Mermaid tails are being called dangerous again

[seaair16]

https://youtu.be/qtBuniLpEUg

[Mermaid Emeraldina]

I have no words lol

[J.Nigma]

What's the link for that video? I tried finding it online and I couldn't

[MermaidBonnie]

This is a problem. The more affordable and popular mermaiding becomes, the more people will ruin it for the rest of us imo. It just takes one person to make bad choices to ruin it for the rest. Sigh.

[Mermaid Summerlilly]

Commented:
Mermaid Summer (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwiP06B7lAXC1zaTsGIdbag)24 minutes ago (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtBuniLpEUg&lc=z13vy31glrfetfwkz221zp2irt3hfnyqq04)
I swear someone's gonna f up and then it will ruin mermaiding for the rest of us because "it's dangerous, a little girl almost drowned because she and her parents weren't smart enough to teach her how to swim first" even though there are tutorial videos EVERYWHERE! Smarten up people!

[seaair16]

https://youtu.be/qtBuniLpEUg

[Mermaid Clara]

This is a problem. The more affordable and popular mermaiding becomes, the more people will ruin it for the rest of us imo. It just takes one person to make bad choices to ruin it for the rest. Sigh.
Well said Bonnie! There need to be more mermaid schools where actual mermaids and swim instructors can teach children how to properly swim in a monofin before getting a tail.

[Iamonlyme@me.com]

I find these articles upsetting because not all parents take the time to educate themselves. When my daughter came to me we went in steps first she had to learn the dolphin stroke than she moved on to a monofin when she was comfortable with that we added just the body of the tail (fabric) with no fluke after she was comfortable we finally added the fluke this gave me time to also make her tail! She can now swim in a full spandex silicone tail. But still never without me or her dad present.


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[Mermaid Whisper]

I actually was a terrible swimmer before I put on a mermaid tail. But I had a good breath hold and I could paddle with just my arms if I needed to. My legs were essentially useless while I was swimming. I couldn't make them do what I wanted to!

I had no idea how to dolphin kick, either, though I tried so hard. I had never worn a monofin or even swim fins up to that point.

When I put on that tail, I INSTANTLY knew how to swim in it. Maybe it was the years of watching videos and h2o, or maybe it was because I really am a mermaid, but I just got it somehow, and I was fast.

I do agree that children should be confident swimmers before putting on tails, and EVERYONE should practice taking the tail off quickly underwater!


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[Ligeia]

Things of this nature deeply affect me as both a person and a mermaid. I've been a swimmer for ages prior to ever learning about the mer community and have always struggled with doing techniques properly despite knowing all of the mechanics behind them. There is just something about "proper technique" that alludes me. This was the number one reason that I was hesitant to buy a tail in the first place and took careful consideration into the investment. Since receiving my monofin and tail, I can openly attest that it has made swimming ridiculously easier for me. This isn't one of those "wow! I can swim in a tail!" sort of things. I could honest to goodness perform so much better in my monofin and further still when I jumped into my tail. I would love to see schools utilizing the fins to help swimmers like me with their technique (under close supervision of course - you never know what could happen). The dolphin kick - a move I have struggled with for years - I can now do without issue in and out of my tail. My tail has entirely changed my experience as a swimmer.

When I hear things like this from parents saying "it isn't worth it," my soul is deeply hurt because I wonder if there is someone else like me out there who struggled. Someone, like myself, who found a tail and has expanded their world and mind because of it. I am so much more positive of my body than I was before. I am stronger a swimmer than I was before. Because of my tail. If you understand the danger of it, know the precautions to take...then what is there to fear but fear itself? Anything can go wrong. Despite my swim history, I make sure that I never swim without my wonderfully supportive boyfriend. Because I understand things can go wrong. And does he ever take his eye off me? Never. If this is your child then why are you not paying attention to them? Why are you not in the water with them? Some parents I've met are so ridiculously lazy. They had a child and think of anywhere the child can play at as a daycare center. The number of people who drop their children off in, say, a Wal-mart and tell them to "have at it" is insane. (Bear in mind, I understand those who physically can't get into the water due to health issues. I'm speaking of the entirely healthy parents.)

