Why is deeperblue more of a community than other dive forums?

[alexrom1207]

Hello all,
After enjoying all of the benefits of being a deeperblue member for over a year now, I joined another spearfishing forum because they had more information on gunbuilding. After several months of membership in that forum I've noticed that despite its larger size, the members are nothing like deeperblue members at all. Many are rude, some are vulgar, and the posts just seem less heartfelt. And after seeing the post checking on Spaghetti after the Earthquake in L'aguila, I just felt it was time to ask the question. What is it about deeperblue that makes it more of a community than some other diving forums? All opinions welcome. And of course stories of camaraderie too.

 

[vali]

after 2 years on this forum, i-m not shure if i am the right person to expose my opinions about your topic
however i will try to say what i think...
i guess that the measure of this community is the people who makes it...
i think we are professionals ennough and somehow grow-up mans and womans with self-experience and we develloped a kind of diplomacy in ourselves....
wee all seek for advices and wisdom, and we know that beeing rude is of no help for us...
being rude is a waste of time....and the life is not so long after all
Cheers!!

 

[Old Man Dave]

Have to say that in addition to the members its the staff as well. Although I'm a newbie staff member I think the staff on DB are top notch. It's easy for staff to be too severe or not strict enough and then you get things going out of control. I never realised how much staff did until I became one. There's a huge amount going on behind the scenes to make DB run smoothly. Also look at all the features DB has as well. Fish of the Month, Hall of Fame, regional forums, for sale, holidays and a load more, all of which are well supported. Then there's the DB shop link plus some quality info on on-line shopping. Even the rep system is fun. The list goes on.

Great site. love it.

Dave.

 

[Erik]

I'm, sure you are the right person Vali, why not!
I think about this all the time as it relates to some very personal deep beliefs about why we exist.
First of all, when I started on here, the forum was very small and there were some really warm and thoughtful people on Deeper Blue. I admit to being a bit elitist at times in the past myself, but generally most of us didn't put up with any sort of flaming or abuse. Stephan was adamant about keeping things civil and asking for help from active citizens to be strong, pleasant and diplomatic Mentors.
Secondly, like attracts like. Occasionally you get a person that likes to argue and hate, but they don't last here because we (all of us) usually shut them down and then don't respond. The goal of a dysfunctional person is to feed on dysfunction, and generate as much negative mood as possible to thereby feed on. We don't respond to this for the most part, so the energy on the forums is pleasant and light.

I have made some lifelong friends here, some met- some as yet unmet, but feel very close to all.
THAT is why we are on the planet in my opinion- to love each other, enjoy our lives, and help others enjoy their lives. Deeper Blue is a haven to do that. There is a critical mass of energy needed to sustain and nurture something like this, and DB has enough to be able to repel the odd negative person that wants to generate hate.

In memory of Doug Morgan (Freediver 48)

Warmly,
Erik

 

[Magpie]

I've got to agree.

I'm very active on numerous forums, and lurk about on plenty more, on all sorts of subjects, and not one is close to being as freindly, welcoming and lacking in elitist cliques as DB.

It truly is an oasis in a sea of trolls and flamers.

Why that is I've no idea, may be something to do with the mindset of freedivers and spearfisherpersons that make them more chilled out and happy to accept their fellow man?

Of course there is the odd person who seems to want to upset the balance but they are given short shrift by the membership as a whole and the excellent staff and soon realise that they won't get much joy here and move on.

Long live Deeper Blue

 

[jimy286]

Buga the MMerican site that begins with S!!!!

There 93% grumpy old goats!

I put the exact same post on DB and the other one.
On DB i got nothing but suport and frends
On the american one just got gay jokes and your mum jokes.

 

[spaghetti]

Left aside any subjective judgement (what a wonderful bunch of nice guys and girls we are!), I think there is a fundamental feature: This is an international community. Not american, not english, not european, not local but global.
People choose this forum because they're open to broader perspectives, curious to learn more about different cultures. And, of course, people who are open to learn from different cultures are less likely to indulge to the troll and flame "mine is bigger than yours" bullshite.
Of course, being an international forum, and not a local one, has its downsides. Compared to national forums (american, spanish, australian et cetera) here on DB it is sometimes harder to find much of info on spcific local issues (where to dive near Sarasota, the best set up to shoot tarpon, good dive shops in sothwestern Turkey...).
There's good and bad on DB and in all the other forums, IMHO. But then of course DB is still my favourite cause we're a wonderful bunch of truly nice guys and girls!

