems. My parents still let him try it. He hit the pool, turned blue, and sank. Daddy pulled him out, dried him off, and we all prayed for a few minutes until he started talking. He was OK, but wasn’t about to go back in.
Neither of my parents considered cold water to be life-threatening before this. We ALL learned better. There was no hospital in the area, of course (this was the late ’60s), but the next time we were near a military hospital, they took him in, and there were LECTURES.
So, Frazz is being a jerk, and the advice being dished out could easily KILL.
Imagine a gathering of humans of all sizes and shapes on a beach wearing nothing but knitted, one-size-fits-all thongs. If that doesn’t stop your heart, do a polar bear plunge. It wouldn’t raise a goose bump.
Everybody seems to think that we ceased to become a scientific and fact-based society sometime in the 2010s. Maybe it did reach critical mass in certain parts of society then, but it’s been around forever. And it’s laughably prevalent in the number of people who seem to think that cold water stops hearts.
To be all self-centered about it, I’ve been in cold water before. A lot. And here I am, even though I’m not particularly good at staying warm. I’ve jumped through a hole in the ice in those festive Polar Plunge things (and recommend it highly; in Michigan, at least, the concept is everywhere as a fundraiser for Special Olympics, and in addition to being a good cause, they put on a good party), I’ve waded into ice water on my own, and I’ve done some longish-to-long swims in pretty cold water, if not ice water. And not only am I still alive to write about it, everybody else survived the event just fine, too, even if they’re not going on and on about it at the moment.
I keep getting tempted to do the winter swimming championships in Lake Memphremagog in Vermont, where the cut a whole 2-lane swimming pool into the ice. Which would not stop my heart, though it would be a colossal waste of time and money to travel that far for 25, maybe 50 yards of swimming. Except … also, a cool hat. And bragging rights. If you’re the right kind of person, you fully understand. But if my New Year’s Day wade into the lake this year was an indicator, that temptation is unlikely to triumph over reality. Unless it doesn’t.
Nachikethass over 4 years ago
Go for it kiddo! If nothing else, we’ll get a good laugh out of it!
Bilan over 4 years ago
We would need to see her dad to know just how much toying is going on.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
If you’ve never visited a nudist beach, you have NO IDEA what real people really look like. Though bathing suits don’t really change things much.
P51Strega over 4 years ago
I bet her father knows her medical history and the family medical history better than Frazz does. Has Frazz ever heard of “congenital heart defects”? His assumed superiority over all those “stupid” parents could get someone killed.
Ignatz Premium Member over 4 years ago
I don’t know if it would stop your heart, but why the hell would you want to jump into ice-cold water at all?
joe.altmaier over 4 years ago
She is really playing for keeps!
Herb L 1954 over 4 years ago
Shrinkage will occur with Dad.So tread lightly ;)
Sportymonk over 4 years ago
Bathing suit vs Swim suit?
Bill The Nuke over 4 years ago
My father once took me to see the polar bear plunge in Chicago. He said “If you ever think I’m crazy, remember these people.”
sew-so over 4 years ago
When I was ~9, my family spent the most part of the summer traveiling around in a pop-up camper. We were in the mountains of North Carolina for a while, and stopped at Sliding Rock (no idea exactly where). It was a mountain stream that passed over a large, flat boulder that tilted towards a deep pool. Slide down the rock into the pool, get out, run back around, repeat. Lots of fun – for me.
My brother was a year older, but he was born with heart and lung problems. My parents still let him try it. He hit the pool, turned blue, and sank. Daddy pulled him out, dried him off, and we all prayed for a few minutes until he started talking. He was OK, but wasn’t about to go back in.
Neither of my parents considered cold water to be life-threatening before this. We ALL learned better. There was no hospital in the area, of course (this was the late ’60s), but the next time we were near a military hospital, they took him in, and there were LECTURES.
So, Frazz is being a jerk, and the advice being dished out could easily KILL.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
Imagine a gathering of humans of all sizes and shapes on a beach wearing nothing but knitted, one-size-fits-all thongs. If that doesn’t stop your heart, do a polar bear plunge. It wouldn’t raise a goose bump.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
You think a 30% chance is low enough?
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 4 years ago
Blog -—————————————————Blog Posts Frazz 17 hrs ·
Everybody seems to think that we ceased to become a scientific and fact-based society sometime in the 2010s. Maybe it did reach critical mass in certain parts of society then, but it’s been around forever. And it’s laughably prevalent in the number of people who seem to think that cold water stops hearts.
To be all self-centered about it, I’ve been in cold water before. A lot. And here I am, even though I’m not particularly good at staying warm. I’ve jumped through a hole in the ice in those festive Polar Plunge things (and recommend it highly; in Michigan, at least, the concept is everywhere as a fundraiser for Special Olympics, and in addition to being a good cause, they put on a good party), I’ve waded into ice water on my own, and I’ve done some longish-to-long swims in pretty cold water, if not ice water. And not only am I still alive to write about it, everybody else survived the event just fine, too, even if they’re not going on and on about it at the moment.
I keep getting tempted to do the winter swimming championships in Lake Memphremagog in Vermont, where the cut a whole 2-lane swimming pool into the ice. Which would not stop my heart, though it would be a colossal waste of time and money to travel that far for 25, maybe 50 yards of swimming. Except … also, a cool hat. And bragging rights. If you’re the right kind of person, you fully understand. But if my New Year’s Day wade into the lake this year was an indicator, that temptation is unlikely to triumph over reality. Unless it doesn’t.
So there we go.
Heart: Fine.
Brain: Perpetually questionable.-—————————————————
DorothyGlenn Premium Member over 4 years ago
A swimsuit is protection for where you never want sunburn