I agree heavily with Bonnie in regards that there need to be more mermaid schools and applaud Iamonlyme for her careful consideration and understanding of the community. There need to be more positive voices. Several people commented on the video saying how the speakers were "misinformed." I don't think that is it. I honestly believe it is a lack of communication and information about the tails. Some parents, as Iamonlyme said, simply to not do much research into it. I've personally asked parents who bought tails for their children how much research they did prior to purchase and the answer was...unsettling. Most responded saying that they had only looked into the reviews or just bought what they wanted because, and I rephrase, "[their child] would only play with it for a few months." Parents like this don't appear to be encouraging this activity or are dismissing it entirely. This alone speaks volumes and our world has a very "herd-like" or "mob-like" mentality. Once someone gets rattled, everyone jumps in and no one looks into facts. Any time I am asked about my tail, I give in-depth explanations and warnings. Quick story time.

My main swimming destination is a small lake just outside of what is basically a village town. It's small, dusty and, prior to Pokemon Go, pretty empty along the streets. Everything works like a clock in this village and there is next to nothing to do. About a mile or so outside of it, there is a State Park that houses a lake with a fairly sizable swimming area. The people are easy going but there isn't anything new floating about. So when I went in with my tail you can imagine the reactions I received. Some people stared, others shook their heads and, of course, the children looked on in wonder. My first swim was utterly silent. It was just my boyfriend and I in the lake. My second swim was when I really got to see people. While on my second or third swim, a couple remarked about my tail and asked if I could answer a few questions given that they were considering buying one for their daughter. Being the shy, flustered mermaid that I was, I explained the monofin and what its use was and gave them a bit of information into mermaiding and free-diving. We had a wonderful chat and the woman thanked me for the information. She even told me that she'd not done much research on the subject, read that some girl had drowned (which has since been proven false - she'd mis-read about the video of the girl struggling) and was entirely against the idea. However, once she began to understand the benefits of it and heard my experiences first hand, her thoughts changed. I recently ran into her again (at the lake) and learned that has plans to order a FinFun tail for her daughter come the girl's birthday next April.

It is amazing how a personal experience can bring about such change. I feel like these are things that we need to spread - the positivity. Not some cut and paste "look at the benefits!" Those are needed as well to inform others but they don't resonate with people. I believe we should spread our personality as mers and bring about a positive light. When I first came to the community there was a lot of darkness going on. Dealings with Mertailor and Merrowfins right down to the debacle with Raven of Merbellas. Admittedly, this caused me to shy away but, while here, I've seen many lovely mers with outstanding personalities and colorful visions. I've watched people expand upon hopes and dreams and make them a reality as they've created their tails. I've read years worth of stories - seen years worth of sorrows, laughter and excitement in the community. That is what needs to be shown to the outside world. But I fear we have no current way to expand. None that I know of at least.

And for fear of this long post becoming longer...I know that I am a new mer. I understand that everyone has their "place" and "earns their stripes" but I think in light of this...maybe I'm being a bit to hopeful - a bit too optimistic - in wishing that we could combat this negativity with our positive results? But these are just the ramblings of a new mer, I suppose.

/rant over

[AniaR]

I guess people have missed that this video has been an ongoing issue for over a year. We've created a lot of resources that are free and available to the public to use to help combat ignorance in your area. There's also multiple threads on here too of how people have been addressing this. But yeah, this has been ongoing for a year. And it gets to be a media popular thing around summer, and around christmas.

You may find the following things helpful:

Here's an info graphic I made for monofins you can use and print out and give to pools etc

http://halifaxmermaids.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/5/7/24579160/r070edited_orig.jpg

You may find some of the videos and information on my website's safety page also helpful:

http://halifaxmermaids.weebly.com/safety.html

Here are some videos that feature safety in a positive light:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxhk6wedVJU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIdP2gvio8E


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-KQwKQ4jE0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52D2WGIMXPQ


Here is a blog I wrote that details pretty much everything about kids using mermaid tails, backed up by publications, citations, and more:
http://rainamermaid.weebly.com/blog/how-banning-mermaid-tails-is-the-wrong-mindset-and-puts-down-girls

^I put so much thought, research, and experience into that blogpost along with my background in child and youth development, and education. There are so many reasons why mermaid swimming is great for kids.


