This guide should help explain what constitutes being a dick and what kind of behavior doesn’t fly in the Yacht Club community. It is by no means a complete list. Use your best judgment. If you’re wondering whether you’re being a dick, there’s a decent chance you already know the answer.
- Be friendly.
Say hi. Introduce yourself. Make the new person feel like they belong here. - When in doubt, take your out.
It’s dodgeball. We don’t even keep score. - Play fair.
Don’t cheat. Don’t kinda cheat. Don’t make us have to explain why what you did technically counts as cheating. - Take care of the balls.
Don’t kick or spike them. They’re expensive AF and, honestly, you look like a jerk. - Keep your hands to yourself.
Flipping somebody off might be funny to your friends. The person who just showed up for the first time doesn’t know that. You too, Chris. - Know when to ease up.
If you’re close enough to someone to smell them, maybe don’t throw as hard as you possibly can. - Throw hard. Don’t be intimidating.
Everybody wants to be Sandy Koufax. Work on control and accuracy instead of trying to scare people. - Own your shit.
Your actions. Your attitude. Your bad throw. Your bad mood. All of it. - If you hit someone in the face, apologize.
Then maybe buy them a beer. - Don’t be the hero.
If you’re the last person in, remember there are 14 people behind you waiting to play. Use a strategy that keeps the game moving. - Share the balls.
It’s a team sport. You do not personally need possession of every ball on the court. - Look out for each other.
Your teammates are on your side. If someone is getting too heated, too aggressive, or just being a dick, say something. - Don’t get mad at your teammates.
Yes, competition is fun. If somebody throws an easy catch and you find yourself genuinely angry about it, you’re doing this wrong. - Don’t take cheap shots.
Someone fell down? Tying their shoe? Clearly not paying attention? Maybe don’t light them up. There are plenty of other people to throw at. - Talk it out.
Skip the yelling, pointing, grudges, and weird passive-aggressive shit. - Remember why we’re here.
Be cool to people. Have fun. Help make this a place people want to come back to.
And, above all:
Don’t be a dick.