Solved: LGBTQIA people. Is there a need for a sub-forum?

[El Hefe 612]

Okay… First, I know I'm new here. Second, I'm genuinely curious. And third, I read the entire 18-page thread of the "LGBTQ Divers?" question. As a openly gay, married man I would love to have a place to connect with other gay men, women, and like-minded individuals to discuss dive travel opportunities, to find dive buddies without having to worry about whether or not they might have a problem with me, and to feel comfortable talking about things that might impact us.


If possible, I'd like to have a board created under Non-Geographic Clubs called:


LGBTQIA Divers and Their Friends


I have spent the past week-and-a-half searching the internet (and this board) for such clubs, and I was surprised how lacking they were. It's been six years since the original question was posted in the thread referenced above. I know if I'm interested, that there are probably many others who would be too, but they may just be afraid to ask. Many of the responses in the thread above were not very understanding of what it is like living as an LGBTQIA individual in a predominantly heteronormative global society. Having such a space is not about excluding anyone, it's about having space where we don't have to worry about being who we are and can focus on what we love - diving (among many other things).


Thanks!

 

[Subcooled]

What is so peculiar about LBGTQ,blahblahblahetc divers that they warrant a special forum? Don't they just want to be treated like people?

There are already subforums called

• Women's Perspectives
  
• Dork Divers
• Grumpy Old Divers
• Worldwide Christian Scuba Diving Organization
• Scuba teens

and regional forums. So, gender, age, attitude, location and religion are good bases for a sub forum. Somewhere I have even seen a "scuba singles" forum... As diving is a social hobby, I don't see a problem in any socially constructed subgroups/subforums.

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . . Next we'll need sub forums for Asians, Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Eskimos. . . .

If and when there is a legitimate request for one and some evidence of demand--as in this case--then I would hope SB would give the request equal consideration.

 

[Subcooled]

As a social hobby diving also includes a sexual dimension.

 

[uncfnp]

First I want to say thanks for making me feel welcome as a new member! Being one of the largest scuba related websites out there, I'm rather surprised there isn't already a board for LGBTQIA related discussion especially after the original post from 6 years ago that I previously mentioned. I'm sorry if you feel my question or request is invalid because I'm new. Perhaps the fact that I hold a Ph.D., have taught courses on diversity and other topics at a major university, and have personally experienced discrimination gives me some credibility on asking about this despite being new. If I'm looking, others are looking. So, from your perspective, I still wonder how Dork Divers, Grumpy Old Divers, Military Divers, Worldwide Christian Scuba Diving Organization are any more or less deserving of a board, in your mind, than LGBTQIA Divers and Friends, not to mention Humor, Games, Clips, Yarns and Tales? I'm sorry if my looking for a safe space to discuss certain things bothers you. I never said the entire website isn't safe, I simply requested a safe space to discuss specific topic-related issues. Based on your comment, I doubt I can help you understand why this is important or necessary in a global community such as Scuba Board. Just know some of us feel it is (I have received personal messages from other members).

@Dr. Buzzetta. You have given us a lot of detail on your qualifications to discuss LGBTQIA issues but nothing about your diving and discriminations you have encountered related to your diving. I wonder too that as a new diver and new to Scubaboard, what made you assume that you and your unique needs would not be welcome within the broad community of SB? Perhaps that may help some of us better relate to your request.

 

[El Hefe 612]

@Dr. Buzzetta. You have given us a lot of detail on your qualifications to discuss LGBTQIA issues but nothing about your diving and discriminations you have encountered related to your diving. I wonder too that as a new diver and new to Scubaboard, what made you assume that you and your unique needs would not be welcome within the broad community of SB? Perhaps that may help some of us better relate to your request.

I don't really feel the need to continue this discussion as I've answered and shared most of my thoughts and I've had the opportunity to speak with the staff directly. But I want to answer your question in case it helps you and others understand. When I first started reading Scuba Board, I did several searches on SB with the keywords: gay, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, etc. The only posting/thread I found related to what I was looking for was the one I mentioned in my original post made six years ago by someone looking for fellow LGBTQIA divers on SB. I saw the many negative and somewhat hostile responses that poster received, so I decided to double-check all the community board headings to see if there was anywhere that the original poster's question might have been answered. There wasn't. That was six years ago. If I were that original poster, I might have simply walked away from SB and perhaps have been deterred from learning to dive in the first place.

I am new. I am nervous about learning to dive. I am unfamiliar with the social norms within the dive community. And I don't know the best way to find a safe mentor with whom I can trust my life considering the fact that I am gay. If I could have found a forum on Scuba Board that already existed, it would have been quicker and easier, and I would have had one less thing to worry about (being gay) as I try to find dive groups, clubs, buddies, and travel.

