Who swims over people?

I've only done it once and it was purely accidental.

Quad Cities Triathlon last year.  Just turned the last buoy and was headed home.  I usually site every 6-8 strokes.  I was just starting to look up when I was literally on top of and face to face with a woman doing a very, VERY lazy back stroke.  Had no idea I was on top of her till I was because her feet were way down in the water (no attempt at a kick) and so there we were.  Happened in a split second.  As I was rolling off of her, I muttered an out of breath apology and kept going.

Otherwise, I don't try to swim over them, I just swim past them. 

+ 1 to the accidental runover. only a couple of times, the last one being over a fellow from 2 waves priror that was wearing one of those skinsuits (water had to have been 85) and his legs were sunk down into the water still (Louisiana lake kind of water, read: black muddy) and before I knew it I was over him. I apologized as I swam away, but I wasn't feeling the love.

Just quoting out of context for the hell of it.  Sorry in advance if this gets the thread pulled.

Never!  I have bumped some people but I really try to stay clear of other swimmer's.  I have had some people swim over me and I am sure they knew exactly what they were doing but felt justified in doing so. 

Like swam up behind somebody and kept going right up their back?  No way.  That's slower than going around. 

I have made significant amounts of unintentional contact before.  I've been cut in front of, or just caught someone I didn't see or who was stopped.  I just keep going.  S*** happens in the water, so be it.  I actually swam a few inches from a guy for almost the entire swim of a HIM.  He'd be on my hip, I'd get a few hands to the back, he'd get a few kicks in the ribs.  Then he'd pull ahead a bit and I'd be the one getting kicked and he'd be getting hit.  We were drafting each other, and the contact happened.  No big deal.

I try to avoid swimming "over" someone at all costs.  Quite frankly it’s dangerous for both parties. 

Personally, I think a lot of this could be avoided for the most part if people would seed themselves better.  But it's kind of a tough situation in the first place.   Everyone is vertical at the start from a body position perspective and then everyone goes horizontal.  Sometimes it tough to avoid.

For me the only time I have had to deal with this is when I catch waves in front of me.  When this happens I do my absolute best to swim around people.  If that means swimming a few meters out of my way then so be it.  For my own safety and the people who are obviously struggling it's worth it. 

It's like skiing.  The faster and more experienced people on the slopes are in control and do everything and anything to avoid the less experience people. 

If you are a FOP swimmer and you are swimming over people on purpose you have issues.

Bottom line is SAFTEY FIRST.  Endangering someone is not worth it.  It's just a race.