Let him drown or YOU'RE FIRED!

But this

is kind of a phony premise for your concern if this

answers it.

 

That supervisor should be dropped off two miles offshore and told: "See how it feels."

 

Privatization, the miracle cure for everything.

 

I'm NOT saying let someone die! But there's a way this is supposed to be done (I suspect), and that way's been thought out in advance to ensure the maximum safety for everyone. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me to find that the city stipulated in its contract how things are to be done. But all I said in my initial foray into this topic was that surely there is some limit to how far outside an assigned zone a lifeguard should go.

And I'm not insane! I've been tested ...

 

Company officials on Tuesday said Lopez broke a rule that could've put beachgoers in his designated area in jeopardy. The firm could ultimately have been sued, officials said.

Well, yes. Small risk that another chain of events could ultimately lead to a lawsuit situation.

And so what? You save lives whenever the need arises and rely on common sense prevailing, in and out of the courtroom. You let your conscience be your guide, not some corporate manual.

 

I concede that the good doctor has a point about enforcing policy. There should be one so all employees know it.

But there is no rule in the world that is absolute, and I can't think of any better situation that cries out for an exception than this one. I would very much worry about doing business with a company that has so little common sense.

 

If he drove two miles down the road to do a rescue, doc has a point. Within line of sight and well within his capable range of swimming? It's nonsense to think he'd do anything else.

 

I think if I had decided to fire the guy (which I don't think I would have done), I'd have just stuck with the "put other beachgoers in jeopardy" justification.

 

This was really funny.

 

I don't blame the company for having the rule or the policy.

I blame the company for enforcing it.

 

This is another example of how rules are trumping common sense. Rules should be followed in games, and in constitutional law, and other places. But in life, common sense should prevail. There are too many factors that life will throw at us to ever believe that a rulebook can cover all of them. From kids getting suspended for bringing Advil to school to this nonsense....too many rules.

 

Does anyone here wonder if the lifeguard in question would have been fired even if the city, rather than a private company, been running the show?