Adequate Man

Yes, of course. Here's Deadspin sticking to sports in 2017 https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/a-full-transcript-of-donald-trumps-b… Here's Deadspin sticking to sports in 2016 https://adequateman.deadspin.com/the-2016-hater-s-guide-to-the-william… Here's Deadspin sticking to sports in 2013 http://deadsp.in/cgmoid5 2012 https://deadspin.com/what-happens-when-a-35-year-old-man-retakes-the-s… I'm done diving into the archives but that's a pretty hot take you're throwing out there.

The Hater's Guide to the Williams Sonoma Catalog is probably all the context you need. https://adequateman.deadspin.com/the-2017-hater-s-guide-to-the-william…

This really depends on the area of origin. Greek sailors , for instance, were really good swimmers on average (recall Greece comprises several islands with "short" distances; fishing and sponge diving were/are also a side job for sailors and swimming was certainly part of a child's entertainment (a good source here is 19 century and later literature). I am not sure about the argument that falling in the water was a death sentence so that is the reason swimming was unnecessary. Consider that naval life for instance after the 14th century had a high accident rate. In such cases, being an above good swimmer is a highly desirable skill. I think the main reason for the lack of swimming was British and French sailors were "conscripted" in 18-19 centuries [0], and the average citizen at the time did not leave close to shore. At the time not living in close proximity to the sea practically meant, due to travel being a luxury of time (especially during the pre-enlightenment, i.e. feudalism, era), that you never learned to swim as a kid. That places a high-learning curve on an individual who does not have the luxury for such an investment. (Tried to find some credible research and reference; was disappointed with the material; Here is an article on the learning vantage point of an adult https://adequateman.deadspin.com/an-adults-guide-to-learning-to-swim-1… Thus my point is that Feudalism [1] essentially removed access to the sea to people in mainland/central Europe…