Re: If only...

[Keith Klumb <kklumb@expert.cc.purdue.edu>]

> 
> 
> If only the gods would transmog' everyone for gills we could stop this 
> discussion.

Amen to that.
 
> Insofar as holding one's breath, it all comes down to calm one is.  We 
> can go back and forth about how long a person can hold their breath 
> sitting there typing at the computer (or even dunking one's head under 
> water) but how does that compare to someone falling into the water or 
> even boaching swimming check.  If you have never been close too 
> asphixiation (I _know_ I didn't spell that right), then count yourself 
> lucky.  I have known for years how to swim but I can vividly recall an 
> experience when, while swimming under water, I got stuck and was unable 
> to reach the surface.  It was to the point where the edges of my vision 
> where turning black and it was all I could do to keep from opening my 
> mouth and sucking in water.  It is perhaps the scariest thing that I have 
> ever undergone ( and that's including a date with Tashia Sapkar).  At that 
> time, my thoughts were not to sit calmly and wait for the obstruction to 
> clear or to think that there are plenty of people around me I'm in no danger.
> I had one focus and that was to get air fast.  To the point, I wasn't 
> knocked in.  I had a full breath before going under and I can hold my 
> breath for quite a while but all of that became moot when someone jumped 
> in the pool overtop of me.  I was drowning.  Panicing?  Perhaps.  Just well 
> motivated.  I think that John's drowning rules are adequate and simple 
> enough for AQ.

Yea, but then that would end this string and we couldn't have that now
could we? :-)

> One other thing, Lyle.  You are quite correct in that hyperventalating 
> one's self will saturate your lungs with air and, therefore, will allow 
> you to hold your breath for longer, but how recent is this knowledge?  
> Would this be something that people at the level our characters are would 
> be able to know or deduce?  Isn't it kinda like CPR - yeah, they have the 
> means by which to do it but do they have the knowledge?
> 
> BJ

People with the swimming skill would have deduced this a while ago. They
wouldn't say 'If i saturate my lungs with oxygen (wow what's that?) then I
can stay under for much longer' It would be a simple fact that the person
with the swimming skill above theirs taught them that if you take some
deep breaths before you try to swim a long ways underwater that you can
stay under longer.

....Keith