Polar Bears or lemmings ?

Please tell me that I am not the only one who thinks these Polar Bear Club lemmings are one sandwich short of a picnic. Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in January off Coney Island may not be the dumbest thing on earth but it's close.

Check this out Here are the "rules"... and of course I have a few comments. - I do love their website "http://www.freezinforareason.com/" but that animal on there looks more like a moose than a polar bear to me

-Participants must raise a minimum of $100 in pledges. - At least they are raising money for charity in this case a kids camp Camp Sunshine
-No Pushing! All participants must enter the water of their own volition. Please do not enter the water until asked to do so. - As if we didn't all learn this in kindergarten
-Participants will plunge their willing bodies into the water. The entire body must be submerged. - Well I guess in for a penny in for a pound
-No dry or wetsuits. Participants may smear their bodies with a liberal coating of bear fat. Note: This may negatively impact your social standing. - This has to be my favorite - Bear fat? are you freaking kidding me? I guess it would have a negative impact on your social standing. And just how do you get this bear fat in the first place in a very bear infested place like New York City? Something tells me I don't want to know. THIS is the rule that shows these folks have lost total touch with reality wetsuits are bad but bear fat well that's just fine... YIKES!

-No 'endurance' contests will be permitted. Participants must jump in and out. Yelling is optional. - I think this would be more fun if yelling was forbidden... Let's see how many of these lemmings would do this if they couldn't holler about it.
-Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers and costume contest winners. - How come none of the pictures I have seen show these "costumes"? They must have all been covering themselves with that bear fat. (YUCK) That actually might be mildly amusing.

So is anyone else with me or am I the one losing it? I think this is simply a case of people acting like lemmings. One dude did this a long time ago and others followed along. They don't really like doing this. NO ONE enjoys swimming in near frigid water. And just like lemmings this could lead to big trouble for the participants. (I refer you back to rule #2) If you don't believe me just remember back to George Costanza from Seinfeld in the "shrinkage" episode.

-Shane (doc)