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Is possible to learn to swim, just by reading a lot about it? (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
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If a person reads a lot of theory about how to swim, different types of techniques, other people's written experiences etc., can they swim if thrown in a deep swimming pool? Or, at least, be able to swim enough to reach the steep end and save themselves from drowning?

By "a lot", I mean spending over 6 months to a year, gaining theoretical knowledge. And when we throw them in the pool, they are willing to try it, as in, "I have learnt enough, and I am willing to try it out."

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[–] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I doubt someone who has only ever read about swimming could do it in deep, cold water. But they are talking about taking it to a swimming pool to practice. I think they’ll be fine.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Well, yeah. But they could also skip the books; the practice will be much more useful.

    You can't watch your form in a mirror, in a pool. Well, Elon and Bezos probably can, but most normal people can't. So you can't tell how you're doing, if you're trying to actually swim well. Having an instructor, or even a friend who knows a little about swimming would even be better than any amount of book reading.

    I'm all for book learning, but I doubt many people learned to ride a bicycle by reading a how-to first.

    If they're going to spend time trying to learn to swim, that time is better spent in a pool, than reading about it.

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