If you paddle out where other surfers are riding in, you will run into them, or they will run into you, and that is just asking for trouble. It makes sense. It makes for good surfing. It is in the highest interest of the sport. The surfer who fails to comprehend that surfing is a sport, not aquatic warfare, cannot survive.
Good surfers are good sports.
If you treat fellow surfers as you wish to. be treated, the sport of kings will prosper, and you will enjoy the sport more. There seem to be a great number of rules that surfers should follow. However, these are all just basically common sense. If all those who surfed were cautious and safety-oriented, then everyone could surf without the fear of accidents and injuries. However, there are always those who surf carelessly, selfishly, and use.