I am SOOOO Mad!

I missed your comments on the true facts surrounding the "coffee" case. Regardless, I did not intend to hijack this thread into non-aquatic topics, so this will be my last comment. Old dog, you state: "I'm sure they don't hire hot shot trial lawyers who stand to gain millions for their victories..." is at least partially correct. Defense counsel get paid hourly, victory or loss. Wealthy defendants unleash masses of hourly counsel in efforts to crush plaintiffs, regardless of merit. Hourly rates here in LA for experienced, well qualified defense counsel can range from $275 to $800/hr. "Something has to change?" What exactly? Do we need to make it more difficult for victims to be compensated for injuries suffered to protect corporate profits and malfeasance? I guess reasonable people can disagree. carl

Just tell you are the coach for your team! ;) But also as dorothy mentioned talk to the guards/their boss. Usually won't be a problem. Perhaps sign a waiver and give it to the Y that you won't hold them responsible if you hurt yourself.

Originally posted by aquageek Quality suggestion.... Is it posible for you to express yourself without making devaluing poersonal remarks directed at other people? As for the rest of it... looks like you missed that I was making a tongue in cheek exaggeration, and tried to answer it seriously. Yea, I know what the insurance companies are for. :rolleyes:

I do almost all my swimming at YMCAs. Even when I travel. (Love that AWAY program!) I may have visited 50 different facilities coast to coast by now. Most Ys don't even have blocks available. One in Bridgewater NJ has permanent blocks, and lots of teams that use the facility, but non-team swimmers -- no matter how good or experienced or capable they are -- cannot use the blocks. I'll be visiting some near Orlando next week, including the big one on International Drive, so I'll be sure to keep an eye out for policies there. Yes, it is a result of our litigious society. Some of the Ys I have visited have also taken out their diving boards for the same reason. I feel for your situation, but I doubt you should expect change here. I also have not heard of someone suing a YMCA specifically. But I know I have heard of people getting injured using blocks. When I was in high school, blocks generally were set up in the shallow end of pools. (Not just Ys, but high schools, club pools, private pools...) Since those days I believe there has been legislation that requires at least 5 feet of depth (or maybe 6?) for blocks in response to people getting injured. I think that happened some time in the 1980s or 90s... (And I think it paralleled the growth in starting techniques whereby you don't just blast straight out any more, but arch higher and dive a little deeper.) Regardless of the factors that led to more injuries, I can fully understand lawyers advising the YMCA overall to do away with blocks altogether rather than deal with new regulations. Maybe it was an insurance/financial decision as well. Maybe their insurance premiums would be astronomical if they allowed unsupervised block usage. YMCA is non-profit, and I know they run a tight budget. None of what I said helps you, of course. But maybe it helps add a layer of perspective to the decisions that the YMCA has made. --- Now, if we want to complain about something else that is nearly universal across YMCAs, I take great issue with the water temps most Ys choose to maintain. I'm sure that has already been beaten to death elsewhere in the history of this discussion board! :)

I'd like to take personal responsibility for diving off of the blocks at the Y, but they won't let me. They are fully convinced that they know whats best for me. When Hubert Humphrey died, it was either Eric Sevaried or Roger Mudd who said something that I have always remembered. He (one of them) said, "Humphrey was an 'old school' liberal - one of those who believed that a part of government's role is to help you have access to the opportunities and resources that will enable you to live the life that you decide is best for you. That contrasts with the new liberals, who believe that it is part of government's role to help you have access to the opprotunities and resources that will enable you to live the life that they decide is best for you." Let me sign the waiver - after all, this is America.

Waiver, and indemnity, I should have said. If I hit someone in that second or two when I can't see anything, I'll take responsibility and do the right thing.

OK, so what about any item that is served hot, like fries or a burger or a chicken nugget, all of which must be above 130 degrees? Is any served hot food product eligible for potential litigation?

gull: This is why you are so sheltered in your oasis by the sea. 40% is low, especially by class action standards. Check out the vultures trying to locate "victims" for class action suits. Each referring lawyer gets a cut AND the main firm might as well have stumbled upon the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Vulture is hyperbole and I apologize. I should have said parasitic organism. Of course, living in a swamp, I'm familiar with parasites.

Originally posted by Scansy I had dinner the other night at Outback Steakhouse and they gave me this big sharp knife. I think they should keep the knife and have the employees cut the steak into bite sized pieces in the kitchen before bringing it to me. I can't be trusted not to cut myself and they should protect me from myself. Terrible idea unless they first measure your esophagus and then only cut pieces to the correct size so you will not choke. You cannot be held responsible for your own chewing and swallowing processes. Plus, all bit size pieces must be individually measured to insure none are above 130 degrees. I also propose a ban on V02Max shampoo. Using it could cause you to be super speedy, misjudge your flip turn and bonk your head on the wall. I know for a fact Ellison produces this stuff in his basement late at night and probably doesn't have product liability insurance.

Are you actually saying that you hit your head without V02Max? Well, that can only mean there was too much hydrogen in the pool water. Consider suing the Water and Sewer Authority in your town for this gross oversight. We must go further in our efforts to reassign blame.