Arrogance and humility among divers

[Steve_C]

Some of these comments remind me of an undergraduate student I overheard saying in a boastful voice to other students that they were premed. It was the first day of class and they were a Freshmen.

 

[Saniflush]

Some of these comments remind me of an undergraduate student I overheard saying in a boastful voice to other students that they were premed. It was the first day of class and they were a Freshmen.

Well I mean grammatically they aren't wrong. Seeing how "pre" is all up in there. By the by for those of you who were wondering I am also premed, I just have not gotten to the med part.....I am making sure that I have the pre part down first.

 

[The Chairman]

Dealing with people in the dive industry, I've encountered egos so large

When did we meet???

It's elitism; they think that they are better than you.

When did we meet???

Some folks seem to think they've "earned" the right to be arrogant

When did we meet???

I definitely have an ego. Who doesn't? I'll be glad to tell you that I'm the owner of ScubaBoard at the earliest possible point, that I've been diving since 1969 and hundreds of other dive stories. Show me that you're interested and I can literally keep on going for hours. I've dived a lot. So has Bob. So have a lot of people. Indicate that you aren't that interested and I shut up.

However, reading some of these passages makes me cringe. They do. I'm honest with myself and try to be honest with everyone else. But, I'm fairly proud of what I've done, how long I've done it and how I've evolved my diving. I'm also honest enough to admit my faults and share my stupid diving stories as well.

I'm a social being. I love sharing and I love listening. I love typing and I love reading. I love teaching and I love learning. Do I stack the deck in order to appear to have a better SAC rate? Sure. Do I give fist bumps for being the first in/last out? Guilty! Do I always try to one up the guy I'm talking to? I really try not to. Though most of the time, it would be pretty easy to do as I've been stupid lucky when it comes to diving... and that mostly because of ScubaBoard and not me. I'm probably more lucky than arrogant and I'm not afraid to admit that either.

My goal in diving is simple: Have fun. I even call my second rule of diving the "Rule of Fun: You can call a dive at any time for any reason with no questions asked and no repercussions." Making a game out my SAC is part of the fun. Don't like it? Don't dive with me. Quietly discussing another diver's horrible trim is going to happen. Don't expect me to approach you about it unless you ask me. Dive and let dive is my motto. What's important to me, may not be important to you, but it's still important to me. I even make sure my students learn to judge other divers on the boat and in the water as a part of their survival strategy. Of course, I tell them to keep it between them and their dive buddy. No need to stick your nose where it's not wanted.

So no, I'm not perfect and don't pretend to be. Like a sweet potato, I yam who I yam. I certainly hope we get to dive together like I have with a few of you (including @Murky Waters and @NWGratefulDiver), and I certainly want to hear about your diving experiences. Got the tude that everyone should be diving your way? I'm probably going to disappoint you. Let's just go and have some fun.

 

[gypsyjim]

Some of these comments remind me of an undergraduate student I overheard saying in a boastful voice to other students that they were premed. It was the first day of class and they were a Freshmen.

That is known as setting a goal?

 

[gypsyjim]

Well I mean grammatically they aren't wrong. Seeing how "pre" is all up in there. By the by for those of you who were wondering I am also premed, I just have not gotten to the med part.....I am making sure that I have the pre part down first.

So far I have only mastered the illegible handwriting portion of premed, although there was a time working in the medical college animal labs I could use a scalpel, and suture pretty well. My patients never complained, though few of them could have, even those that survived....

 

[Steve_C]

Well I mean grammatically they aren't wrong. Seeing how "pre" is all up in there. By the by for those of you who were wondering I am also premed, I just have not gotten to the med part.....I am making sure that I have the pre part down first.

This person should probably have been called prepremed since they had yet to take any of the courses or do any of the work.

 

[Steve_C]

That is known as setting a goal?

Setting a goal is good.

Claiming a status that you have not yet earned, which is what the sense of this exchange was about, not so much. Text does not capture the tone in which a comment is rendered.

 

[The Chairman]

Which points to a variety of arrogance. I would characterize that as the arrogance of ignorance. He decided he wanted to be a doctor and is proud of his decision. Reality will set in and he'll find out if he had a good grasp of his limits or not.

But I agree with @gypsyjim that this might be a goal thing. How do you become a doctor if you don't have the chutzpah to be a pre-premed student? So is it arrogance or wishful thinking amplified by poor communication skills and/or youthful exuberance??? I wonder if he ever made it???

 

[george_austin]

Diving is more of a sport than something like professional football which is actually a game with no risk involved except ankle sprains and getting punch drunk eventually - etc.
as Tobin said, you'll find that those who've stuck with the sport for decades are like any other Type A in motor racing, mountain climbing, prize fighting - etc - it's not really a big deal is it?
I get unearned arrogance from professional UW photographers and quite a few GOOEY Divers.

 

[george_austin]

and don't forget, people are generally way too sensitive nowadays so many are constantly on the lookout for "people being mean to me"