Suggestion Splitting the BCD Forum

[Jarrett]

The BCD section has become consumed with discussion about BP/W's. It is to the point that you can't get advice on non BP/W questions there anymore. Any request for information about non-BP/W BCDs is met with 10 responses of "you should get a BP/W."

Most of the non-BP/W users have quit posting in that forum due to the beating that they take when they mention anything but a BP/W. While the BP/W may be a great option for some, the majority of divers out there are not in BP/W setups and still need advice there as well.

My suggestion is to split this forum.

How about subsections like:

Traditional BCDs (Jacket/Back-inflate)
Backplates & Wings

That way posters interested in each could inquire and receive non combative discussions on each type of platform. I believe this would also bring more traditional BCD owners back to the forum for discussions who may otherwise be reluctant to post these days due to the current bias.

 

[*Floater*]

I thought the link that Ron pointed out is telling. I agree with him that the poster DID NOT want to discuss the BP&Wing and yet the very first response is just that. Amazing.

The first response was a joke playing on the OP. Besides, I didn't get the feeling that he absolutely did not want backplates and wings discussed, though it's possible. Also he said he might want to dive doubles in addition to single tanks, so it's not so out of step for people to mention bp/w's.

 

[MSilvia]

there are tools in place already to deal with hijackers. use them.
no new rules are needed. just enforce the current ones.

Amen.

 

[halocline]

What's amazing about the thread referred to is that one of the 'unsolicited BP/W comments' came from Jarrett, the guy who wants to split the BC forum so stuff like that won't happen!

Come on, this is getting a little silly. Free and open discussion usually means a little chaos, off topic comments, wrong info, opinions masquerading as fact, etc....live with it! That's what makes SB such a valuable and entertaining place for us to spend so much time on.

 

[divad]

What's really funny is that this OP was initially posted in another thread titled "Can BP/W be better than this backinflated BC?"

 

[Mafiaman]

I think the supporters of the BP/W make the best case for a separate forum, as they proudly announce their ownership of a Wing, When you ask the general diving public what kind of BC do you own you'll get answers like "Oceanic XXX" Or "Zeagle XXX"
When you ask a BP/W owner they reply I use a BP/W, designating them selfs as special equipment users.

The vocal supporters of DIR were given a forum to rant in, It's just general scuba after all. And a minority would say the only way to Do It Right. for these reasons the BP/W supporters should be given their own forum.

 

[H2Andy]

The vocal supporters of DIR were given a forum to rant in

nah...

for these reasons the BP/W supporters should be given their own forum.

nah....

 

[RonFrank]

That's not how I read the OP.
Including one from the fella that started this thread. Wierd!

Here is the OP's post:

And don't even get me started on the BP/W line. My head will surely explode! Any experience with these BDs is greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure how anyone would read this as an invitation to provide BP/W advice. I read it as EXACTLY the opposite. Obviously the OP has read BP/W posts, and this is a request to NOT provide BP/W advice of which there is PLENTY on SB.

The vocal minority is the only thing I can think of, and the BP/W crowd is adamant enough to intimidate or at least discourage others from posting.

Crapolla!

The number of people posting vs. the number of lurkers is at LEAST 10:1. The number of BP/W divers compared to the number of NON-BP/W divers is 1:100 or less.

You may think it's Crapolla, but IMO your comment is exactly that. If not, explain how a BC forum on SB is sooo inundated with BP/W posts when BP/W divers are such a small percentage of the market.

You can ignore the facts, but that does not make you correct! BP/W divers are a VERY vocal minority as are DIR divers who are also very vocal on SB.

Hey, I have no prejudice. I have a BP/W setup, and unlike the majority of SB divers I do dive with DIR trained divers. However I can not ignore the fact that I dove for a long time before even seeing either in real life... they were like a fairytale told only on SB!

 

[RonFrank]

Also he said he might want to dive doubles in addition to single tanks, so it's not so out of step for people to mention bp/w's.

He did not say that in the OP on this thread.

I'm not for splitting the forum, but if you think that the constant BP/W suggestions on just about EVERY post on the BC forum, not to mention that the forum has basically become a discussion of BP/W's is a little strange. You may want to take a step back and consider WHY when the majority of divers do NOT dive this configuration.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

Obviously the OP has read BP/W posts, and this is a request to NOT provide BP/W advice of which there is PLENTY on SB.

I didn't read it as concrete as you. Do you really think that Scuba Do thought his head would explode?

The number of people posting vs. the number of lurkers is at LEAST 10:1. The number of BP/W divers compared to the number of NON-BP/W divers is 1:100 or less.

Hmm... I would guess that there are far more lurkers than posters and that the number of folks that use a BP/wing (in the real world) are far fewer than you suggest.

You may think it's Crapolla, but IMO your comment is exactly that. If not, explain how a BC forum on SB is sooo inundated with BP/W posts when BP/W divers are such a small percentage of the market.

It is very strange, indeed. In MANY ways our discussions here do not reflect the 'real world'. Maybe some day there will be studies on the social interactions of internet chat rooms. It IS quite interesting, if you think about it.

As far as the extraordinary number of BP/wing posts are concerned, it 'appears' that there are simply more people motivated to talk about these things than users of standard BCs. Consider the opposite of what you suggest; given that the number of users of standard BCs is far greater than those who use BP/wings, would not the 'problem', as you see it, go away if these users were as interested in talking about their gear as the "vocal minority".

So... what the heck is going on here. Are BP/wingers all that intimidating... or obnoxious? (OK... I'LL give ya the obnoxious ) Have they really run people out of the BCF in droves? Or are they simply more interested in participating in these discussions. Are they REALLY the MINORITY? I bet if you polled the REGULAR SB users you might find that a huge number of these people use a plate and a wing. It seems to me that this is exactly the case in the BCF.

I don't have the answers. I do find the subject very interesting, however.

You can ignore the facts, but that does not make you correct! BP/W divers are a VERY vocal minority as are DIR divers who are also very vocal on SB.

I disagree with what you perceive to be facts... and with your conclusions.

Split the forum up... you will have one very busy forum and one VERY quiet one.

Consider the Hog Forum. I thought that it was a GREAT idea at the time. But having watched it for over a year... or whatever... I think that I may have been wrong. It sure is quiet, anyways.

 

[Doubles]

I have decided to throw in the wing on this one.

I would change my vote provided all of the following was met

1. create a sub forum for Jacket BC discussion only
2. Jarrett would be the forum moderator
3. Place a sticky in both the parent and Jacket BC sub-forum which clearly states that a post in the JacketBC only forum should not receive any posts on BP/Wings:no . But a post in the parent forum could have replies relating to any fashion of BC.

hey H2Andy lets go to Calif dude, I can teach you how to surf

Bah Humbug

-s