An Attempt at Understanding DIR

[JeffG]

Now I've been told "oh, that book is 10 years old, you have to read it in that context," and my immediate response is "then why the heck not update it?!" Surely folks are aware of the concept of a 2nd edition!

Like I noted, in reading the books I've found a lot of good information there. But I also find comments that lead me to wonder if the attitudes I experience don't have some higher up source (if not intended that way). I appreciate Thalassamania posting his experience, it seems to speak to that same sort of experience, and perhaps the source is historical.http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/thalassamania.html

See...this thread has been a waste then. You are still stuck at the beginning. I should of gone with my first post. To much work.

 

[HenrikBP]

Now I've been told "oh, that book is 10 years old, you have to read it in that context," and my immediate response is "then why the heck not update it?!" Surely folks are aware of the concept of a 2nd edition!

I'm involved in publishing every now and then - trust me, it ain't as easy as it'd seem

Henrik

 

[JeffG]

I'm involved in publishing every now and then - trust me, it ain't as easy as it'd seem

Henrik

Especially for a book that may of sold a couple 100 copies. But some people are never satisfied.

 

[TSandM]

You know, one of the things that strikes me quite often in the diving world is that the ease with which a nice, professional website can be set up can really dupe people into thinking that an organization or a business is an enormous entity with tons of employees, making lots of money. GUE really consists of a very small number of people (look at the instructor list!) and a small office in High Springs. They don't have enough clerical staff to process all the cards that that small group of instructors generates. And the organization's energy recently has gone into updating the teaching materials and preparing the OW class stuff, not into going back and editing Jarrod's book (much of which is still perfectly relevant).

Kingpatzer, you don't like a group of people you've met. I get that. And you're determined to prove that the whole community of DIR divers is just like the ones you know at heart, even if we put a friendly face to the internet. I'm sorry that's the case. But I will extend an invitation -- if you ever get to Seattle, please get in touch with me, and I'll take you out to dive with a bunch of really nice people who just happen to have decided this system works best for them.

But you'll have to switch to a BP/W and a long hose . . . Just kidding!

 

[lamont]

There is not a local GUE instructor, and as I've mentioned, I've met the local DIR contingent, and they are the biggest horses rear-ends you can imagine. I didn't find them open minded, nice or any other positive adjective. Which is one of the reasons I'm posting here.

You should add your location to your public profile.

Its entirely possible that there are less vocal DIR divers in your area that you don't know about that might contact you on scubaboard.

 

[lamont]

Now I've been told "oh, that book is 10 years old, you have to read it in that context," and my immediate response is "then why the heck not update it?!" Surely folks are aware of the concept of a 2nd edition!

GUE and JJ don't have the resources in time or money to be as slick as other larger organizations. There's also better resources out there on equipment now and it would take a lot of work to revamp the book. GUE has also been focusing on revamping its technical diving and cave diving curriculum inside the courses and appears to be putting its efforts there.

 

[Gombessa]

Kingpatzer, you don't like a group of people you've met. I get that. And you're determined to prove that the whole community of DIR divers is just like the ones you know at heart, even if we put a friendly face to the internet.

Sadly, I'm definitely getting that vibe as well. A lot of people have expended real time and effort here to show what we believe is the "real" face of DIR, and ironically, we all have names and faces to associate our statements to, unlike the anonymous, in-person jerks that the OP has met (who still may have no real relation to DIR at all). And still I'm sensing the same underlying hostility as before this thread began. At this point, I think all that's been said has been said, and the OP has enough information to let him believe whatever he wants.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I can kinda relate to what KP is feeling ... I had similar experiences very early on. In fact, if you happened across some of my early ScubaBoard posts on the topic, they'd sound very similar.

Back in the 2001/2002 time frame we had a group of young men that were known by the local non-DIR diving community as "the posse" (and by other, less complimentary names as well). They were all recently DIRF'd, and showed up every week-end at the local mudhole to go out and practice their skills ... and hang out at the seawall on SI cracking jokes amongst themselves about all the "silties" getting in and out of the water with their split fins and snorkels.

Made quite the impression ... particularly with the old-timers who hadn't a clue why these obvious newbs were so full of themselves.

Over time most of those guys quit diving, and went about their business finding some other recreational activity to be "the best" at. A couple kept at it, matured a bit, and have turned into fine divers and reasonably nice people. The GUE community kind've flowed around them and kept growing.

Mike Kane's been mentioned in this thread ... my first interaction with him was at that same dive site, where he was teaching a Fundies class. He'd heard of me through SB and another internet forum I was active on, and was familiar with my less-than-favorable view of DIR. And yet he was pleasant, and even invited me to sit in and observe the class.

Made quite a different impression.

The DIR crowd ain't any different than any other group of folks ... you're gonna have a few jerks in every crowd, but the majority are gonna just be regular people who will be nice, respectful, and helpful if given the opportunity. I have found that goes even more so for the instructors. I have yet to meet one who isn't respectful, helpful, and a seriously kick-ass diver.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Gombessa]

The problem is that we're going around in circles now.

OP: "Show me that DIR divers aren't jerks."
DIR: "Well, there's A, B and C"
OP: "Yeah, but the guys I met in person are jerks, so I have to go with that."
DIR: "Well, how about D, E and F?"
OP: "Yeah, but the guys I met in person are still jerks."
DIR: "Well, where are you? Maybe there are people who are not jerks who can get in touch with you?"
OP: "Yeah, but those jerks I met in person, you know..."

We get the bad experience. But it's pretty clear there's not much we can do here to dispel that. The OP over several threads has declined to provide any geographic information, which is fine, but makes it incredibly difficult to help out further. We can't identify who he interacted with, and more importantly, can't get him in touch with people who can present a different face. At this point it just seems that the online exchanges are played out and becoming circuitous.

 

[Kingpatzer]

GUE really consists of a very small number of people (look at the instructor list!) and a small office in High Springs. They don't have enough clerical staff to process all the cards that that small group of instructors generates. And the organization's energy recently has gone into updating the teaching materials and preparing the OW class stuff, not into going back and editing Jarrod's book (much of which is still perfectly relevant).

I was aware they were on the smaller side, but I did not know that they are so small as to not have staff or funding for such basic activities as covering basic administrative duties.

But you'll have to switch to a BP/W and a long hose . . . Just kidding!

Already do, so it wouldn't be a stretch. Though my pressure gauge hose is clipped to the front of my BC so I can just look down at it rather than have to waste the energy to unclip it and bring it up to my face