Liveaboard with fewer old people?

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While I understand why some people took offense, and seeing someone with very different views 'leave' can be gratifying, there is another option sometimes worthwhile; engaging to help them stay. Before anyone scratches their head wondering why I'd want to, here's my basis.

In the wake of the last U.S. Presidential election, it became a topic of conversation that, culturally speaking, the old cliche 'birds of a feather flock together' has been intensifying in U.S. society. Some people were shocked by Trump's victory, as 'all the people they knew were voting for Hillary.' I'm not taking a cheap shot at Trump; the point is, people end up associating almost solely with others with similar views, creating what I've seen termed an ideological echo chamber. This in turns tends to foster more extreme, polarized views, and a distorted, vilified perception of what 'the other side' is like.

When someone says 'Trump supporter,' what comes to mind? Is it positive? Is it prejudicial? Would 'Hillary supporter' be likewise? Those questions are rhetorical; please leave them that way to avoid needless conflict.

Exposure to other views (which can lead to greater civility, better informed positions and often some moderation), and learning your opposition can be noble-hearted, decent people is a good thing. When you can look each other in the eye and say 'I like you and I'm glad to know you...even though you're still wrong,' our society benefits.

When someone 'quits' and leaves, what are the odds of that happening? Even if a mind wasn't ready to change yet, perhaps over the years to come, with positive engagement?

Just an option.

Richard.
 
While I understand why some people took offense, and seeing someone with very different views 'leave' can be gratifying, there is another option sometimes worthwhile; engaging to help them stay. Before anyone scratches their head wondering why I'd want to, here's my basis.

In the wake of the last U.S. Presidential election, it became a topic of conversation that, culturally speaking, the old cliche 'birds of a feather flock together' has been intensifying in U.S. society. Some people were shocked by Trump's victory, as 'all the people they knew were voting for Hillary.' I'm not taking a cheap shot at Trump; the point is, people end up associating almost solely with others with similar views, creating what I've seen termed an ideological echo chamber. This in turns tends to foster more extreme, polarized views, and a distorted, vilified perception of what 'the other side' is like.

When someone says 'Trump supporter,' what comes to mind? Is it positive? Is it prejudicial? Would 'Hillary supporter' be likewise? Those questions are rhetorical; please leave them that way to avoid needless conflict.

Exposure to other views (which can lead to greater civility, better informed positions and often some moderation), and learning your opposition can be noble-hearted, decent people is a good thing. When you can look each other in the eye and say 'I like you and I'm glad to know you...even though you're still wrong,' our society benefits.

When someone 'quits' and leaves, what are the odds of that happening? Even if a mind wasn't ready to change yet, perhaps over the years to come, with positive engagement?

Just an option.

Richard.
She ‘ain’t going nowhere. How much you want to bet she’s lurking all over these two threads and loving every minute of it. Too scared to come back and re-engage though...typical.
 
I grew up in SoCal, do you hold it against me? Is there some specific toxic effect of the San Francisco Bay area, might be true?
I don’t think the area has anything to do with it, it’s the people and the industries that attracts certain people. I could complain about Socal and say there are too many phony people with too much plastic surgery and boob jobs, but the entertainment industry brings them there. But I love Socal for other reasons and don’t care about the phony people.
And with SF, it was/is a beautiful city. It’s the years of certain politics that ruined it in many ways. Silicon valley has been a hub for electronics and technology since the fifties. The technology sector brings in certain people. If it wasn’t for that they’d still be growing cherries. If Tonopah NV had a high tech industry we’d be complaing about all the overpaid entitled A-holes there, but nobody want’s to live there. So instead they are in SF and the South Bay because it’s a beautiful place, and also because of the liberal politics, and the already established industrial infrastructure.
I’m in wine country central and we have our own brand of “special people”. But I don’t care about them, I live here for the great diving.
 
My son, now 23, was introduced to diving at 16. He has paid for most of his own gear, and pays for his own trips. Last year he spent a week in the DR and another in Tobermory with a group of divers ranging from him to > 65. I am 58. He dives with us all regularly, and with a larger extended group of diverse men and women of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. In November a subset of the same group is doing a Red Sea LOB. He is going, and he is pumped.

The difference is, he doesn't judge people by their age but rather by who they are. If he doesn't like their politics he doesn't talk politics. It really isn't that hard.

It really isn't an age thing. It is an attitude thing.
 
Tribalism in this day and age is just sad. The world is too small a place. When we pigeonhole others rather than treating them as individuals, we do ourselves and others a tremendous disservice. When it's used as a device to establish blame, it's dangerous. We can do better. All IMHO.
 
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