Why are you here? (DZ.COM)

[WrongWay 0]

Okay, first, a disclaimer. I'm not slamming on anyone here (like one time jumpers) because I love all of you guys. I'm simply addressing an issue we've seen way too much of lately. Nothing but love in this thread, and please, keep it civil, we're all semi-mature adults. Well, most of us.

I was having a discussion with another jumper saturday about the issue that many people have had on here, that caused some ruckus about one time jumpers. This is my opinion of the matter summed up, and I'd like to get others opinions.
It can all be summed up in one statement, which I'll get to later in the post.

I am a skydiver. I have hundreds of jumps and show up every weekend with exceptions few and far between. I get on dropzone.com to keep in touch with the skydiving world that I am already a part of.

Then you have the one timers. Now here there is a fine difference between a "future skydiver" and a "skydiving whuffo". I feel that if you made only one jump but make solid plans to keep jumping, get through your student progression, and become a true skydiver, whatever that means, you should be welcomed here with open arms, and your posts need not be mocked or criticized on the fact that you're a student. We were all there once, and you are no different from us.

On the other hand, there are the " skydiving whuffo" variety. These are the people who make one jump, with no intentions of making another, yet still call themselves "skydivers". IMHO, this is nothing less than an insult to the rest of us who have dedicated hundreds or thousands of jumps, thousands of our hard earned dollars, and years of whuffo life for the love of the sky. These people have no right to be calling themselves skydivers, and while they can still post here (hey its a free country), they should watch what they say in any threads that have anything remotely to do with the sport.

So now I go back to my question, why are you here?

As I said before, I am a skydiver, and I post here because I wish to keep in touch with the skydiving world that I'm already a part of.

There are others that are here because they wish to become a part of that world without actually jumping.

So tell me now, are you here for the right reasons? If not, get out to your local dropzone, and start jumping.

Thanks for listening.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[AggieDave 6]

I came to DZ.com after my first jump back in May of 2000. And I came asking questions, since my instructors hadn't layed out a guideline of how, what, when, etc of what the student progression is. So I came here hungry for knowledge and found an extension of my DZ in the social sides of things.

You have to remember, back then there was I think 2 forums, Talk back and Serious stuff (if I remember correctly), and there was maybe 40 people on the site, so it was a tighter community.

Now, with DZs using the ISP, with A-license cards and everything layed out in the SIM, students tend to have less questions such as "whats next" but have questions along the lines of "how", which is best left to the AFF (or whatever) instructor that is teaching them, to teach them.


So, overall, I'm apart of DZ.com for the social aspects, but it does provide an opportunity for learning as well.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Casie 0]

I basically started posting, after lerking for quite some time, for the social aspect as well as AggieDave stated above. Don't get me wrong I learn a great deal from this site too! I like the idea of meeting dz.commers at new DZ's I haven't been tooo yet. Maybe it's a comfort level that's already there even though I haven't visited; ya know? I dont' know, just my two cents..............................

~Porn Kitty
WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts!

[TribalTalon 0]

hmmm.. Well i think i'm a skydiver, i've already gotten to level 4, and i hope on finishing AFF either this month or next. hopefully i qualify for your select group I joined this site to learn more about skydiving, and to find new places to go to, learn about gear, the different disciples of skydiving, etc etc. Also, there's always the social side, i've talked to a bunch of cool people around the U.S. and world that i wouldnt have talked to if not for this site. *shrugS*

[AggieDave 6]

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hopefully i qualify for your select group

What select group? Of people that jump and are on DZ.com? Yup, you're in bro, no turning back, you couldn't stop if you wanted to.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[StearmanR985 0]

I signed on DZ.com a couple of weeks before actually becoming a skydiver. However, I fully intended on taking up the sport, that is why I joined.

In fact, I met my JM through here (hi Ed). Now I am a freak (of the sky), according to my whuffo friends... They just don't get it.

Oh, I get bored at work too....

[WrongWay 0]

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hopefully i qualify for your select group

What select group? Of people that jump and are on DZ.com? Yup, you're in bro, no turning back, you couldn't stop if you wanted to.

