Does it have to be country?

[diver 85]

Bet it wasn't waterproof-------should have put in in 'the deep six'....

 

[Damselfish]

This is something I've never really thought about. I guess I've been lucky and have either always liked the music people chose to play, or people weren't inclined to play anything. But I don't think anyone should be forced to listen all week to music they hate on vacation, especially on a boat where you often can't get away from it. Ideally the people who want to play music should ask and there will be some kind of agreement or compromise. In reality I don't think people ever ask, and few people take hints either. So if you want to do something about it I think you've got to go with some polite variation of "hey country music isn't my thing and I prefer the sound of the waves - could we turn it off/turn it down/limit the time it's played/use your headphones." If they're inconsiderate to begin with and react badly to the request, well you probably weren't going to be lifelong friends with them anyway and aren't going to see them again.

I don't consider being forced to listen to music I hate to be expanding my horizons. It's just annoying. And quiet is perfectly realistic and common enough on dive boats. I do think localish music, as long as it's not blasted all the time, is pretty much fair game. Like in the Caribbean, I'd have a hard time complaining about reggae. Or Jimmy Buffet.

 

[NAM001]

This is always a sticky problem. On one hand we have become a nation of PC which is nothing more than bitching in ways that sound acceptable. I would expect that for a week long trip that the boat would have music of some variety that most all can settle with. I like country but not all the time. I accept that others dont care for my likes and dislikes and there fore i am prehaps more tollerant with others. Unfortunately too many thing they are owed the latitude to do what they want because the universe surrounds them. On the other hand there are some expectations one should accept when undertaking such a trip. One is that the music is inline with the (theme if you will ) trip. An at sea trip would expect jimmy buffett, be happy, and other ocean like music. I would think that whale sounds would get old very quickly as would waves since you have the real thing over the side. Many do bring music and fortunately most I have crosssed paths with play it on their head set's.

This is something I've never really thought about. I guess I've been lucky and have either always liked the music people chose to play, or people weren't inclined to play anything. But I don't think anyone should be forced to listen all week to music they hate on vacation, especially on a boat where you often can't get away from it. Ideally the people who want to play music should ask and there will be some kind of agreement or compromise. In reality I don't think people ever ask, and few people take hints either. So if you want to do something about it I think you've got to go with some polite variation of "hey country music isn't my thing and I prefer the sound of the waves - could we turn it off/turn it down/limit the time it's played/use your headphones." If they're inconsiderate to begin with and react badly to the request, well you probably weren't going to be lifelong friends with them anyway and aren't going to see them again.

I don't consider being forced to listen to music I hate to be expanding my horizons. It's just annoying. And quiet is perfectly realistic and common enough on dive boats. I do think localish music, as long as it's not blasted all the time, is pretty much fair game. Like in the Caribbean, I'd have a hard time complaining about reggae. Or Jimmy Buffet.

 

[Shugrnutz]

This last winter, we were on a trip to Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba. During an SI the boat captain asked if we wanted to listen to some music. After everyone agreed, he turned on some salsa music, at an acceptable volume. We had everyone from my 12 year old son, to a couple in their seventies dancing. It sure made the time go by enjoyably.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

First off, if what they were playing was the new modern stuff that they now call country but is more like redneck rock or crossover, then it's not country (just saying).
If I want to hear loud music along with a lot of other people I'll go to a concert where that's what it's all about. When I'm diving I want a neutral atmosphere and don't want to hear somebody else's crap. Same with bad language or bickering. If the boat has some nice soft slack key guitar or Hawaiian steel, or something else that's smooth and easy on the ears then fine, that's part of the charter and the experience.

It can be a similar scene in campgrounds where some redneck just has to blast his music, drop F bombs, be loud, and everybody in a 500 foot radius is forced to listen to it. It's always those same kind of people who get drunk and are loud all night keeping everyone up. I don't know about you but I go camping to get away and enjoy a little peace and quiet away from that kind of stuff.
However some people are very selfish and short sighted. They think their way is right and if you don't like it then too bad. If you say something and politely ask them to tone it down, that only results in them getting more cantankerous because they see it as an insult and an infringement on 'their' rights. Now they've been challenged and they hate it when they don't get their way. They never consider anybody else's point of view, only their own.
Arrogance through ignorance, unfortunately there plenty of it around.

That's why dive boats need strict rules. Even an 85' vessel becomes very small if there's no place to get away from those types.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yeah what Eric said. Remember my comparison to taking kids on Band trips and prohibiting any music other than in headphones? So here we are talking about adults I assume. Amazing.

 

[BRT]

I like country music just fine. I also like rock & roll and lots of other music. I don't like being forced to listen to high volume music when I am trying to talk to others. It is kind of like smoking. I'm happy for you to do it but would rather you didn't force it on me.

 

[Centrals]

Now you're (or they) out of the space of community and missing out on even more. Incidental helpful information could be missed and the shared experience is also disrupted. To each his own but isolation is a last resort.

You would have to include eg talking on the phone, playing computer game, reading, fall to sleep because of boredom etc etc.
I use headphone but can still hear any public announcement as long as I keep the volumn down.

 

[Bob DBF]

It can be a similar scene in campgrounds where some redneck just has to blast his music, drop F bombs, be loud, and everybody in a 500 foot radius is forced to listen to it.

It was Weird Al, no F-bombs, and by the time the rangers came it was more of a block party, and they came on their rounds 'cause no one complained, it was just getting late and we probably belonged in our sleeping bags.

That's why dive boats need strict rules. Even an 85' vessel becomes very small if there's no place to get away from those types.

I only had one one trip that had a real richard on board, and everyone was trying to be polite while trying to change his behavior, to no avail. I went to the skipper and asked that he take care of the issue. When he started to waffle, I assured him that his solution would be better than letting a Submariner loose to solve the problem. I guess he had served at some point in time 'cause it all worked out well, and I just went back to drinking beer and having a good time. There is no reason everyone can't get along, as long as everyone is reasonable or someone lists and enforces rules.



Bob

 

[KeithG]

we got both kinds of music...https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cSZfUnCK5qk