Why don’t Americans generally like swimming in the ocean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I learned people pee and poop in the ocean it lost its appeal for me, especially when visiting crowded beaches with lots of families with small children. Leaky diapers, snotty noses, urine - no thanks.

So what do you drink knowing that tap water is just cleaned sewer water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?

DCUM never lets me down with inane threads and posts. Yours is near the top! Thanks!

This is funny to me because as an immigrant, my family has always remarked how weird it is that so many Americans seem to hate getting in the water. Not sure why people here are getting so defensive about it, it’s just something us immigrants notice, that’s all.

That depends where you have immigrated from, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As far as risks go, swimming in the ocean is completely unnecessary.

So why risk it?

Because it has this calming effect on me. It makes me happy. It’s good exercise. I won’t go into rough ocean.

[Anonymous]

The bar's too far!

[Anonymous]

OP I've noticed it too- but it depends on where you go and the person. Some people are weird about sand/salt/waves/water/animals. The worst is when they try to micromanage other family members making different choices than them so they spend their time yelling/trying to control everyone. Very unrelaxing to listen to.

Some people like to arrive and leave the beach looking the same with regard to hair/being damp. I'm not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?

DCUM never lets me down with inane threads and posts. Yours is near the top! Thanks!

This is funny to me because as an immigrant, my family has always remarked how weird it is that so many Americans seem to hate getting in the water. Not sure why people here are getting so defensive about it, it’s just something us immigrants notice, that’s all.

So if someone came on here and said "All immigrants do X..why" you are telling me you wouldn't be offended?

[Anonymous]

It’s also very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t Am3riKanS like to????

That type of stereotyping is ignorant and frankly obnoxious and stupid. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the different groups of people have varied interests in activities.

[Anonymous]

They don't? I'm a WASP from the NE and we put our babies in the water young. Getting knocked down by a big wave is a right of passage and we pride ourselves on being able to "ride the waves" or learn to duck and go under when a big one comes through by elementary. Teens is for night swimming romps and we go in all the time as adults.

[Anonymous]

The movie Jaws out the fear of Sharks in me at agw 12. I’m 55 now and always hear the music in my head when I get too far from shore

[Anonymous]

I am not American. I do not swim in ocean. Knee deep is my limit if the water is very clean. I saw a croc come out of the water in a Florida beach and that was it for me.

Reasons I don’t like the beach ….sharks, snakes, jellyfish, crocs, pollution, riptides, tsunami, sharp glass pieces and needles, poop and pee, things that bite or sting, salty water, sand.

I love taking walks at the beach, lounging….but give me a beautiful private infinity pool for swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The movie Jaws out the fear of Sharks in me at agw 12. I’m 55 now and always hear the music in my head when I get too far from shore

Yes, Jaws ruined the ocean for me. Sad but true.

[Anonymous]

6 pages...no Op?

[Anonymous]

Cause we have showers and indoor plumbing

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting thread. I kind of thought OP was
Full of it until I read pages and pages of comments from folks who don’t like to go into the ocean. Very surprised, since I’m an American who likes to go into the ocean and it seems like there are usually plenty of other people out in the water as well at pretty much every beach I go to. (Normally a mid-Atlantic beach goer, but have also spent plenty of time at outer banks, Florida, Hawaii, and Great Lakes beaches. Haven’t gone in too much on the west coast, but that water is COLD, especially up in Washington state and Alaska.

I don’t normally swim laps, but probably would get more into the habit if I lived closer to the ocean and went weekly.
As it is, I mostly float and bobble, with a little Bit of body surfing. Would need to bring goggles to swim laps, Since my contacts wash out underwater.