EXACTLY. No select group, just jumpers and people who wanna jump. TT ya rock in my book. You too, AD for clarifying that.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[goose491 0]

I used DZ.com classifieds when seeking my first rig. I decided to check out the rest of the site as was very pleased to find so many cool topics of discussion in the forums. I immediately created a profile and started posting. I was even more pleased, to find how hospitable you all were.

I sign in in the morning from my desk at work... it keeps me sane in that I can still be among skydivers whilst bored out of my mind. I live in Ontario, skydiving is seasonal to most here in Canada... need I say more?

I find the forums very educational. I lurk the skydive related threads any time I come up with a question and i usually find the answers I'm looking for... not quite? ask a question and people line up to share/provide their personal experience.

That brings me to a certain thought on the "skydiving whuffos" posting here. I don't really care who posts here... so long as inexperienced people are not providing advice to others. That's one thing that should not be tolerated in the forums.

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[sunshine 2]

I'm on dzcom to keep in touch with the wonderful people i've already met. I also chat with quite a few jumpers i hope to meet soon. I like the social aspet of the site. It's a great way to pass my time at work. I've met somewhere around 200 dzcommers and they are definately my family. Without this site, it would be hard for me to keep in touch with them.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[pilotdave 0]

After (or was it before?) by first jump in 1998, I started reading rec.skydiving (which has a hilarious whiney post by a now former dz.com member today...what a baby). I came across dropzone.com at some point way back, but there wasn't much here so I wasn't a "regular." After I started skydivingmovies.com (then called ftp://129.2.226.158 or something
Why'd I stay? Mostly boredom, like everyone else.
Dave

[WrongWay 0]

Quote

I'm on dzcom to keep in touch with the wonderful people i've already met. I also chat with quite a few jumpers i hope to meet soon. I like the social aspet of the site. It's a great way to pass my time at work. I've met somewhere around 200 dzcommers and they are definately my family. Without this site, it would be hard for me to keep in touch with them.

Like ME!!! I love you sunshine!!!

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[kai2k1 0]

I Joined DZ.COM back in July of this year. I came seeking information, camraderie and to speak with people that knew what i was talking about since you cant really discuss what just happened to you with a whuffo. Since that time i've made 13 jumps, Graduated AFF and done one solo jump.


Do I feel like im a skydiver?? Yes and NO. I do feel like i am, but I wont call myself one until I earn my "A" License. Thats just the benchmark that i set for myself.

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[sunshine 2]

Quote

Like ME!!! I love you sunshine!!!

I love you more.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[caress 0]

You have a great point in your post. I have jumped once. I knew before I did that jump that I would become addicted to skydiving right then and there that day. Yes, money is an issue to go for my license, and also my husband wants his license first. We have kids, and the youngest is 3. we need him to be a little older, before we both get our classes completed. In other words, I want to skydive more than anything, I just need time to do it right for my life. Just because I've been skydiving once doesn't make me a skydiver at all, it just means I'm not afraid to do it again and again...and so on. I believe a skydiver is somebody who is a student, or has their license already.
As for why I'm here? I was invited. By my friends who are skydivers to be here, and I accepted.-caress

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being
right.

[kelel01 1]

Ok, so here's the deal. I came here just to look for used gear in the classifieds, because somebody at my DZ mentioned it. I saw "Forums", and I thought, oh, great some more lame ass message boards on the internet for geeks to sit and talk about Star Wars on all day long.

Well, I've been converted in a big way. DZ.com has helped me find something in skydiving that has made me keep jumping through all of the fear I felt during AFF-- a sense of family that we possess as people who participate in this sport. I love this sport dearly (already, even though I don't have my A, which to some people means I don't mean jack to this sport, and vice versa), but the thing I love even more is the fact that I feel like I could go to any DZ in the US, and several all over the world, and I would know that I have friends to jump with, even though I haven't met them "in real life".

That's why I'm here . . . Plus, it can be entertaining as hell, especially when I'm in the middle of a heated debate or laughing my ass off at some hysterical post!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!

Kelly

[WrongWay 0]

See, now you are a perfect example of the first kind of one timers. You've only jumped once, but you have every intention of finishing and becoming a jumper. Even if you have to take some time off (for very good reasons might I add) you still want to go for it. I respect that very much, and you & your hubby are great additions to the site. Good luck with your little one!!