 

[foxfish]

I love our community, sometimes if my partner goes out for the evening I open a nice bottle of red wine, sit down in front of my laptop & while away the night on db.
Of course I also have db duties & spend several hours a day checking the forum but it is so smooth running that checking is normally all that is needed.
Some of our members are particularly good at welcoming new members & I really appreciate that, it seems important to me that we make all new members feel welcome after all you never know what that person will bring to db - we have people from so many walks of life - doctors, chiefs, carpenters, etc.
Any question on any subject can be discussed & someone will be an expert with all the answers.
Yep, db is a great, friendly, well run & fun place to be :friday

 

[spaghetti]

sometimes if my partner goes out for the evening I open a nice bottle of red wine, sit down in front of my laptop & while away the night on db.
:friday

Id' like to be there (but in that case we'd need 2 bottles of red :friday).

RE. stories of Comraderie:countless. Tsunami, Alison's dive with the Angels, Dahab bombings, earthquakes, children born, injury recoveries, Guernsey meeting, British Columbia trip (people like JimDoe flew from Florida to BC just to meet his fellow Dbers, at risk of being eaten alive by a grizzly bear)....

One odd day I was feeling down for no understandable reason. And see what happened: http://forums.deeperblue.com/beach-bar/76355-please-make-me-happy.html

 

[jay cluskey]

im gonna have a bottle of rioja now
i love this site its helped me meet many interesting people , chirped me up when life has been not so good, thanks guys
jimbo

 

[podge]

Why is Deeper Blue the place it is?
It’s a question that I’ve asked myself a few times over the last 3 years and I keep coming up with the same answer, It’s the people on here!
When I joined the only person that I knew was Jim (stuckinsurrey) and we joined pretty much at the same time, from there I’ve got to know personally so many new friends all of which are the salt of the Earth and generous beyond believe, most of which are totally mad with the same outlook on life that I have being live for NOW as this ain’t a dress rehearsal.
As for the mob of Deeper Blue guys and gals that I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting in person, I can only hope that one day we’ll cross paths so that yet more alcohol can be consumed for the good of cross nation relations and off course in the name of good times.
Happy Days peeps and peepets.
Best from yer bad uncle Podge.

Foxy and Sir spaggie, open a 3rd bottle as i'll be there

 

[fcallagy]

Foxy and Sir spaggie, open a 3rd bottle as i'll be there

Jeepeers ceepers lads just open a case and be done with it.

Kudos to Stephen for the start and like any good leader we rarley see that much of him but do see his results.
Great place with great people a good few of whom I have met. Ironicly i have met more international dbrs than the irish guys but I,m sure we will have an Irish meet up at some stage.

 

[Erik]

On second thought, maybe it's just the Guinness rofl

 

[Spaniard]

Everyone here is stark raving bonkers which is why we all get on. End of story.

Another Absinthe for moi?

 

[jimdoe2you]

Why???, ..........because the existing member base of this forum nurtures good friendship. For example, some members can disappear for a while and then come back to a warm welcome and by italians, britons, irish, and canadians!!!

(at least I think so)

:friday

 

[Tony Babowicz]

Times like these I wish I were a wine drinker. I'll drink my vodka instead. I hope you guys still can accept me as part of the gang. Jokes aside, I've made some good friends here on DB. Whopperhead,Cdavis,Ildiver, to name a couple. Met here, now I have buddies to dive with in different regions. Even the ones I have not met in person, Spago,KP,Ms Sands I am glad we are cyber friends.
A toast to all my DB buddies.:friday

 

[hyeparis]

My favorite forum used to be at spearfishing.com - it was really funny - Pastor was the moderator, for one.
But it broke down so I followed others to deeperblue.com, which is fun too, but as much fun.

 

[ReefTroll]

I went through some rough times last year and the support from these forums was absolutely amazing, this is a top place to be!!

 

[kelp princess]

I agree that it's the people that make it great, and the it's the TGIF :friday emoticons!


seriously, i think it has everything to do with the great level of good humor and good ribbing, mentorship, celebration and respect everyone has for each other, for the sport of freediving and the ocean.

i also think it's because we do hail from the 4 corners of the planet and bring each other a glimpse into each others lives, and it isn't just the common bond but also the latitude to have different opinions.

and I agree with the Spaniard - we are all a bit bonkers!

xo,

kp

 

[podge]

Why???, ..........because the existing member base of this forum nurtures good friendship. For example, some members can disappear for a while and then come back to a warm welcome and by italians, britons, irish, and canadians!!!

(at least I think so)

:friday

Here, anybody know who this Jimdoe2you bloke is? Seems a bit dodgy to me I reckon we ought to keep an eye on him…!roflroflrofl