Here is an entire website created by the Vancouver Mermaid to "Mermaid Safety"

www.mermaidsafety.com

I really urge people to consider the type of comments they leave online and to not simply shift blame. We can't pretend this ISNT dangerous and just stick our head in the sand and be angry people think it is. We have to meet people where they are and provide them with education and information, and SOLUTIONS to the dangerous aspects.


Here is an info graphic I also made to help people understand what an adult mermaid is (professional and recreational)

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13882590_1319715898063150_3336554542538779215_n.jp g?oh=707de6d04d4744a18fd93fe8aaba924b&oe=5819FA40

Here's a few more mernetwork threads talking about this subject with great ideas, and also linked to petitions:

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?11505-Resources-for-Facing-Tail-Bans-in-Pools


http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?12953-Yet-another-tail-ban-but-a-real-chance-for-change-PLZ-READ

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?11853-Rant-About-Safety

As someone who has spent years working specifically with children to encourage them to learn how to mermaid swim, I feel like I see both sides. The only way to really change the tides of this situation is for mermaids to pick up the narrative and start education in our own bubbles as much as possible. And it does help to leave online comments but you need to see how they come across too. We need to understand there can be some valid concerns.

Here's an excerpt from a reference letter I have for an award. It was written by the aquatics director where I run mermaid school. Our province was set to totally ban mermaid swimming and I went on a huge publicity campaign to raise awareness and not only did I get the bans over turned, I got a weekly mermaid school in addition to my mobile one. I share this because the director goes into specific details about how mermaid swimming helps kids:

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13914096_10157275816840425_4714592944867008343_o.j pg

[Iamonlyme@me.com]

I guess people have missed that this video has been an ongoing issue for over a year. We've created a lot of resources that are free and available to the public to use to help combat ignorance in your area. There's also multiple threads on here too of how people have been addressing this. But yeah, this has been ongoing for a year. And it gets to be a media popular thing around summer, and around christmas.

You may find the following things helpful:

Here's an info graphic I made for monofins you can use and print out and give to pools etc

http://halifaxmermaids.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/5/7/24579160/r070edited_orig.jpg

You may find some of the videos and information on my website's safety page also helpful:

http://halifaxmermaids.weebly.com/safety.html

Here are some videos that feature safety in a positive light:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxhk6wedVJU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIdP2gvio8E


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-KQwKQ4jE0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52D2WGIMXPQ


Here is a blog I wrote that details pretty much everything about kids using mermaid tails, backed up by publications, citations, and more:
http://rainamermaid.weebly.com/blog/how-banning-mermaid-tails-is-the-wrong-mindset-and-puts-down-girls

^I put so much thought, research, and experience into that blogpost along with my background in child and youth development, and education. There are so many reasons why mermaid swimming is great for kids.


Here is an entire website created by the Vancouver Mermaid to "Mermaid Safety"

www.mermaidsafety.com

I really urge people to consider the type of comments they leave online and to not simply shift blame. We can't pretend this ISNT dangerous and just stick our head in the sand and be angry people think it is. We have to meet people where they are and provide them with education and information, and SOLUTIONS to the dangerous aspects.


Here is an info graphic I also made to help people understand what an adult mermaid is (professional and recreational)

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13882590_1319715898063150_3336554542538779215_n.jp g?oh=707de6d04d4744a18fd93fe8aaba924b&oe=5819FA40

Here's a few more mernetwork threads talking about this subject with great ideas, and also linked to petitions:

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?11505-Resources-for-Facing-Tail-Bans-in-Pools


http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?12953-Yet-another-tail-ban-but-a-real-chance-for-change-PLZ-READ

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?11853-Rant-About-Safety

As someone who has spent years working specifically with children to encourage them to learn how to mermaid swim, I feel like I see both sides. The only way to really change the tides of this situation is for mermaids to pick up the narrative and start education in our own bubbles as much as possible. And it does help to leave online comments but you need to see how they come across too. We need to understand there can be some valid concerns.

