Are you a CYBER-DIVER ??

[CincyBengalsFan]

Talking with some folks from a different dive shop today I heard a NEW term... CYBERDIVER. Evidentally, this is what we now call folks who have little dive experience but all kinds of posts on the board and talking smack on the board. If you are a cyberdiver does this make you a knowledgeable enough diver to coax new divers and give them advice????

I personally don't think so. You really need to get out in the REAL world and get some diving under your belt with all kinds of gear and all kinds of places before you should talk smack about diving.

To the MAN that said CYBERDIVER today. My hat's off to you!!!

 

[WreckWriter]

CincyBengalsFan once bubbled...
I personally don't think so. You really need to get out in the REAL world and get some diving under your belt with all kinds of gear and all kinds of places before you should talk smack about diving.

I agree 100%. Anyone can look good on a message board. Do the dives before you talk about them.

Tom

 

[Aquamaniac]

:whack:

Too many "experts".........

 

[Bob]

I've thought for a long time that most of the so called "experts" on this board, and others, spend more time writing about diving than they actually spend diving. Diving isn't rocket science like some guys try to make it. That's why I rarely post anymore, too many cyber experts out there with ALL the answers and no experience to back it up. :tree: Bob

 

[ckharlan66]

Yep, Probably.

I have alot more post than dives. But reading and participating in this board has provided me with knowledge that would have taken many many years to gather elsewhere. I can discuss with more experienced divers the diffent agencies and there requirements, different types of equipment and different opinions on them and I have a better knowledge of dive medicine and dive physics. I find that there are alot of people out there that are not aware of alot of the aspects of our sport that this board has exposed me to.

I try to keep quite when I don't know the answer to a question and I don't even argue, well not too much anyway.

Thanks to everyone envolved in this board for providing me with this knowledge and thanks to the creators of the board for providing us with a source for our dive education.

Chad

 

[jonnythan]

But I get out and dive every opportunity I get. This board has been a supremely rich source of knowledge for me.. that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Perhaps the person who coined this term isn't comfortable with newbie divers learning so much without having to do it all the hard way? Anything that spreads such volumes of diving knowledge (aka this board) is a good thing if you ask me.

Anyway, I don't find myself "talking smack on the board" about stuff I don't have much experience with.

As for the "spend more time writing about diving than they actually spend diving"... that's fair, but writing and reading about diving I can do all day at work... actually diving is a bit more complicated and can only be done once or twice a week.

I've probably learned more just from reading and participating in this board than I have since my OW class ended (March of last year). I don't claim to have all the answers or anything.. every dive I do, I realize more and more how little I *do* know. That's why I appreciate the guys (and girls) on the board.. helping realize what I don't know, helping me learn constantly, making me realize what to pay attention to on dives, that kinda stuff. The board is a great place... I guess it gets to some people's heads, but I try not to let it get to mine. If it does, I've no doubt I'll hear about it

I'm a *far* more conscientious, safer, attentive diver thanks to this board.

So, thanks Scuba Board for making me a Cyberdiver :mean:

 

[The Chairman]

most of the "Cyber-Divers" are readily apparent by their posts. You have to have the time in the suds in order to make ANY sense. You should never give advice outside of your experiences or expertise. Thats why I don't tell people how to cave dive or dive tri-mix etc. etc.

That being said... I have seen a lot of the armchair divers learn a LOT before they get a chance to endanger themselves or others... this is a good thing. I have also been exposed to some types of diving environments that I would not normally be exposed to... and I get to ask questions about them too. Experience is very important, but I am glad that we have this place to learn from so many REAL experts. You can tell who they are, and if you are wise, you will listen to them.

 

[JT2]

I know a few old divers that have done all the dives and they don't know @#$%! I also know some fairly new divers that are very serious about learning and are also better divers from the start than some of the old-timers that have done it all. A lot of dive training could be taught by someone who has never dove before, as a matter of fact there are more than one of these type people in the commercial diving industry. Water skills is only part of it guys, and I don't care how many dives you have, that alone does not make you more qualified to answer and post on this board. I guess we all need to send in our log books to see if we are really qualified to be on the board....jeez, give me a break.

 

[Scuba]

I agree with JT2. Just read the posts about the DIRF classes and you will see how well all these expert, experienced divers do when challenged with what DIR considers basic diving skills.

Experience does'nt necessarily translate into competence or knowledge.

As far as debating about any aspect of diving. I agree one should know what one is talking about. On the other hand, how many times to we think we understand something until someone shows us a better understanding. No exchange of ideas, no growth, no learning, no correction of wrong ideas.

Also, even the experts disagree.

Those who claim to know what they don't are as dangerous as those who claim to have the final answer.

 

[jonnythan]

And now it seems to me that maybe the "experienced" divers trying to belittle us "cyberdivers" may be the ones "talking smack about" certain diving styles or gear configurations, never having tried them or taken the class....

I've never really said much either way beyond appearances, but I do see a lot of people smacking this or that when they have absolutely no experience with it.. whether it's DIR, an online store, or what...

So maybe it's backwards... maybe not.