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[Nightingale 0]

I found DZ.com after I did my first tandem. I was looking for info and to meet people. I knew after that first jump that I was going to keep jumping.

[leroydb 0]

Why am i here? For the comrodery and the ability to gain/share knowledge.

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[PLFKING 4]

Pretty much the same reasons as Dave mentioned, except back then I *think* TalkBack was the only game in town...I do remember reading all the Safety & Training articles that Sangiro was nice enough to provide us with.

Plus I wanted to learn more, and faster, than my instructors were wanting to teach me. I had great instructors, and I know now that they were following the normal progression of training, but I'm just impatient by nature.

Don

"When in doubt I whip it out,
I got me a rock-and-roll band.
It's a free-for-all."

[Slappie 9]

The reason I hang around this site is, it keeps me sane while at work. Gives me something to do. I used to be an admin for a large IRC Network. Got bored with chat. So this gives me something to do during the day.

I found the site kinda the same way AggieDave did. I had done my tandem and was totaly hooked. Knowing I was going to go thru AFF I searched everything I could and found this site. I finished my student jumps, bought my gear and was on my way to becoming a jumping junkie.. Well until two things hit me... Skydivers are broke... I was broke to begin with so being broker wasn't an optition. I've since quit skydiving. So I guess I'm one of your "Skydiving whuffos" because there is probably no chance of me jumping again anytime soon. Money is a problem. Now before you addicts come telling me to cutback on this and that.. Forget it. I've cut everything to the bone. I over extended myself and have to pay bills off before my fun begins again.

Then my dad isn't in the best of health. I'm an only child. Basically I'm it when it comes to my dads family.

So I hangout here because I like it....

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[CrazyIvan 0]

The reason I'm here is because since I started jumping (last year) I really fell in love with the sport, I want to learn as much as I can and the best place to do it is where there are lots of people, with different levels of experience and different ways to do things, also, noticed the level of comradery which I consider is very unique compared to other sports.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[andy2 0]

the base zone is why I read this webpage. I have a lot of spillover into the other forums G/Ring, incidents, etc. And occasionally even talkback.

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[skybytch 273]

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I do remember reading all the Safety & Training articles that Sangiro was nice enough to provide us with.

That's what brought me here - at least one of those articles was mine.

Don't remember exactly when I started posting on the forums but I _think_ there were three of them then (Talkback, G&R and S&T). I used to post on rec dot alot but found I liked the atmosphere here better.

At first I suppose I was more into sharing what I knew than I was learning from others... Now I'm sure that I've learned far more reading these forums than I have taught to others in posting.

I've stuck around because of the people. You've been my support group, cheerleading section, wake up call, drinkin' buddies and teachers. I've had the pleasure of meeting and jumping with many of you. Some of you are my closest friends. And to think I wouldn't have gotten to know any of you this well if I hadn't started posting here...

[Ron 10]

I joined many years ago March 2001.

I didn't post until Oct 2002.

One of the reasons I started to post was to try and give knowledge.

The other (and the main reason) was to try and prevent 100 jump wonders from giving out the wrong knowledge.

There is a 100 jump wonder right now giving advice in the Incident section....The funny thing is this person is giving canopy advice but has been kicked off of two DZ's for bad canopy control. It took 3 posts for them to admit they only have less than 100 jumps, but they were arguing with someone with 1400 jumps.

It amazes me how people who are not qualified try to give advice.

It also amazes me how people ask for advice here and not at their DZ. At your DZ you know who is skilled and qualified...Here all you know is how many posts a person has....They can claim as many jumps as they want...And I know several folks here that have MUCH less experience than they claim.

I try like hell to stay out of TB....But posts like this pull me in.

I personally think that unless you are an instructor you should not give advice....No matter how well intended it is.

Hell, I don't other instructors giving advice to my students.

So Im here to try and keep people from giving bad advice, while trying to give good advice and let people learn from my experiences and mistakes.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[PLFKING 4]

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That's what brought me here - at least one of those articles was mine.

True dat. I printed out your "Tips on buying Your First Rig" and actually used them.

Don

"When in doubt I whip it out,
I got me a rock-and-roll band.
It's a free-for-all."