Arrogance and humility among divers

[EastEndDiver]

I seem to see more arrogance in new divers rather than older experienced divers maybe the reason is that they think the "new' courses/teaching is better then the old ways.........just my observations from being a member here and on dive boats.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I seem to see more arrogance in new divers rather than older experienced divers maybe the reason is that they think the "new' courses/teaching is better then the old ways.........just my observations from being a member here and on dive boats.

Depends on what you mean by "new". There is a phenomenon that can be roughly described as the "50 dive expert". It's a stereotype, but follows human nature in that it's like the teen who has learned just enough about life to believe he's got it all figured out ... only to discover as he gets older that he hadn't even figured out all the questions yet, much less the answers. I think to some degree many, if not most of us went through this phase.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[soggybadger]

I seem to see more arrogance in new divers rather than older experienced divers maybe the reason is that they think the "new' courses/teaching is better then the old ways.........just my observations from being a member here and on dive boats.

The older divers are probably quietly confident in their years of experience and a bit more mature. Just a thought.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The older divers are probably quietly confident in their years of experience and a bit more mature. Just a thought.

My first experience with an arrogant diver was a guy who was fond of telling everyone who would listen how he got certified in 1967 ... and how much better scuba instruction was back then. As a new diver, I was impressed with his expertise. As I developed my own skills and experience I came to realize that he wasn't really a very good diver. And by the time I'd been diving for two years I already had more dives and bottom time than he did.

Sometimes older divers just like to reminisce about the good old days ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[stuartv]

Depends on what you mean by "new". There is a phenomenon that can be roughly described as the "50 dive expert". It's a stereotype, but follows human nature in that it's like the teen who has learned just enough about life to believe he's got it all figured out ... only to discover as he gets older that he hadn't even figured out all the questions yet, much less the answers. I think to some degree many, if not most of us went through this phase.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[EastEndDiver]

Dunning and Kruger have it figured out !!

"No nothing".....now that's funny !!

When I was first certified, back in the stone age ,we would rely on "older experienced" divers to learn from. Back then in the area I lived it was a small dive community (NY/NJ) mostly wreck diving so we learned from those with more experience and progressed with their help there was no place for arrogance on anyone's part.Sure a few had big egos and rightfully so but I never saw that as arrogance and we listened to what they had to say because they "had been there done that" and knew what they were talking about.

NWGrateful yes those with less than (____) dives ( fill in the blank) I usually see it in some people between 40-100 dives That's one of the reasons I don't post often .

 

[Joris Vd]

If you want to see unbridled arrogance join an Archery club in the UK, preferably one that has some traditional English 'Longbow' proponents.

Hahaha fencing clubs tend to have the same attitudes, my whole family used to be part of a fencing club with a very long tradition. Half of the people seemed to be there because it sounds prestigious. There were alot of nice people, but also alot of pompous pr**ks. Usually the people that are the most arrogant and loudest about things are the ones who have the least to say.

 

[Vuk Milicevic]

I've enjoyed almost everything about diving since I started. I liked the classes, the novelty and newness of it all, and find an enduring enjoyment and sense of wonder in the underwater experience. There have been minor setbacks -- mistakes, dives that weren't fun, gear that didn't work out, times I felt I'd been ripped off -- but nothing serious or enduring.

Except the arrogance.

It was worst when I was considering diving and had just started. I ran into it at one of the LDSs, where the employee was not taking seriously my questions about gear since I had not completed my certification. I've run into it on boats and other groups of divers. So many divers want to talk about how deep they've dived, how little air they use, and other things that they perceive as accomplishments. Dealing with people in the dive industry, I've encountered egos so large they are incapable of entertaining the idea that, perhaps, they may have made a mistake at some point. I encounter technical divers, cave divers, and rebreather divers who seem to think that people curious about their specialty should be seen not heard.

I've always aspired to the sort of quiet competence demonstrated by airmen like Chesley Sullenberger, who was initially dismissive of his personal role in the safety of all on board when he was at the controls of the flight that had to ditch in the Hudson River.

What is it about the diving culture that leads to this sort of hubris?

Very valid question here. While still new to this forum, there is definitely noticeable arrogance and ego among certain posters. At times I feel like some posts turn into d!ck measuring contests. Unnecessary and no one truly cares.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Very valid question here. While still new to this forum, there is definitely noticeable arrogance and ego among certain posters. At times I feel like some posts turn into d!ck measuring contests. Unnecessary and no one truly cares.

The beauty of the internet is that a person can measure their dick any way they want, since no one can verify the measurement ... as I said earlier, sometimes it can be entertaining, as long as one doesn't take it seriously. But that said, there's a reason why some of these forums operate under a different set of rules (including this one) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Marie13]

I seem to see more arrogance in new divers rather than older experienced divers maybe the reason is that they think the "new' courses/teaching is better then the old ways.........just my observations from being a member here and on dive boats.

I seem to see it more in old timers how the courses in the 60s and 70s were the bees knees, divers being harassed and hazed in the pool has to be done, and those trained today are worthless and shouldn't be allowed in the water.