It is dangerous to swim with sharks, but not all sharks are found in water. Some people may behave like sharks. While no one wants to swim with sharks, it is an occupational hazard for certain people. For those who must swim with sharks, it can be essential to follow certain rules. See if you think the following rules for interacting with the sharks of the sea serve as useful analogies for interacting with the sharks of everyday life.
Rule 1: Assume any unidentified fish is a shark. Just because a fish is acting in a docile manner does not mean it is not a shark. The real test is how it will act when blood is in the water.
Rule 2: Don’t bleed. Bleeding will prompt even more aggressive behaviour and the involvement of even more sharks. Of course, it is not easy to keep from bleeding when injured. Those who cannot do so are advised not to swim with the sharks at all.
Rule 3: Confront aggression quickly. Sharks usually give warning before attacking a swimmer. Swimmers should watch for indication s an attack is imminent and take prompt counteraction. A blow to the nose is often appropriate since it shows you understand the shark’s intentions and will respond in kind. It is particularly dangerous to behave in an ingratiating manner toward sharks. People who once held this erroneous view often can be identified by a missing limb.
Rule 4: Get out of the water in anyone starts bleeding. Previously docile sharks may begin attacking if blood is in the water. Their behaviour can become irrational, even including attacking themselves, that it is safest to remove yourself entirely from the situation.
Rule 5: Create dissension among the attackers. Sharks are self-centred and rarely act in an organized fashion with other sharks. This significantly reduces the risk of swimming with sharks. Every now and then, however, sharks may launch a coordinated attack. The best strategy then is to create internal dissension among them since they already are quite prone to it; often sharks will fight among themselves over trivial or minor things. By the time their internal conflict is settled, sharks often have forgotten about their organized attack.
Rule 6: Never divert a shark attack toward another swimmer. Please observe this final item of swimming etiquette.
