# Philly swimming pool kicks out black kids, "doesn't allow minorities" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355 "2009-07-08T19:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/261 "2009-07-10T14:51:51Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Its okay if you are too dense to understand that. But now he has explained it, so get over it. I was over it, and then you jumped in with a comment that was arguably dumber than the original infraction. There. _Now_ I’m over it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/262 "2009-07-10T15:17:44Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Kids don’t behave very well in general, but let them loose around a pool and they get a thousand times worse. Yeah! Why would anyone want to let kids have fun at a pool in the summertime. What do they think a pool is for anyway? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/263 "2009-07-10T16:01:31Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah! Why would anyone want to let kids have fun at a pool in the summertime. What do they think a pool is for anyway? Generally I agree, but if I pay money to become a member at a private pool where I can sit around, drink scotch, and listen to the birds chirp, then I don’t want that. If it was a public pool, then you have to be more accomodating. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/264 "2009-07-10T16:09:31Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’m willing to let the details come out. Many times I have been enjoying a nice quiet day at the pool when a metric shitload of kids (either race) show up and ruin the tranquility of the afternoon. And this has been at a public pool, so the most you can do is leave. > > Now, if I was paying an annual membership, I would certainly complain and the officers of the club would want to do something so as not to lose members. Kids don’t behave very well in general, but let them loose around a pool and they get a thousand times worse. How are the “details” going to come out? Do you honestly think that, in the event that this was done because membership complained about the “black kids” and insisted that something be done that anyone is going to admit to that?? We will never know if it was overt racism. We can only judge on the basis of what happened, and listen to the proffered explanations with some skepticism. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/265 "2009-07-10T16:10:19Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Generally I agree, but if I pay money to become a member at a private pool where I can sit around, drink scotch, and listen to the birds chirp, then I don’t want that. If it was a public pool, then you have to be more accomodating. It is a public pool fir all intents and purposes. The camp paid the same green money to belong as anyone else did. And I bet no alcohol is allowed on the premises. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/266 "2009-07-10T16:12:35Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > How are the “details” going to come out? Do you honestly think that, in the event that this was done because membership complained about the “black kids” and insisted that something be done that anyone is going to admit to that?? > > We will never know if it was overt racism. We can only judge on the basis of what happened, and listen to the proffered explanations with some skepticism. Sounds like there are already some claims that this has happened before. Details of that become known, patterns of behavior are searched for, maybe allegations of other improprieties find teir way into the mix and then… Newspapers are filed with this sort of “details slipping out and becoming known” everywhere all the time. It will happen the same way it always does. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/267 "2009-07-10T16:51:09Z")
I think we all know the real truth. There were probably several club memebrs there, there were some who were legitimately annoyed simply by the overwhelming number of kids. There were probably some who had prejudices against the color of their skin and/or their economic status. There were probably some who couldn’t give a rats ass. However, it is hard to understand why the club didn’t handle this much better. How in the world they couldn’t know how many kids were coming, why they had to simply cut the campers off altogether. And finally why in the world they can’t just admit they made a mistake in kicking them out and instead say they are working with the camp to come up with a solution that works. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/268 "2009-07-10T17:09:56Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus;11326915 And finally why in the world they can’t just admit they made a mistake in kicking them out and instead say they are working with the camp to come up with a solution that works.[/QUOTE] They will. It is in the realm of lawyers now. See my earlier posts for a prediction how it will go down, mostly behind the scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/269 "2009-07-10T18:16:06Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > There were probably some who had prejudices against the color of their skin and/or their economic status. What is your evidence for the proposition that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that some of the members were racists? ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/270 "2009-07-10T18:26:08Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > We can only judge on the basis of what happened, and listen to the proffered explanations with some skepticism. The explanations from **both** sides with skepticism, right? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/271 "2009-07-10T18:29:28Z")
Only one side has any explaining to do. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/272 "2009-07-10T18:37:58Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > What is your evidence for the proposition that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that some of the members were racists? Common sense. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/273 "2009-07-10T18:39:39Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I may be misreading you, but it sounds as if you’re implying that ejecting the kids for being **extra** -rowdy is copacetic. I disagree. Unless “extra-rowdy” means behaving unsafely or extremely offensively, rowdiness is to be expected at a swimming pool, among children. What do you think EXTRA implies? Good grief. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/274 "2009-07-10T18:42:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Only one side has any explaining to do. That would be the side alleging a violation of the Civil Rights Act, am I right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/275 "2009-07-10T18:42:42Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > What do you think EXTRA implies? > > Good grief. So somehow some kids acted sooo bad in the first hour that the club decided to cut the contract completely without explanation rather than seek a remedy, and yet somehow this behavior never came up in any interviews with anyone in any news story? I find it hhhhiiiiiigggggllyyyyyy unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/276 "2009-07-10T18:44:14Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > That would be the side alleging a violation of the Civil Rights Act, am I right? :rolleyes: I haven’t seen any such allegations, can you cite your claim? I have seen admissions that one side arbitrarily breached a contract though, by that side. That would be the explanation that would be forthcoming, in case you didn’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/277 "2009-07-10T18:47:05Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > What is your evidence for the proposition that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that some of the members were racists? We already know for a fact that at least one of them made racist remarks. Aside from the testimony of the kids, the president of the club tacitly acknowledged it in his own statement. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/278 "2009-07-10T18:48:27Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > I haven’t seen any such allegations, can you cite your claim? > > I have seen admissions that one side arbitrarily breached a contract though, by that side. That would be the explanation that would be forthcoming, in case you didn’t understand. I’ll wait for the actual author of what I quoted to comment on my reading comprehension skills. But, sure. they violated a contract. that’s not a race issue yet CNN is busy interviewing anyone they can get their hands on who is _sure_ that the club acted in a racist manner, without actually demonstrating any such behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/279 "2009-07-10T18:48:31Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > That would be the side alleging a violation of the Civil Rights Act, am I right? :rolleyes: I’m not aware that either side is alleging that. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355/280 "2009-07-10T18:49:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > We already know for a fact that at least one of them made racist remarks. Aside from the testimony of the kids, the president of the club tacitly acknowledged it in his own statement. What did he tacitly acknowledge, again? And what has been determined to be fact, exactly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-swimming-pool-kicks-out-black-kids-doesnt-allow-minorities/502355.md?page=15)