DM'S or DMC's

[liuk3]

What's the point of making pages private? Sounds kind of elitest to me. I figure people will read what they want to read, and access should be universal for helpful information. Just my opinion having been a part of a bunch of non-scuba internet bulletin boards.

 

[Karibelle]

I'm looking more for DM issues that DM's can deal with together. I realize instructors can help also, but sometimes have a different outlook than a DM might have. Such as, how one DM's instructor handled an issue with them, and how it resolved itself. Also, maybe little hints to keep their instructor happy, and so on.

Dive safe/Train hard,
Joe

Consider that sometimes instructors may also DM; if nothing else, all instructors WERE a DM at one point. And that instructors who teach DMs may learn something from your experiences; something that may improve their instruction with their next DM candidate. Go ahead - post in the instructor forum!

 

[mjsylver]

I also think the instructor forum is the place to post.

 

[The_DivePirate]

This is all fine and dandy, but doesn't alieviate the issue of access for the "DMC", which seems to the case with quite a few of us here.(link to site support/suggestions) This forum would probably most benefit divers such as myself, starting on the pro road. I know that it will benefit others as well. Hopefully we will have instructors chime in and share some insight without having too trouble them with our petty issues. I'm not trying too exclude the dive instructors we have here on SB, merely give them the "TEACHERS LOUNGE" they have rightfully earned!

Joe

 

[Ber Rabbit]

What's the point of making pages private? Sounds kind of elitest to me. I figure people will read what they want to read, and access should be universal for helpful information. Just my opinion having been a part of a bunch of non-scuba internet bulletin boards.

The point? Just what the forum description says:
Scuba Instructors, Dive Masters & Dive Cons - this is your place for discussing everything about what you do privately.

Your profile says you're a new diver so there's just no way you could understand. I remember when I first became a DM I was amazed at the amount of stuff that I never noticed as a diver, stuff that made dives run smoothly. When I became an instructor I was stunned at how much more work there was when running a class than there had been when I was a DM. All of that stuff can be discussed with no agency bashing and the posts stay pretty well on topic. Most of the information in there wouldn't be helpful to anyone but pro's anyway.

I'd tell you about one incident where I posted a clean legitimate post in the I2I forum and had an instructor imediatly reply to me and I'll try to quote him, "Why are DMs even permitted to post here", because it is a closed area I will not link to it or cut and paste it, it would be improper.
Needless to say he was bombarded by replies of support fro DMs from other instructors, as they praised DM's and the service we provide the industry.

I remember that post and I remember thinking the person was pulling your leg.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[liuk3]

Your profile says you're a new diver so there's just no way you could understand. I remember when I first became a DM I was amazed at the amount of stuff that I never noticed as a diver, stuff that made dives run smoothly. When I became an instructor I was stunned at how much more work there was when running a class than there had been when I was a DM. All of that stuff can be discussed with no agency bashing and the posts stay pretty well on topic. Most of the information in there wouldn't be helpful to anyone but pro's anyway.

I guess that is my point as being new. I don't necessarily understand everything. However, wouldn't I be in a better position to understand if I was able to read everything including all threads?

I actually don't really care one way or another since I'm happy reading whatever threads I am permitted access as a noob. In other organizations' bulletin board forums I've been on, I could understand why there is an instructor section which is private because often times they would like to discuss a particular student or information/discussion of the organization is confidential. In this case of universal scuba diving, I'm not sure what info would be so confidential that it could not be shared and needs to be private. If information is not relevant to me, I just don't read it. For instance, I don't go to the technical diving specialties threads due to my skill level (or lack thereof), but it is nice to know that I can if I ever want access to the information. I guess I just never really understood the nature of the "private" threads. Just my point of view as an outsider and newcomer.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I guess that is my point as being new. I don't necessarily understand everything. However, wouldn't I be in a better position to understand if I was able to read everything including all threads?

It's not so much a matter of not letting you read what's there. Personally I wouldn't mind non-pro observers if they would keep their keyboards quiet but most won't. It's really quiet and kind of boring in there. I can go in and ask something like how other people effectively use Powerpoint to teach scuba and just get a straight answer without the endless chatter that plagues threads in the public area.

I actually don't really care one way or another since I'm happy reading whatever threads I am permitted access as a noob. In other organizations' bulletin board forums I've been on, I could understand why there is an instructor section which is private because often times they would like to discuss a particular student or information/discussion of the organization is confidential. In this case of universal scuba diving, I'm not sure what info would be so confidential that it could not be shared and needs to be private.

The same type of information you just mentioned especially particular students. Many of us encourage our students to come here and discussing their problems in front of potential dive buddies just wouldn't be professional.
With a private forum we don't get irrelevant input either; we have business related discussions and agency bashing stays out of them. Much of what is back there is here in the front as well but you have to pick through the chatter to find the meat of the discussion out here.

If information is not relevant to me, I just don't read it. For instance, I don't go to the technical diving specialties threads due to my skill level (or lack thereof), but it is nice to know that I can if I ever want access to the information. I guess I just never really understood the nature of the "private" threads. Just my point of view as an outsider and newcomer.

Continue your training and diving, get a pro rating and come on in to the pro section we would love to have you. If you were closer to Dayton I'd be happy to let you come and do some behind the scenes stuff with my classes. Those who have done it have found it to be an eye opening experience. I can't find the words to explain the reason for the private forum but once you've seen it you understand.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Warren_L]

What's the point of making pages private? Sounds kind of elitest to me. I figure people will read what they want to read, and access should be universal for helpful information. Just my opinion having been a part of a bunch of non-scuba internet bulletin boards.

liuk3, it's pretty well as Ber has described it. It's not that there's secrets of diving we only discuss amongst ourselves or we are planning secret dives or events.

It is limited to professional level members (DM/assistant instructo/instructor) so that clutter is kept to a minimum. This can make discussions more efficient and to the point (though I suppose this always isn't the case). There is a level of knowledge that pertains specifically to being a DM or Instructor that non-professionals generally do not have, and as such, the discussions of these issues are not targeted to non-professionals, which means time is not spent explaining things that non-professionals may not fully understand.

Now when were we planning that secret dive for??

 

[ClayJar]

Continue your training and diving, get a pro rating and come on in to the pro section we would love to have you.

It sounds so easy when you say it like that.

(My LDS owner just finished some new course director-ly things, apparently, and is well into the process of updating his outline and syllabus for the DM course that I'm told will certainly begin in May. I've been doing the Columbo-esque "one more thing..." routine every time I'm in the shop -- the last thing as I'm leaving is always asking how the course is shaping up, but I don't quite whine "are we *there* yet?". )

 

[Mafiaman]

I guess that is my point as being new. I don't necessarily understand everything. However, wouldn't I be in a better position to understand if I was able to read everything including all threads?
.

Unlike other boards where members of a private forum are "selected" by the ruling clique. Here any one is permitted to join the I2I forum once you qualify. So if you wish to take part in the I2I forum get yourself certified to a Pro. level and your in. Period, no kissing butt or joining a clique.