A disturbing trend.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)

I just read the article Clear the Pool--Now" ("In or Out: Point/Counterpoint," May 2003 issue).

The authors, Mr. Kithil and Mr. Johnston, fail to insightfully address why people object to unreasonable "safety" standards. They attribute these objections to the interruption of our pursuit of "entertainment, health and pleasure"--with the exception of health, not exactly our most noble or sacred concerns.

This is an expedient way to dismiss these objections while faintly insulting the objectors and trivializing the principles underlying our legitimate outrage. People get upset over being imposed upon by institutionally sanctioned rules that defy common sense. Swimming is not just recreation. Competitive swimming requires a sustained, high level of commitment and motivation, and having a training schedule regularly and repeatedly interrupted by unnecessary 'alarmist precautions is frustrating to anyone who has made that commitment.

It makes sense to get off the golf course during a thunderstorm--standing on a fairway represents a clear risk--but the logic that deduces that lightning represents an unacceptable threat to anyone in an indoor swimming pool is inherently flawed. It is a case of risk-micromanagement.

The litigation--I mean, safety--concerns that require evacuating indoor swimming pools during thunderstorms is only supported by confusing what is physically possible (no matter how improbable) with what is truly a risk.

It is possible to be struck by a meteor or falling space junk while watching TV. That risk is always present (regardless of the weather). Why not take appropriate precautions to protect ourselves from this possibility? Better yet, we could pass legislation to require everyone to live in underground shelters.

It will never happen because there is no money in it. The fact is, the threat from lightning is miniscule. The article authors cite the 22 million annual lightning "flashes" (not strikes) apparently to underscore the overwhelming danger lightning represents to human beings.