# Pool crashed into basement. How do we fix this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230 "2014-08-10T12:05:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/21 "2014-08-10T14:02:52Z")
I think people in this thread are being too hard on **Nickel, Please**. You can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you - isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can say whatever you want to **Nickel, Please** , but I’m not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/22 "2014-08-10T14:05:46Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > I think people in this thread are being too hard on **Nickel, Please**. You can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you - isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can say whatever you want to **Nickel, Please** , but I’m not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America! “Forget it, he’s rolling!” ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/23 "2014-08-10T14:09:29Z")
Actually from the narrative in the OP it appears that the fraternity as a whole is not incompetent, but that **Nickel, Please!?** done fucked up BIG time. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/24 "2014-08-10T14:10:43Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But do tell us how you managed to siphon out all the water from the basement without anybody noticing. Even if it hadn’t crashed through the floor, I’m wondering how they planned to drain the pool afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/25 "2014-08-10T14:13:51Z")
You’re assuming facts not in evidence, i.e. that anyone with a brain actually planned this out. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/26 "2014-08-10T14:27:14Z")
Yer gonna have to ask for a LOT of nickels. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/27 "2014-08-10T14:28:26Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Even if it hadn’t crashed through the floor, I’m wondering how they planned to drain the pool afterwards. A lot of above ground pools have a place where you can connect a hose to direct the escaping water. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/28 "2014-08-10T14:34:55Z")
people are going to fine out. you need to have floor joists to span longer than the broken ones. these need to be delivered on a long flat bed truck. that will get noticed. you need to find a lumber yard that can schedule a delivery for 2AM. that is the first step. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/29 "2014-08-10T14:42:42Z")
duplicate post ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/30 "2014-08-10T15:00:26Z")
**Nickel Please?!** which of these do you want to see on the evening news? **Bill Bubbly reporting for channel 4 news:** > [@](#): > > A frat house on Greek row was evacuated this week until repairs can be made from a rush stunt gone wrong. The frat decided to install a pool in the multi-purpose room and it proved to be too much for the floor to bear. The pool fell through the floor and into the basement below. Luckily no one was hurt and repairs are now underway. **Bambi Bummer reporting for channel 4 news:** > [@](#): > > Manslaughter charges are being sought for **Nickel Please?!** , an advisor of a frat in collegetown for negligence in knowingly failing to report significant structural damage to an occupied domicile, resulting in three deaths and eleven serious injuries when the west section of the house collapsed. The frat decided to install a pool in the multi-purpose room and it proved to be too much for the floor to bear. The pool fell through the floor and into the basement below. 2 Days later at approximately 1:00 AM the tragedy occurred. The initial damage was unreported and sources say there was an effort to cover up the incident for fear of disciplinary action from the university. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/31 "2014-08-10T15:04:40Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > **Nickel Please?!** which of these do you want to see on the evening news? > > **Bill Bubbly reporting for channel 4 news:** > > **Bambi Bummer reporting for channel 4 news:** This article [Why Don’t Colleges Get Rid of Their Bad Fraternities? - The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/02/the-dark-power-of-fraternities/357580/) talks about the recommendations that national fraternity organizations make to the individual chapters about how to handle problems. The second step is: “2. A call is made to the fraternity’s crisis hotline or the national headquarters, no matter the hour: “Someone will be available. They would much rather hear about a situation from you at 3:27 a.m. than receive an 8:01 a.m. telephone call from a reporter asking for a comment about ‘The situation involving your chapter at \_\_\_\_.’ ”” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/32 "2014-08-10T15:05:48Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > I think people in this thread are being too hard on **Nickel, Please**. You can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you - isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can say whatever you want to **Nickel, Please** , but I’m not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America! > [@zoid](#): > > Actually from the narrative in the OP it appears that the fraternity as a whole is not incompetent, but that **Nickel, Please!?** done fucked up BIG time. Woosh. 🙂 Brush up on your classics Animal House ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/33 "2014-08-10T15:07:39Z")
I got the reference. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/34 "2014-08-10T15:33:52Z")
It’s just a pool. A lot easier than getting a dead horse out of the dean’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/35 "2014-08-10T16:24:20Z")
You’re done like dinner, kiddo. Burn the frat house down, & start from scratch. Also, get smarter members. Also, get a smarter you. BTW– **DO NOT** burn down the frat house. But all the rest, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/36 "2014-08-10T16:49:52Z")
Don’t listen to these losers, Nicks. Slap some drywall on that baby and bring the pledges in to test the structural integrity. I mean, you got the perfect hazing setup, amirite? On a heavier note, in the incredibly remote possibility that any of this is actually real, there’s no way to paper over this one. Be an adult instead of a fratter, fess up and get things fixed. I would really like to know what search terms you put in Google about this “situation” that brought you to the Dope. Talkin’ to the void, ain’t I? Do I hear really, really faint laughter? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/37 "2014-08-10T17:03:00Z")
You really have no choice except to accept the consequences. The building is likely dangerous in it’s current state, which means evacuating and making living arrangements for everyone, something you couldn’t hide from the outside world, also, there’s no way to do the necessary repairs on the sly. Who owns the building, by the way? If it belongs to the college, then legally they have to be told. Even if it’s just on their property, I would think that they have to be told, If it’s owned by the national fraternity. then they have to be told. You’re going to have to suck it up and take the consequences. This all assumes that this is real, of course. I’m wondering if this is stealth advertising for some new frat house movie, or someone looking for story ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/38 "2014-08-10T17:13:49Z")
**Nickel, Please?** , also note that if someone gets hurt, you and your parents are going to be stuck with the liability. Fraternity nationals routinely hang their members out to dry when they do something stupid like this. They won’t even let you be covered by their liability insurance. So, if this is real, you had better start acting like a grown up real quick. Do you want to bankrupt your family over this? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/39 "2014-08-10T17:14:34Z")
To the OP, [you’re not alone.](http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=198372) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230/40 "2014-08-10T17:17:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > **Nickel, Please?** , also note that if someone gets hurt, you and your parents are going to be stuck with the liability. Fraternity nationals routinely hang their members out to dry when they do something stupid like this. They won’t even let you be covered by their liability insurance. Yeah, that’s one of the points made in the article I posted a few posts above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pool-crashed-into-basement-how-do-we-fix-this/695230.md?page=3)