There are many corpses in the ocean, but nobody has any corpse-related qualms about swimming in the ocean. But most people would not swim in a pool with a corpse in it.
Is there incentive to swim in a smaller pool? Otherwise far enough not to smell it.
Fresh or rotting?
Why on earth would I do that?
For a huge pot of money, to escape a rabid musk ox?
You’ve already swam in a pool with a corpse (rodent, bird, insect, etc.) that’s what the filters are for.
I would think a human corpse will be more harmful to other humans, since the bacteria are already adapted to our species.
If I have to swim with a corpse I think I’d rather something large than a bird. No chance of it floating up to me by surprise.
Maybe the real question is, “How large would a corpse have to be to stop you from swimming in the pool?”
This could be a What if? Horror Edition for xkcd.
It’s likely a ratio of water area to corpse volume. With a multiplier on presence (visibility, smell, people talking about it, and hell, if the corpse is making noise that I hear, there’s no chance I’m getting in that water)
I’m sure there’s some external influence, too. My corpse tolerance would be a lot different if it’s extremely hot outside than if it’s chilly. If I’m at risk of heat stroke, I’d maybe even swim with a corpse making audible noise. If I’m physically on fire, I definitely would.
But then if it’s chilly the corpses don’t get nasty nearly so quickly…
Small bird or larger
at least large enough for the corpse and me
Depends a lot on how long the corpse had been there, and what state it’s in. My local 25 m x 6 Lane pool, I’d get in it with someone who just had a heart attack. Fresh corpse but shot, I’d have to play it by ear. Some post-apocalyptic scenario where the filtration system and everything has been offline for months and the whole place has turned into John Doe broth… probably pass…I mean there’d have to be a pretty good reason and a way to rinse off afterwards.
Large enough I am not faced with the reality of a corpse.
I don’t see any corpses when I’m at the beach. I know they’re out there in theory, but they’re a distant enough concept I don’t worry.
Great Lake sized lake with body on other side? Same.
A small lake/pond where I can see the area in which the corpse is floating? Perhaps even smell it? Or speak with a person who saw it? Hard pass.
Olympic sized pool? I can see the corpse. Hard pass.
What if you put on a blindfold before entering the pool area?
I would not get into a pool blindfolded. There might be corpses in there.
Jacuzzi size.
For fun? Uhh, kilometers. It needs to be far enough away to become abstract. And I do find the ocean slightly gross and pest-ridden already.
For a good reason, like someone is paying me? A bathtub if fresh, typical public pool size if not, and I’m showering right after.
Lake Erie. I’ve swam in it plenty of times, and I’m sure there are corpses in there.
Kinda Eerie ngl
