Me personally. I have been welcoming every new member for at least 8 months now. Others have jumped on that bus also and it`s great! When I welcome new members I also add them to my buddy list. Most accept, some don`t. Some have even sent rude comments. Thats fine with me. I just put them on block. Requesting a new member to be my buddy is merely intended to make them feel welcome, not put off. I don`t don`t discriminate on race, creed, color, or religion. AND, I do live in Florida. When I am not working, I am boating, riding or DIVING. Florida is a great dive destination... In closing. if your that uptight about people asking you to be there buddy. Like Nancy Reagan once said, "JUST SAY N O !" You say you signed up a LONG TIME ago? Well, if 9 months is a long time ago, great! How about donating to divebuddy.com and Greg to help keep the site going and getting your dive flag? Then, maybe Greg can add a few more steps before a buddy can be added. If you don`t registar to vote and then take the time to vote, you can`t bitch about who is running our country now can you? (thats my way of being sarcastic)