Individual Rights, and other Myths

[Mike Boswell]

I believe an individual does have the the right to conduct their dives any way they want. As for me, I do not not conduct any of my dives outside of my training. If in the future I do want want to dive deeper and longer I will get proper training. That's me.
However I certainly would not condemn anybody for pushing their own envelope. What gives anybody the right to blast someone for exercising their freedom? Do you propose more legislation to stifle individual freedoms? Come on. People are going to do whatever they want and the few antagonists here only serve to fuel the fire. Your giving the serious risk takers a platform to justify their actions. Look at how much attention the deep air threads get.

No, I'm not for more legislation, I'm for more personal liberty. I want scuba divers to be free of any and all regulations, and I want scuba businesses to be healthy and unregulated. And I think the way to achieve that is to focus on our responsibilities, rather than our rights.

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

Where is Wormil when you need him?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Where is Wormil when you need him?

... probably out chasing women ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Mossman]

I was kind of surprised Sunday that I did not need a dive flag when dived at Casino Point. Be kinda hard with all the kelp anyway. Also, I don't live in an ex-bayou either and I live in Louisiana. You sound like my Aunt from Kansas that thinks we all ride boats to work and raise alligators. BTW, I would take a hurricane over an earthquake any day. But neither of our points have anything to do with this thread.

"In 1915, the creosote plant burned to the ground killing 55 workers and 3 firefighters.The plant was rebuilt on Bayou Lane, closer to a water source and closer to a fire station. Eventually, creosote polluted the bayou which was a source of drinking water for many of Slidell's residents. The creosote plant was abandoned in 1986 and then became an EPA Superfund site. The canal was dredged and waste incinerated until completion of the cleanup in 1996. At that time a boat launch was built and Heritage Park was constructed on the former site."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slidell_(LA)

Sounds lovely.

"In 2005, Slidell suffered extensive damage from the effects of Hurricane Katrina as the storm made final landfall in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and Hancock County, Mississippi on the morning of August 29. The municipal area is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) inland and parts of the city experienced a storm surge in excess of 10 feet (3.0 m). The unincorporated areas of St. Tammany Parish, to the south and east, often commonly referred to as Slidell, experienced a storm surge of 13–16 feet (4.0–4.9 m)"

Not bad, you can dive just by standing in the street. In CA we actually have to drive to the ocean, it doesn't come to us.

 

[Mossman]

My apologies for the broad stroke to all Californians. I meant the stereotypical Californian in my comments and yes, sometimes I stereotype when there is some truth involved. I understand all Californians are not that way and I feel badly that they have to deal with the rest.

That's OK. All us Californians believe all southerners to be characters from Deliverance.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Not bad, you can dive just by standing in the street. In CA we actually have to drive to the ocean, it doesn't come to us.

Oh, it's coming ... you just have to wait a while ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[cwhite6]

"In 1915, the creosote plant burned to the ground killing 55 workers and 3 firefighters.The plant was rebuilt on Bayou Lane, closer to a water source and closer to a fire station. Eventually, creosote polluted the bayou which was a source of drinking water for many of Slidell's residents. The creosote plant was abandoned in 1986 and then became an EPA Superfund site. The canal was dredged and waste incinerated until completion of the cleanup in 1996. At that time a boat launch was built and Heritage Park was constructed on the former site."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slidell_(LA)

Sounds lovely.

"In 2005, Slidell suffered extensive damage from the effects of Hurricane Katrina as the storm made final landfall in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and Hancock County, Mississippi on the morning of August 29. The municipal area is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) inland and parts of the city experienced a storm surge in excess of 10 feet (3.0 m). The unincorporated areas of St. Tammany Parish, to the south and east, often commonly referred to as Slidell, experienced a storm surge of 13–16 feet (4.0–4.9 m)"

Not bad, you can dive just by standing in the street. In CA we actually have to drive to the ocean, it doesn't come to us.

I was going to argue with you, put you used Wiki as a source. No arguing with that. The ocean didn't come to me. I knew it was coming and left. The ocean will come to you, just wait for the big earthquake coming. Still pointless insulting others states and homes. Especially since I did not post anything about CA that was bad. I pointed out insults serve no purpose, but you chose to insult me anyway. Your choice. I am in fact sitting in LA (Redondo Beach area) right now and will be diving at vets tomorrow night. Come on out and dive with us. I promise to not make you squeal like a pig!

 

[TMHeimer]

I think your position is too utopic. there is nothing anyone does that does not impact someone else somehow. to say no freedom if and only if no impact denies freedoms altogether. If we all used that standard there would be no divorce because the kids wouldhave to move further away from some relative. We would have no transportation, industry, or rap music (hmmmmm) perhaps we should call diving an art form and preserve the same rights of so many other aspects of life. your screw up when you dive you die no one else does. No one else gets to jump on the pitty me gravy train. Instead of using various levels of consequence to qualify all humanity as being affected. perhaps if we made the divers consequence the measurement then no one pays that price but the diver and all is in ballance in the universe.

Yeah, this is about the best one I read. A similar discussion came up a while back and I brought up the required use of seatbelts (not to go down that road again). TS & M similarly mentioned motorcycle helmet laws. How these things affect others as well as the injured. Then there are the more "socialist" medical countries like Canada which brings in another aspect. It's all philosophical as to where responsibilities lie and what you can or can't do to affect society versus personal freedoms. No exact answer. Most logical thing I can go with is about what awap said--There should be some rules for charters and some basic (sensible) govt. rules ei: must use a flag here. no diving here--too much boat traffic. If you don't use a flag or go in these forbidden areas and get killed someone else has to live with it though it's not even his fault (unless he ignored a flag). Keep the rest of diving up to the individual. If you die of course it affects others -- family (assuming you have one), freinds, etc. That's your fault. That's the way it goes. I had a relative die pretty much because of alcohol. Miss him a lot. It was his fault, his choice. Life goes on.

 

[Mossman]

I was going to argue with you, put you used Wiki as a source. No arguing with that. The ocean didn't come to me. I knew it was coming and left. The ocean will come to you, just wait for the big earthquake coming. Still pointless insulting others states and homes. Especially since I did not post anything about CA that was bad. I pointed out insults serve no purpose, but you chose to insult me anyway. Your choice. I am in fact sitting in LA (Redondo Beach area) right now and will be diving at vets tomorrow night. Come on out and dive with us. I promise to not make you squeal like a pig!

Sorry, I confused you with the Slidell guy. All y'all southerners sound the same to our delicate Yankee ears.

No thanks on the dive. I trust you wouldn't make me squeal like a pig, but that cold water sure would nowadays. I haven't dove Redondo in years, but it's nice and easy when the seas are flat (except for the cold part). Have a great time!

 

[Mossman]

Oh, it's coming ... you just have to wait a while ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Sorry, unlike the certainty of a Mt. Rainier eruption occurring soon that will make you wish you got that PADI Lava Diver cert, there's no truth to California becoming the next Atlantis.

"Will California fall into the ocean?"
BSL FAQ: California and earthquakes