I read a lot. Magazines, newspapers, blogs, forums, books (even the stuff written on bathroom walls). I am trying to really keep up with the world that operates around me. One of the things I have noticed is how easy it is to be anonymous & say things that you would never say to someone’s face. Don’t get me wrong. I love the internet & I love the information I get there. I love the idea that people from all over can post ideas & rants at random. But when did it get to the point that when we disagree, we start name-calling.
The other day I was looking around one of the scuba forums & a guy was asking a legitimate question about a piece of equipment. No big deal; right? Wrong. Some guy wrote that to even consider another brand than the one that he used was an idiot. It must be nice to have such a high opinion of yourself.
I’ve been around the planet a few years now & around diving a couple. Gear for the most part is fairly similar from vendor to vendor. Oh granted, one company may have some new bell or whistle and of course you like your brand the best but I can not figure out how one brand or one particular option makes all other obsolete. Because of that I follow the mantra of a lot of divers. I use one brand for my reg set & another for my BC. Yes, I know some of you BP&W guys will have a cow that I haven’t come over to the right side of the debate. My dive computer is one brand, my wetsuit is another brand & my mask is another brand completely.
What I’ve found through experience and most divers I know agree is that fit & comfort are what matters most. Regs, even the lowest one offered from most companies are absolutely safe, efficient and better than they have ever been. BC’s are now nearly all weight integrated & give the diver a real sense of security in the water. Fins come in all shapes & sizes and comfort makes all the difference in the world.
So the next time you’re sitting in front of your computer screen & some guy tells you he’s in love with a brand you absolutely hate. Take a deep breath. Count to ten & then tell him off…… (wait) Naaaaaah. Give him a break. Explain the virtues of what you’ve come to know & expect that a whole lot more people will disagree with you than you imagined. Forrest Gump had it right “stupid is as stupid does” and we all get to be stupid when we want to. Done ranting for the night………………………….
