Asking stupid questions.(Editorial)

OK, I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make. For the longest time, I thought jackalopes really existed. For those of you not familiar with the jackalope, it is a cross between a rabbit and antelope. Picture a rabbit with antelope horns and you get the idea. As a kid, I saw one at Wall Drug while on vacation--stuffed, of course--and convinced myself it was real. I never thought otherwise until much, much later.

Laugh if you want, but I don't think I'm all that unusual (well, maybe a little). The point is that like most people, I thought the wrong thing for so long because even when I started to doubt the existence of jackalopes, I was afraid to ask.

The fear of looking stupid or being ridiculed for not knowing something often keeps us from asking more questions about simple things. So people just go through life thinking their misconceptions are truths.

I suspect that's doubly true for aquatics facility operators and their employees, who have to juggle so many different responsibilities: safety, maintenance, chemistry and access among them. ...