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The nanny state lifeguards treat people like they never swam in their life, it is offensive that I can swim better than the lifeguards and know more of the beach than a 40 something guard who bragged about his 20 year experience when it was obvious it was a sandbar, not a rip tide.

There was ZERO water being taken out from any swirl or passage to grab anyone

the moron was a BOZO!!!

1 posted on 07/25/2009 10:07:41 AM PDT by RaceBannon
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To: RaceBannon
I was a lifeguard at Seaside Heights in New Jersey. We arrived a half hour before the beach opened and swam our stretch of the beach, (guard stands every 30 yards), to scope out the conditions.

Wind, Waves and Weather, (the three Wubyas) effected the beach and they changed daily. Where a hole in the bar or high and low tide times plus weather conditions created swimming hazards we put out flags where swimming was not allowed.

New customers (beachophiles) would come and ask aboout the flags and we'd brief them about safe swimmin.

One year I had two pulls. I went solo and pulled out a 13 year old girl who wanted to hug a lifeguard and the other occurred when a nasty set of waves carried a customer into a stretch of beach that was flagged off. My bench buddy and I pulled him out and he apologized for not paying attention to the flags. He had been playing beachball catch with his son and had run into the water to retrieve the ball and a set of waves knocked him off his feet and off he went, heading towards France! He sent a thank you at lunch time when his son brought us a couple off Philly Cheese Steak subs! Yummie!

26 posted on 07/25/2009 10:58:40 AM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: RaceBannon

Since it’s the lifeguard who has to come out and risk his life for you if you’re wrong, I think his decision deserves a little more respect.

Doesn’t mean the lifeguard is always right. But A swimmer doesn’t have the same vantage point as a lifeguard, nor does he have the info constantly being passed to the lifeguards from other beach and weather patrols.

At our beach, all the time the lifeguards are standing up on the stands and watching for rip tides. They will whistle people to one side or the other or to come in.

When the lifeguard whistles, it’s like a cop behind you putting on his lights or siren. You’re supposed to stop what you’re doing and try to see if he is whistling you or someone else. Then do what he says. Big deal: you disagree with him on the risk of riptide. It’s a big beach and he’s got a lot of people to keep track of. Just move.

If you were on “my” beach, and it was obvious the lifeguard was whistling you, you could have even gotten a ticket for not coming in. Yeah, that gets sticky. We have surfers who won’t stay away from a restricted area, for example. If it gets bad enough, the lifeguards call the beach patrol and they will issue a ticket if appropriate (in their judgment).

If you don’t want to be under the lifeguard’s jurisdiction, don’t swim at that beach.


27 posted on 07/25/2009 11:14:11 AM PDT by fightinJAG (Good riddance, UAW.)
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To: RaceBannon
The language that followed was unfathomable.

Can you spell that out for us? LOL

32 posted on 07/25/2009 11:25:27 AM PDT by Diego1618
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To: RaceBannon

So you ignore a lifeguard blowing his whistle, then berate him with “unfathomable” language when he finally gets your attention, and you’re surprised you got thrown out? No wonder everyone’s comparing you to the good Professor Gates. Shouting “do you know who I am” is never as charming as you’d think.


33 posted on 07/25/2009 11:30:58 AM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: RaceBannon
I think the joke is that anyone would think the surf at Misquamicut Beach could approach being dangerous. (From my experience years ago when I used to live near Hartford.) The only calmer waters I know are at the Jetties on Nantucket!

ML/NJ

34 posted on 07/25/2009 11:33:56 AM PDT by ml/nj
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To: RaceBannon
The sandbar gets breaks in it when the tide goes in and out.
Thats what causes the rip currents.

You could be the best swimmer in the world and he doesn't know that. He's only doing his job. People die in those every year.

Be careful the rip currents can have an undertow

37 posted on 07/25/2009 11:39:39 AM PDT by vigilante2 (My name is Jim Thompson and this is my brother Jim Thompson)
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To: RaceBannon

Brown water?

Maybe he is confusing a rip tide with red tide?


39 posted on 07/25/2009 11:46:24 AM PDT by Kenny500c
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To: RaceBannon
Was the lifeguard dressed up like an evil frogman?


40 posted on 07/25/2009 11:47:06 AM PDT by Manic_Episode (Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps...)
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To: RaceBannon

Back in the 60’s a guy probably around 75 with leather for skin, always swam out to the second sand bar. He was never bothered by anyone. He lived there and was revered by us kids as a no-fear kinda guy. This was at Panama City, FL. (of course there still isn’t any lifeguards down there)


44 posted on 07/25/2009 12:07:21 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: RaceBannon

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

~ CS Lewis ~

48 posted on 07/25/2009 2:10:32 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: RaceBannon; Salamander
"the moron was a BOZO!!!"



So how did he swim with those big, heavy shoes?

49 posted on 07/25/2009 2:16:18 PM PDT by shibumi (" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
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To: RaceBannon

Hey, give an idiot a whistle and he’s going to blow it!


54 posted on 07/25/2009 3:22:06 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: RaceBannon

Good thing you didn’t fart in the water. They would of called the Westerly police and hauled your azz off in the paddy wagon.


55 posted on 07/25/2009 5:01:36 PM PDT by dancusa (The word "racist" is a magic shield word that's supposed to stop any dissent.)
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