Here's an excerpt from a reference letter I have for an award. It was written by the aquatics director where I run mermaid school. Our province was set to totally ban mermaid swimming and I went on a huge publicity campaign to raise awareness and not only did I get the bans over turned, I got a weekly mermaid school in addition to my mobile one. I share this because the director goes into specific details about how mermaid swimming helps kids:

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13914096_10157275816840425_4714592944867008343_o.j pg

This is great thank you! I have tried talking to the YMCA even offered for them to test my daughters ability before swimming and none of our locals ones are interested but maybe if they did a monofin class they might be :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ligeia]

^^I adore this post Raina made!

[J.Nigma]

I can't see the last two images that AniaR posted 🙁

[Mermaid Emeraldina]

I have a good mind to forward all of those videos and posters to the jobsworth douchebag that kicked me out of my local pool for wearing a monofin.

[Mermaid Emeraldina]

I have PROGRESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *high pitched scream* :jawdrop:

so I just phoned my local scuba diving club and asked if I may use my monofin in their pool and he said YES

I WAS TOLD YES :yay: OHMYGOD :dance:

However I didn't go into detail that my monofin is shaped like a tail and whatnot BUT that shouldn't matter should it? It is an actual monofin it does have a purpose and does work.

The guy said its 25m pool, pay a £5er and I can get an hours swim. Every Thursday, and it's a 5 minute drive.

SOO HAPPY.

After thursday has been and gone I shall update with how it went :3

if im asked about it I will say the monofins that are available are a little garish and unfeminine (my opinion) and the Mahina Merfin is just.... pretty :)

WATCH THIS SPACE.... :mermaid kiss:

[Merman Andrew]

I really urge people to consider the type of comments they leave online and to not simply shift blame. We can't pretend this ISNT dangerous and just stick our head in the sand and be angry people think it is. We have to meet people where they are and provide them with education and information, and SOLUTIONS to the dangerous aspects.

I agree there is a general level of danger in using Mermaid tails (probably roughly equivalent to the danger that comes with swimming in general), but what concerns me most is the sheer amount of people in the general public who think Mermaid tail dangerous simply because they don't understand them and how they are supposed to be used. As the woman in this video demonstrates she actually thinks that because your legs are restricted in a Mermaid tail and you can't "kick" (the way you can in say freestyle stroke) that the wearer is not going to be able to swim and instantly sink to the bottom and drown. I see this so often in the comments section of videos from people who know nothing about Mermaid tails, and I think it is one biggest reasons tails are being considered more unsafe than they actually are.

Therefore, I think we need to educate people that yes, whilst the legs are restricted by a Mermaid tail, the way you swim in a Mermaid tail is totally different to a normal swimmer, in that you use the Dolphin kick. Once someone has learnt the dolphin kick and is competent otherwise then using a Mermaid tail is relatively safe. Of course children still need adult supervision but I am just trying to dispel this annoying myth that people seem to have which is that Mermaid tails are not swimmable and the swimmer is going to drown because your legs are "restricted".

[Talia]

I think stating that people with "restricted" legs cannot swim is totally ableist bullshit and people should know better.
I would be tempted to respond, "So, you are saying that a person in a wheelchair cannot swim because he or she cannot use his/her legs?"

I know this cannot be construed as education, but people should be able to understand that there are ways to swim that do not involve the use of legs kicking up and down.

[Merman Andrew]

I think stating that people with "restricted" legs cannot swim is totally ableist bullshit and people should know better.
I would be tempted to respond, "So, you are saying that a person in a wheelchair cannot swim because he or she cannot use his/her legs?"

I know this cannot be construed as education, but people should be able to understand that there are ways to swim that do not involve the use of legs kicking up and down.
A better analogy would be like a asking if person in a wheelchair cannot move because he or she cannot use their legs or that a person wearing a snowboard cannot ski because they cannot use their legs.

[Acqua Luna]

Have you lovely mers seen this on CNN?

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/us/professional-mermaids-feat/index.html?sr=fbCNN022416professional-mermaids-feat0919AMVODtop


"Where the Moon kisses the waves, that's where you'll find me"
Acqua Luna