So a buddy of mine is quite upset about this and after I made the statement "I think diving solo is safer than snorkeling solo" it is now his goal to make me to look like an idiot. He insistently (and of course condescendingly) is telling me to ask the dive instructors what they think and report back to him(so he can give me the "told you so" bit or at least imply it). My goal by writing this is quite the opposite and more in attempt to validate my thought process and possibly make him more open-minded. I know that everyone will have their own opinions on the right way, but the thing that "grinds my gears" (trying to stay PG) the most is when someone isn't willing to hear you out.
You realize that whatever someone else thinks is out of your control, if your buddy wants to give you the "I told you so" he will always find an argument to say it.
You want to MAKE him more open-minded? ok if you manage that, please aim for world peace next.
Solo diving is a polarizing subject, the people that do it on a regular basis (I'm in that group) can't understand the people that only buddy-dive. It almost feels like we come from different planets, and that's fine, the problem only starts when people try to change each others philosophy.
For me I find it unacceptable that a diver will depend on another for their safety. I don't consider it a cowboy attitude, I'm not an adrenaline junky, it just fits my way of life to dive solo. I definetly don't appreciate people coming to preach the error of my ways, and I make a point to not preach to people that aren't self reliant.
For the non-solo divers, there are many arguments they hold true and works fine for them. Many of them don't have a problem with solo diving, they just believe it isn't for them.
...and then there are the ones that consider it their mission in life to "save" others.
Thoughts? Am I crazy?
Spiiina
if you think you can control what others think, you may be a bit crazy.