Hey Zuz, I am confused: I posted my surf pic, but comments were unhelpful

Ever asked the internet for advice on a surfing etiquette conundrum… and didn’t quite like what you got in return? Yep. We all have.

???? Hey Zuz — I am confused

I posted a pic of myself and another surfer in a near-collision situation on Reddit — me flying down the line (oh man, it was such a great wave), him trying to get over it in front of me. I thought I did everything right. I really did. But the comments said I shouldn’t have been there if I can’t handle the conditions, that I should’ve seen him, that I should’ve turned. I swear to God I was turning. Now I’m not so sure. I feel sad and deflated. What should I have done?

???? Dear reader!

Ah, that old chestnut. Everybody wants to help, but everyone’s a critic. What should you have done? You should not have asked the internet for help! The internet is the worst.

And definitely not posted a picture. On the internet, pictures are like a red rag to a bull. It’s charging time!

Without a photo, surfers would be more inclined to say: Hey, I wasn’t there, but maybe you should’ve pulled out, bailed, or turned harder. Because, unfortunately, no matter how great the wave is, it’s the rider’s responsibility to avoid running over other surfers — even if they are in the wrong.

You would then hear a few more pieces of advice about being more spatially aware, and to look where you’re going rather than stare at the obstacle that just materialized in front of you — and that would’ve been the end of it.

You would’ve had a wee think about it — ok, good advice — taken it on board, and slept like a baby that night.

But add a picture, and it’s game on.

Now it’s not just what you should’ve done — it’s your skill level, the conditions, the spot, the board, the guy in your way.

It’s only natural. People on the internet have opinions. Lots of them. You give them material to analyze, and they will. They want to be thorough.

And here’s where bias creeps in. You probably had an idea of what you wanted to hear — that you did everything right. Who wouldn’t? That’s expectation bias. We all want to be reassured that our decisions are the correct ones. It’s only human. But because the internet didn’t deliver, and instead pointed out all the possible things you might’ve done wrong, it feels overwhelming. It’s an attack on your very soul, and now your spirit is broken.

Ok, maybe I’m being a little dramatic here, but I’m speaking from personal experience.

Here’s what to do: take the good, ignore the noise. That’s confirmation bias — but we’ll allow it.

Because only you know what really happened on that wave. You’re the only one who knows how skilled you are and whether you did everything you could’ve possibly done in that situation. You already know this. The internet? Well, it’s not always right, is it?

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team