A Fresh Start—No PFDs, No Photos
01-02-2026 | 05:45 PM
#21
Registered
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,521
Likes: 4,436
From: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
We can agree to disagree. But trust me when I tell you this policy came out of industry desire and discussion, not "virtue signaling."
In fact, I would hazard to say I've been sideways with the industry more than most reporters (lots of stories to tell there—you guys have no idea how sensitive the industry can be—or maybe you do), I don't mean to assume) but in the case I agree with their take and am supporting it through the policy in discussion.
It harms no one. It takes away no one's freedom of choice, but much less "rights." No one has a "right" to be featured in media.
I am not dictating behavior to anyof you. I am simply modifying my own. If just one person puts on a PFD because of this decision, it's a win. At least in my eyes.
Enough gob-flapping, at least for me. Carry on, gentlemen.
Respectfully, m
In fact, I would hazard to say I've been sideways with the industry more than most reporters (lots of stories to tell there—you guys have no idea how sensitive the industry can be—or maybe you do), I don't mean to assume) but in the case I agree with their take and am supporting it through the policy in discussion.
It harms no one. It takes away no one's freedom of choice, but much less "rights." No one has a "right" to be featured in media.
I am not dictating behavior to anyof you. I am simply modifying my own. If just one person puts on a PFD because of this decision, it's a win. At least in my eyes.
Enough gob-flapping, at least for me. Carry on, gentlemen.
Respectfully, m
Hey, it's all good. I just think it's lame (joking). LOL
And like I said in my very first post. Your bat, your ball. You do you.
Last edited by thisistank; 01-02-2026 at 06:06 PM.
01-03-2026 | 09:24 AM
#24
Registered
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 404
From: Collierville, TN and Pickwick Lake
Change the name
This thread was being joked about in one of our group texts and my buddy suggested “Speed on the Water” might not be appropriate any longer as it could incite dangerous activity.
Last edited by payuppsucker; 01-03-2026 at 09:38 AM.
01-03-2026 | 10:34 AM
#25
Charter Member#203
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 21,193
Likes: 19,717
From: Ft.Myers, Fl/ Atlanta, Ga/ Worldwide
I don't think it's because it's a dangerous activity, Motorcycle riding can be dangerous, are you forced to wear a helmet?? in Many states you're not, It's your choice. If you get killed doing a sport, you're dead, it is those that are left behind that have to pick up the pieces, and mourn!
01-03-2026 | 11:00 PM
#26
Registered
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 6,418
From: Chicago
This is not about safety. It’s virtue signaling rooted in the belief that “we know better, and you’re too stupid to decide for yourself.” That mindset is classic authoritarian thinking — impose rules because people are assumed incapable of judgment.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
01-05-2026 | 06:58 PM
#27
Registered
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
From: Kearney, MO
This is not about safety. It’s virtue signaling rooted in the belief that “we know better, and you’re too stupid to decide for yourself.” That mindset is classic authoritarian thinking — impose rules because people are assumed incapable of judgment.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
01-05-2026 | 08:33 PM
#28
Registered
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 180
From: Indianapolis, IN/ Punta Gorda, FL
This is not about safety. It’s virtue signaling rooted in the belief that “we know better, and you’re too stupid to decide for yourself.” That mindset is classic authoritarian thinking — impose rules because people are assumed incapable of judgment.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
I escaped a communist country. Personal freedom is non-negotiable to me. When compliance is forced, resistance is a natural response for me. Just like when STUUU rolled into LOTO and started lecturing everyone about wearing life jackets. I was actually planning to wear one — right up until I was talked to like a five-year-old. At that point, absolutely not.
That kind of condescending, nanny-state attitude still makes my blood boil. If I die, that’s my choice. That’s called personal responsibility. People need to mind their own damn business, I don`t need a magazine to be my nanny thank you very much.
We are all adults, fully capable of making our own choices and accepting the consequences, don`t need some publication taking me choice away. and before you say oh do what you want, it`s us making this choice... if I pay for a run I expect videos/pics of my boat, this virtue signaling rule takes my choice away.
While on the subject, what about the participants who paid for the full experience, including helicopter photos and videos? Are refunds issued when that experience is compromised?
If organizers were truly concerned with safety and insurance liability, they would address alcohol — the leading cause of accidents. Mandating life jackets does nothing meaningful to improve safety; it simply checks a box and signals moral superiority, and maybe they find your body faster.
It`s like trying to stop gun violence by confiscating guns.
That being said, I plan on wearing them and will ask all my passengers to do the same, and it`s because of posts like Skater30 and his story, not because Im getting forced to do so.
01-06-2026 | 07:48 AM
#29
VIP Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 929
Likes: 91
From: Onset,MA
I usually watch and read these debates from the sidelines, but just wanted to add my 2 cents. Folks are saying "my choice to wear my PFD, who are you to take that away?" and it is, Matt is not telling anyone what to do, it IS your choice! But equally, it is Matt's and Speed on The Water's CHOICE to publish what they feel is appropriate content. No freedoms are being harmed. As far as Stu's take on wearing PFD's during his past events, that's his rules, not choice. It's a business with countless liabilities, so I respect those rules. But again, it's yours and my CHOICE to participate or not in FPC events. For me, Skater30 post about the topic was spot on, but that's me and my opinion (choice). Good discussions, carry on.
