Is this guy smoking something or is he on to something?
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Mr Carcharodon
Contributor
Has George Irvine posted anything anywhere for the last 10 years? Maybe it's time to give it a rest. Or maybe judge the system by the people who are using it today.
Isn't that what this is about? It is what I was discussing - DIR practitioners are a house divided - one set enjoys an excellent reputation of welcoming divers and promoting the system by example, and willingness to entertain questions. The other set seems intent on lording it over people and portrays the attitude, if you aren't DIR, you're ****.
As TSandM opined, some instructors may have adopted the attitude of their instructor, and thus the tale continues.
I still haven't heard - is this something that bothers the DIR practitioners? Or they couldn't care less?
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... I think Ellyat's article was also written about 10 years ago ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
- Messages
- 100,640
- Reaction score
- 103,883
- Location
- On the Fun Side of Trump's Wall
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
It is not just the Doing It Right badge that gets in the way. Many self named DIR folks are very calm and welcoming divers who do not 'badge" people. TS&M and NWGD are two who come to mind right away. They are willing to partner up with new/visiting divers and provide a safe and non-judgmental Dive for those fortunate enough to dive with them.
I much prefer to dive solo. Peace and tranquility for me. I don't want any team, or light signals, or skills and drills. I just want the peace and quiet of being in Mother Ocean and drifting weightless.
This thread comes up fairly frequently. I think the bashers, on both ends, are getting fewer as time goes on. We are all just divers and free to dive the way that suits us best.
I have been amused to see some Tech/UDT/DIR diver diving a bunny dive with all the bottles and hoses and lights etc.. I now realize that these folks prefer to dive like that and may well be just doing a practice dive or even simpler, just not wanting to change their gear configuration. It doesn't matter.
Just enjoy the fact that we are the very privileged few to be beneath the waves and seeing the wonders U/W.
I much prefer to dive solo. Peace and tranquility for me. I don't want any team, or light signals, or skills and drills. I just want the peace and quiet of being in Mother Ocean and drifting weightless.
This thread comes up fairly frequently. I think the bashers, on both ends, are getting fewer as time goes on. We are all just divers and free to dive the way that suits us best.
I have been amused to see some Tech/UDT/DIR diver diving a bunny dive with all the bottles and hoses and lights etc.. I now realize that these folks prefer to dive like that and may well be just doing a practice dive or even simpler, just not wanting to change their gear configuration. It doesn't matter.
Just enjoy the fact that we are the very privileged few to be beneath the waves and seeing the wonders U/W.
Yes, it is something that bothers me. And what bothers me the absolute most is when I see behavior on the part of my colleagues which is apt to perpetuate the stereotype. It's hard to convince people that it's a good system and worth looking into, when the guy next to you is behaving like a jerk 
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If I could a bit of a different spin on this, I have always thought of “DIR” and “non-DIR” as ways to answer the questions that come up when one starts to explore the underwater world and learn more about how we use equipment and techniques to spend time there.
Is what I am doing safe? Should I dive solo? I want to explore that wreck, how can I be safe doing it? How deep can I go without endangering myself?
This is simply a small list of some questions that have come up in my short time diving. Obviously, there are a plethora of answers to these few questions, and even more questions that come about from answering them.
Myself, I have attempted to read as much about both camps as possible. Learn more about their ways of answering the big questions of diving safely. Personally, my extreme skepticism of everything new I encounter, scientific mind, and pathological need to know how everything works, leads myself into listening to the opinions of both sides, trying the techniques/equipment myself and forming my own answers to the questions. Sometimes its the same as one camp or the other, sometimes its completely different.
I have previously posted this in other threads and I have always coined my personal philosophy as STI – Striving To Improve. If we approach everything we do with unyielding enthusiasm, common sense, hard work, and the humility to ask questions and accept criticism. Then we will never go wrong, and will always improve.
I must admit it has been a few months since I stumbled upon Ellyat’s manifesto, and that is what I think it is. A manifesto. It is filled with a lot of points that attempt to undermine the philosophy of DIR, and urges people to use other paths.
The most amazing and wondrous thing that has ever been gifted to the human species is the free will to determine what they feel, think, question, say and do. It was of his own free will to think and express that essay. It is of our own free will to determine what it means and how to incorporate it into our own diving life.
Is what I am doing safe? Should I dive solo? I want to explore that wreck, how can I be safe doing it? How deep can I go without endangering myself?
This is simply a small list of some questions that have come up in my short time diving. Obviously, there are a plethora of answers to these few questions, and even more questions that come about from answering them.
Myself, I have attempted to read as much about both camps as possible. Learn more about their ways of answering the big questions of diving safely. Personally, my extreme skepticism of everything new I encounter, scientific mind, and pathological need to know how everything works, leads myself into listening to the opinions of both sides, trying the techniques/equipment myself and forming my own answers to the questions. Sometimes its the same as one camp or the other, sometimes its completely different.
I have previously posted this in other threads and I have always coined my personal philosophy as STI – Striving To Improve. If we approach everything we do with unyielding enthusiasm, common sense, hard work, and the humility to ask questions and accept criticism. Then we will never go wrong, and will always improve.
I must admit it has been a few months since I stumbled upon Ellyat’s manifesto, and that is what I think it is. A manifesto. It is filled with a lot of points that attempt to undermine the philosophy of DIR, and urges people to use other paths.
The most amazing and wondrous thing that has ever been gifted to the human species is the free will to determine what they feel, think, question, say and do. It was of his own free will to think and express that essay. It is of our own free will to determine what it means and how to incorporate it into our own diving life.
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Here, here!
I admit I have been somewhat aghast at the reactions of some people because I didn't fully imbibe of the Kool-aid. Fortunately, that has been well overcome by the warmth of others who respect that I have my own opinion.
Interestingly, I have experienced more . . . . elitism? in my simple Fundies venture than I did working at Fort Bragg -- the Testosterone capital of the world! :shocked2:
kanonfodr
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