For beginners, it seems the only articles out there are along the lines of  “how to stay out of people’s way and not piss anyone off”.

Well it’s not about other people. Fuck ‘em. If they get pissed off, it’s their problem not yours. I can guarantee they were once in your position too.

Learning is hard enough without worrying about what other people think. Obviously it’s probably not a good idea to paddle out to the peak of a reef break where a bunch of locals are shredding after your first week surfing.

Being mindful of where other people are in the water is key to your survival.  But never feel intimidated by people when you are learning.  You have plenty more to worry about, like the wave about to land on your head!