Nobody owes you anything

[Kyle]

Wow, Holy crap, I haven't been on the computer in almost 24 hours (working, surfing, coaching T-ball, etc) and I see this thread is still going. It is actually pretty cool to see such strong opinions being voiced on both sides. Except for Kyle calling me an A$$hole about 8 pages back, it seems like everyone is trying to keep it civil. And Kyle, I believe you actually voiced the most important questions that outline this whole mess of a thread.
What is a surfer?
How do we define what is OK and not OK in the water when we all interact?
IS it OK for surfing to be the know-all, be-all of someone's existence?
I'm almost 50 and have 3 children and I wife. They are my existence. Surfing is a large part of our bond, but not even close to the only part.
In only voiced my opinions that I base on my experiences in life and in the water be it in the 70's and or now. I'm not some grumpy old man in the water, or waiting in traffic like Kyle labeled me. I'm quite the opposite.
but when an SUP almost decapitates my 12 year old son because he bailed and let it shoot through the line-up like a rocket or when i have my daughter and all her friends in the car and some numbskull almost puts me into a guardrail, then yes, I get angry. That's a normal reaction. Do I beat up the SUP guy? Of course not. should someone 'help' him understand the consequences of his actions. Sure.

Upset about labels now? Weren't you the one dropping the term 'liberal' on me like crazy? I called you an ahole, because you turned a thread about surfing into something political, it doesn't need to be. It don't know why you had to express your political frustrations in a surfing forum.

I do apologize for crossing the line, but i also believe you were out of line. Call it a wash.

[DawnPatrolSUP]

This thread makes my d*** hard

[Kyle]

i couldn't begin to define to everyone what a surfer is but i know one when i see one.

That's an easy cop-out, you can't define something but you know enough about it to say I'm not one. I don't care if you think I am or not, just pointing out hypocricy when I see it.

You know you are something you can't define? Then how are you so sure?

[McLovin]

This thread makes my d*** hard

I'm actually way past that phase

[Peajay4060]

Then how are you so sure?

i don't know. i just am

[DawnPatrolSUP]

I'm actually way past that phase

Cleanup isle 5

[Earl of Funk/Duke of Cool]

Upset about labels now? Weren't you the one dropping the term 'liberal' on me like crazy? I called you an ahole, because you turned a thread about surfing into something political, it doesn't need to be. It don't know why you had to express your political frustrations in a surfing forum.

I do apologize for crossing the line, but i also believe you were out of line. Call it a wash.

Never said I was upset about you calling me an a$$hole. Once again you assume something. I've been called much worse. trust me. You sounded like a liberal when you got on your high horse. I didn't realize you were a librarian, or libertarian, or whatever, the F@ck you call yourself. You are obviously holier than thou and you will always be the type of person that assumes that anyone that calls out your opinions are wrong or ignorant. I was trying to respect your opinion and to explain that surfing means different things to different people. But according to you we all must just except your view that surfing is simply is a little play time thing that we should not consider an important part of our lives or show any PASSION for. I'm am now done with this thread so Kyle you can take it from here. Aloha.

[Kyle]

Never said I was upset about you calling me an a$$hole. Once again you assume something. I've been called much worse. trust me. You sounded like a liberal when you got on your high horse. I didn't realize you were a librarian, or libertarian, or whatever, the F@ck you call yourself. You are obviously holier than thou and you will always be the type of person that assumes that anyone that calls out your opinions are wrong or ignorant. I was trying to respect your opinion and to explain that surfing means different things to different people. But according to you we all must just except your view that surfing is simply is a little play time thing that we should not consider an important part of our lives or show any PASSION for. I'm am now done with this thread so Kyle you can take it from here. Aloha.

Sorry, didn't mean to come off 'holier than thou,' just didn't want to come off as ignorant as you.

You stereotype people into political classes while knowing little to nothing about politics? Phrases like "a librarian or whatever the F!ck you call it" really help validate everything I've said about you.

Aloha

Go Heat.

[Laird's acting coach]

I rarely post but this is a good thread. I cannot say I agree with everything that Lee said, but he has some valid points. I was out on Tuesday afternoon and it was rough with some head high sets rolling through. It was a tough paddle out and you could get hurt if you did not know what you were doing.

It made me think back to when I first started surfing....., it was all about self reliance, nobody was going to help me if I got into trouble. You had to look out for yourself in many situations. You never put yourself in a situation that could get you or someone else hurt. I think some of that has been lost because of equipment (cheap boards, wetsuits, etc) and ....dare I say it...common courtesy.

I never recall anyone helping me...in a way, it is a rite of passage. You do the crap work until you are good at that and then you can move up the ladder. Lee seems like a pretty good guy, like the rest of you....I think it is important to understand his message in the proper context. The pecking order exists for safety purposes.

All of this dribble about how surfers are expected to help beginners, and expected to wear leashes because some swimmer or beginner might get hit.... and talk of suing people..

I am calling you out!!! STOP SURFING, IT'S NOT FOR YOU. This isn't a team sport, take up softball. Surfing is what it is because generation after generation surfers have led the rebellious front against society. Only lately have surfers become "athletes" and respectable members of society. Good for the pro's, but stop trying to subject me and my like-minded brother-en to this pussification of surfing. Some "benny / kook / tourist /whatever" buys a funboard and all of the sudden that person is a surfer? THAT is who would call the cops because they got in the way of another, better, surfers board. THAT is not a surfer, and THAT is not what surfing is about. Leashes didn't even exist until the 1980's, and let me re-assure you, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH KIDDIES ON THE INSIDE, it was so that Gerry lopez could stop swimming through the urchins after his board in G land.

[Peajay4060]

come on are you really Lairds acting coach?