Re: [Paddlewise] How knew were panicky?

Steve Cramer writes:
 > ralph diaz wrote:
 > > 
 > > Steve Cramer wrote:
 > > >
 > > >
 > > > Another question has occurred to me: how did people know they were
 > > > "panicked?"  They were screaming and waving their hands? What else would
 > > > they do? I'd think estimating someone's emotional state from 1/4 mile
 > > > away is iffy.
 > > 
 > > I think I made clear that the drowning people were being observed from a
 > > popular promenade along a big city park's seawall and were just 100 or
 > > so feet away 
 > 
 > Ah, yes, I'm sure you did. The cloudiness was surely on my part. Still,
 > I wonder what behaviors are observable from 100 feet that distinguish
 > scared from terrified from frantic from panicky.

Its all supposition &/or projection[1].  This brings us around to the
discussion of objectivity.  Even if we were present, many of us would
have differing opinions on what the victims behavior meant.  In the
end, its still a rapidly made judgement call.  If you have real world
experience with panicked non-swimmers then it might help you in making
a judgement about rendering assistance.  The more likely scenario is
that you end up doing what you can by the seat of your pants and hope
its the best thing.

I do find this 'what if' scenario fascinating.  By mulling over the
possibilities, I feel that I may have a few more options for dealing
with similar emergencies.



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[1] Its a pretty good assumption the victims were 'panicked'.  After
all, if I was a non swimmer and starting to drown, *I'd* feel panic.

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