Joining the Dark Side. . .

[Mandy3206]

Welcome to the bungiehood!!!!!

Be prepared to endure coments about the bungies, but if you're like me, who cares as long as you like them, I know 'cause I like mine.

 

[djanni]

I frequently see people associate bp/w's with the Dark Side and I'm curious why some of you refer to it that way? The "Dark Side" has a negative connotation to it doesn't it?

 

[TSandM]

I think it has to do with its association with kool-aid drinking.

Most recreational divers get set up with traditional BC's -- jacket or back-inflate. It isn't until you head for tech diving or . . . god forbid . . . DIR, that most people start experimenting with a BP/W setup.

 

[xiSkiGuy]

I frequently see people associate bp/w's with the Dark Side and I'm curious why some of you refer to it that way? The "Dark Side" has a negative connotation to it doesn't it?

Being part of the generation that grew up with Star Wars, I wouldn’t necessarily say the “Dark Side” has a negative connotation. I’ve always used the phrase “going over to the Dark Side” to refer to switching the way I was doing something, often at the behest or recommendation of a friend. :hoondidi:

I think it has to do with its association with kool-aid drinking.

Most recreational divers get set up with traditional BC's -- jacket or back-inflate. It isn't until you head for tech diving or . . . god forbid . . . DIR, that most people start experimenting with a BP/W setup.

I think “drinking the kool aid” has more to do with standardizing the way you train and equip yourself. The reference there is to Jim Jones and his followers (The People’s Temple). They drank poisoned kool aid on his instruction. I think that has more of a negative connotation (not thinking for yourself, etc), but folks who use that term probably use it in a hurmourous way. As in “the Strokes think I’m drinking poisoned kool aid”. Either way, my equipment configuration has nothing to do with the kool aid drinkers. I believe they coined the term (or at least propagated the term), “bungeed wings of death”. To each his own.

 

[RiverRat]

I joined the "dark side" between OW and AOW courses. I had no idea what DIR was. I barely even knew how to dive yet But the gear config made sense and I stuck with it. It's kinda neat when I travel. Always seem to "stick out" in the crowd at least as far as gear goes. But I always get positive comments (perceived by me anyway), like, "minimalist approach huh?" or "hey that's tech gear!" or "overkill for rec. diving but it's ok", "I bet it packs nice", "hey that's a nice, small brass SPG" or "got many DIR divers where you're from?" etc. etc. I then get many curiosity questions and explain why I like the BP/W setup. I actually bought a cheap jacket BC to do a Divemaster course for poolwork and can dive that thing pretty good now that I understand the concepts of trim, neutral buoyancy and weighting much better. So I can now compare the 2 types better. But I still prefer my AL backplate and wing for travel and SS backplate for the drysuit.

 

[kidspot]

I frequently see people associate bp/w's with the Dark Side and I'm curious why some of you refer to it that way? The "Dark Side" has a negative connotation to it doesn't it?

It's also just a bit of friendly teasing going on... sort of like when a couple of buddies tease each other ... no malice intended, just friendly banter amongst friends...

Of course I've wondered if it might also be because bp/wing users tend to have a limited color spectrum ... dark black, or light black...

Aloha, Tim

 

[jepuskar]

Wait a minute....I thought the dark side surely meant a rebreather

 

[PerroneFord]

WHAT!?

No one told me we had a choice of colors!

Of course I've wondered if it might also be because bp/wing users tend to have a limited color spectrum ... dark black, or light black...

 

[RiverRat]

Wait a minute....I thought the dark side surely meant a rebreather

That's more like an astronaut or something :11:
Hey they used them on the moon didn't they?

 

[kidspot]

but of course ... pool users get the light black, ocean users get the dark

Actually I had a purple plate for awhile and I just ordered some sky blue webbing ... I'll take pics if I end up using it

Aloha, Tim

WHAT!?

No one told me we had a choice of colors!