Why is Soaring declining

Eric Greenwell wrote:
Ben Flewett wrote:

Lennie,

Given that you have quit gliding, why don't you quit
'contributing' to this site? I don't understand why
you persist in partaking of discussions on a subject
you are no longer interested in.


We don't have to understand it to realize his comments have value to us.
Most people that are disappointed with soaring just leave and we never
learn why. Some of the responses to Lennie's comments certainly
illustrate what he is talking about, and I'm beginning to think it's
more of a problem than I realized. It's not soaring's only problem,
probably not even it's worst problem, but it seems such a shame that it
is a problem at all.

It is a sad fact that the more people involved the higher the likelyhood of
meeting someone completely incompatible with you. Note I did not say or imply
any derogatory label.

So we have a problem in that soaring clubs tend to have very similar people
involved, in the nature of the sport most are individualists, many are above
average income and inevitably many are competitive.

Result is that many clubs tend to develop a "mine's bigger than yours" attitude,
or other strange social habits. the only advice I can give is that you should
remember that tribalism is still very evident in most human activities,
including soaring. Be careful what tribe you join.

Personally I have found two clubs where the friendship and shared learning is
great. Both clubs concentrate on fun flying rather than competition, and a good
family experience as far a possible. We seem to manage a number of soaring
families where husband and wife and eventually kids fly. It is not impossible,
just takes some work and allowing for differences. That said there are still
people in each club who do not get on, we just dont let them get out of hand. If
people can't remember curtesy and respect they get shown the door. I know of at
least one who is convinced we are all jerks. C'est la vie - apparently he fits
right in at a neighbouring town's club. That is good because he is still
soaring, and now enjoying the company.