Even some the responses I've seen here to my original post have made me even more hesitant to engage in conversation or ask the questions I want to know. Isn't the purpose of this board to advance the cause of diving and help to educate others on best dive practices? If I'm discouraged from asking those questions in the first place, am I likely to benefit from this board? If creating these spaces makes even one more person more comfortable asking a question, isn't it worth giving it a try? And really, who is it going to hurt and who is it going to help in the long run if we have an LGBTQIA Divers and Friends board? I can't see anyone being harmed by its existence, but I can see many people being helped by it.

So, to answer your question, some of the responses and reactions I've seen to this and the previous posting made me assume I might not be welcome within the broad community of SB. I hope that isn't true, and I suspect it isn't true for the vast majority of SB members. But I don't know for certain. An LGBTQIA Divers and Friends board would be one space where I would be least likely to encounter disrespect, hostility, and derision from the community with respect to me being a new, gay diver. I hope that helps!

Thanks!

 

[tilikum]

Ignore the knuckledraggers. There is absolutely no harm in having a forum and if it isn't used much, at least you tried.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Wow. Just wow.

 

[Akimbo]

... I am unfamiliar with the social norms within the dive community...

As a ex-Navy diver, I never associated the term "social norms" with divers... come to think of it, any association with "normal" is a stretch. You need to lower your expectations.

 

[uncfnp]

I don't really feel the need to continue this discussion as I've answered and shared most of my thoughts and I've had the opportunity to speak with the staff directly. But I want to answer your question in case it helps you and others understand. When I first started reading Scuba Board, I did several searches on SB with the keywords: gay, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, etc. The only posting/thread I found related to what I was looking for was the one I mentioned in my original post made six years ago by someone looking for fellow LGBTQIA divers on SB. I saw the many negative and somewhat hostile responses that poster received, so I decided to double-check all the community board headings to see if there was anywhere that the original poster's question might have been answered. There wasn't. That was six years ago. If I were that original poster, I might have simply walked away from SB and perhaps have been deterred from learning to dive in the first place.

I am new. I am nervous about learning to dive. I am unfamiliar with the social norms within the dive community. And I don't know the best way to find a safe mentor with whom I can trust my life considering the fact that I am gay. If I could have found a forum on Scuba Board that already existed, it would have been quicker and easier, and I would have had one less thing to worry about (being gay) as I try to find dive groups, clubs, buddies, and travel.

Even some the responses I've seen here to my original post have made me even more hesitant to engage in conversation or ask the questions I want to know. Isn't the purpose of this board to advance the cause of diving and help to educate others on best dive practices? If I'm discouraged from asking those questions in the first place, am I likely to benefit from this board? If creating these spaces makes even one more person more comfortable asking a question, isn't it worth giving it a try? And really, who is it going to hurt and who is it going to help in the long run if we have an LGBTQIA Divers and Friends board? I can't see anyone being harmed by its existence, but I can see many people being helped by it.

So, to answer your question, some of the responses and reactions I've seen to this and the previous posting made me assume I might not be welcome within the broad community of SB. I hope that isn't true, and I suspect it isn't true for the vast majority of SB members. But I don't know for certain. An LGBTQIA Divers and Friends board would be one space where I would be least likely to encounter disrespect, hostility, and derision from the community with respect to me being a new, gay diver. I hope that helps!

Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I admit my initial gut reaction was that here is someone with an agenda. But your response does have some merit. However, having your own subforum will not guarantee an abscence of negativity unless you make it members only and require divers to join the group to respond.

And just so you know, SB can be a rather tough audience in general and sometimes one needs a thick skin to post in zones not designated as green (do a search on split fins and pony bottles) and there are already several green zones such as new divers and basic. And you can always "report" any post or thread that you feel violates the rules (TOS) for that forum or that you feel is a personal attack. You do not need a separate subforum just for that option.

 

[doctormike]

@Dr. Buzzetta. You have given us a lot of detail on your qualifications to discuss LGBTQIA issues but nothing about your diving and discriminations you have encountered related to your diving.

There is a reason why SB has a category under dive count for "None - not certified". Probably one of the best ways our forum helps the dive industry is to provide a resource for people considering diving. Just like the tech and CCR forums aren't only useful to people who are already certified, but also are helpful for those considering it.

It has been said many times, but it bears repeating - someone from a specific group felt that a separate forum would be helpful for them, and others seem to agree. He is not asking for guarantees. I'm not sure why people who are not in that group feel so strongly that they have the insight and experience to tell them that they are wrong.