Pussies

Look you've got to see what happens here,the pros have so many people who want to hang with them,if you took action against their poor form in the surf there would be a bunch of guys who would punch on you,rip your car apart so they can move up the friendship chain.

I don't believe in karma. Long observation of bullying, and that is what burning some one is, shows that the bully needs to be called on it in some way. Failing that, there needs to be negative consequences for the bully. Unfortunately, as stated in this thread, these guys are usually accompanied by hangers on who do the fighting for them. The result is that usually the bully gets away with it, which reinforces the behaviour.

All those knobs who believe it's their god given right to piss someone off are just the result of being brought up playing musical chairs, where there's a chair for everyone. Or playing pass the parcel where everyone gets a prize. Too many kids (not all) are being brought up not knowing how to lose gracefully, and not understanding that disappointment is a part of life. It's not just in the surf, but the surf is a classic example. What's worse is that there are some +40 year olds who believe their special son or daughter is the next MF or Layne Beachley or whoever and even though they know the unwritten surf etiquette, won't teach it to their kids because they feel it will disadvantage them in the surf.

I've told the story before on here where a 40+ father was surfing with his 14 yo son and some other 14 year olds. Father is burning everyone in sight, snaking, and generally showing off his rather talented circus tricks. When I called him out after he'd burned me three times in three waves, as well as OB and another mate, he swore, cussed and told me that I should give up surfing if I couldn't get a wave in the line up. He did this in full view and earshot of his son and mates.

I've also had a chat to kids in the cinema who were helping themselves to the lollies. I told them it was stealing and that one day, somewhere in the future they would have something stolen from them and they'd realise that stealing isn't the way to go. That they would hopefully remember this conversation and that the reason the lollies were so expensive is because of kids like them nicking them. Or the girl in the traffic who almost ran up the back of my Harley, with me on it, because she was texting. I politely suggested that whatever she was doing wasn't so important that she could just kill or injure another human because of it. At first she retorted, and I said, "No, just picture your life having to see a dead body with blood all over it every time you close your eyes." Apologies usually ensue, if you do it right.

During the last two decades, "special" has become the new mediocre. There are so many parents I call "Lawnmowers" because they mow flat any impediment that may confront the child that a lot of the younger generations (I'm almost as old as OB ) don't know how to behave,. Their parents arrange everything, including when they can go play with the neighbors or a school friend. They've always been told "You can do whatever you want to" Which really means, "If you put your heart into it, you can achieve anything". However, what they understand from the statement is, "Do whatever you please and don't care about who you hurt or disadvantage on the way."

Ever since the police were given speed cameras and video facilities, the public have lost respect for them. Because they've lost that respect we used to show them, people have also lost respect for other authority, which in turn makes them lose respect for even their neighbors and sometimes family, let alone just Joe Average on the street.

So, if all of us here did our bit, one by one, and talk to the youngins about what it really means to be doing the right thing, perhaps we can collectively make a small difference. Eventually it must turn around, although perhaps not in our lifetime sadly, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Bit of a rant I know, but it's a pet topic of mine. It appears our generation aren't the first to lament the "young people of today" I'll leave you with a couple of gems supposedly attributed to Socrates or possibly Plato the ancient philosophers.

"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."

"The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress."

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"

Been great having a lurk through this topic. Theres absolutely no excuse for burning someone in my opinion. not only is it a comapletely self centred lowlife act , it's dangerous.

ive always played it like Tux. Regardless if it's me who's burnt or someone else in the line up.

Once.Ok its a mistake, be careful buddy, Have a great day, just be careful and get some sick waves.
2nd time, OK ....this is a calm yet serious verbal, so they really appreciate the gravity of the situation and the consequences are clearly spelt out.
3rd time and particularly if it's a blatant drop in, consequence, serious, make them think before they ever do it again consequence.

if there's no consequence, there's no deterrent from doing it again, and again and again.

Being like the silent shopper who never complains, just never comes back..is NOT an option when going for a surf

I'm not a big guy but if someone's dropping in or hogging the waves and taking off on everything they can...I let them know it

It lets them know their actions aren't appreciated.