My Promise to You: No More SB Posts

[Matt P]

ScubaToy’s excellent, down-home, customer service has elicited a strong following in the dive community. The creation of this forum has added to the dive community’s sense of good will and loyalty. There are many places on the web in which an idle diver can spend his time. This forum provides a comfortable, friendly, place to openly discuss our passion without concern of being chastised by the demagogy. For those reasons, I choose this place.

We’ve all been to other boards. Many of us have posted here about our experiences with other zealous and sometimes one-dimensional dive communities. I’m guilty of it myself. Sometimes other boards have negative vibes. Negativity is viral. It is easy. It is cheap. It requires no thought. ScubaToys has provided a new neighborhood. This is not the other boards. This is ScubaToys.com. Let’s use it to build a different community.

Specifically, I'm talking about threads & posts with negative SB comments because of [insert complaint here]. Yes, I realize that most of the comments about SB made here are to illuminate the positive aspects of the ST forum. But, it is not necessary to denigrate other web communities to illustrate fondness for this community. Do you want to praise ScubaToys? Do so by enumerating your positive experiences here. They, alone, should speak for themselves.

We don’t live in a 2 dimensional world. SB isn’t all bad. ST isn’t all good. Let’s give it a rest. Can we all agree to leave SB at the door when we enter ST? Can we all agree to be open and positive here? I like it here. Lets not bring negativity to this place.

I would argue that ScubaToys actually owes some of its success to ScubaBoard. Lots of new divers are referred to this site from that forum. Honestly, I like it there too. If you really feel the need to complain about ScubaBoard then post your comments here.

My vow to you is this. I will make no more comments about ScubaBoard on this web site - regardless of whether those comments are positive or negative. That is not the purpose of this forum. I will not allow my experiences on ANY other board to cause me to pollute this community with negativity. Will you step up too?

The real motivating factor behind this thread is not to defend ScubaBoard. It is to request that we don't go start down the path of empty follow-the-leader bashing. Negativity is contagious. I don't want it to become the "norm" here. Next thing you know we'll be cannibalizing divers who have not been assimilated.

[fisheater]

Wise words.

Thanks.

[tarheeldiver]

I agree good post

[ScubaJenn81]

We should all step it up now.

[jwdizney]

Well said Matt!

[PsychDiver]

Sounds like a good policy. I will not mention the forum whose name we do not speak. Just keeping it fun here at ST forum.

[BuzzF117]

I no longer even read the forums at HOME - Scuba Diving Magazine since I discovered this forum and I found it because somebody posted info about it over there.

[mitchy]

Agreed - I like the positive vibe here, and hope it remains that way.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Wimp!

[scubajane]

I've never been to the other forums. I spend so much time here I don't have time for another forum. I have carpal tunnel syndrome form posting yet....I love it here. I have found new trustworthy friends. thanks Larry and Joe!!