Doing It Prejudiced

[Kim]

This thread is completely useless.

I wouldn't say that. I've learned a few things from it.

There is not one single positive thing anyone can say about smoking...period. So why argue about it?

As far as I know nobody has been arguing about that. What I personally didn't really know to start with was the reasons why it is particularly bad for diving - rather than just generally very bad for everything - which smokers get told so often they tend to develop an immunity to the information. As I said above - I've learnt some new things about that side of it.

Quoted from the GUE student agreement:

I will refrain at all times, whether I am diving or not, from the excessive consumption of alcohol.

Quite what they define as 'excessive' I don't really know. I suspect for me that'll be Strike 2. Living in Japan it would be considered socially unacceptable not to go out with your colleagues occasionally and get blind drunk. I don't drink everyday - but I do go out with mates to 'let my hair down' once in a while.
This GUE stuff is sounding more and more like a religion the more I find out!

You are right and diving is a hobby, at least for me, therefore GUE will not get any of my hard earned $$. I don't believe anyone or any company has the right to "prohibit" me from learning to perform my hobby better and easier for any reason.

They are not getting any of mine either! Maybe it's a definition thing - and I accept that GUE is private - they still sell a product to the general public - the trouble is it's got strings attached. Apparantly quite a lot of people believe that I should just either accept or reject those strings without comment. Maybe I'm just letting people know something up front - what's the point in even developing the slightest interest for something if you are not eligible to start with. After reading quite a lot of stuff posted from people doing the fundies course and at last having my curiousity aroused because of a desire to become a better diver - THEN I found out about the strings. This p****d me off to the extent of having a good whine in the correct place for it. If this thread warns anyone else new to the subject BEFORE they read anything about DIR-F - if they don't qualify they'll already know it so may not feel quite as 'had' as I did.

At least now I'm beginning to understand why there are often strong feelings on the topic of GUE/DIR. It saddens me somewhat that people with valuable stuff to share act in this way - but it's OK, I can see it's their right, their club, their rules. If some of them want to describe themselves as 'Right' - and me as a 'Stroke' - OK - I've been called worse names before!

 

[boomx5]

HEY!!! I had to go look it up.
What you said is correct according to the standards on the website.
For my Tech1 we did the 400 yds in <12 min, then 60' breathhold - the instructor wouldn't let us push off the wall - had to start from a standing position.

Did he let you guys push of the wall for the 400 yard swim?

 

[Snowbear]

and me as a 'Stroke' - OK - I've been called worse names before!

Did I miss something?
I haven't seen anyone here call you any such thing.

 

[Kim]

Did I miss something?
I haven't seen anyone here call you any such thing.

Sorry - I didn't mean here in the forum. I have seen though that that is the general term used by DIR divers to describe non- DIR divers. If it's not true then I stand to be corrected.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Did I miss something?
I haven't seen anyone here call you any such thing.

Maybe he was just thinking about another symptom of smoking.

 

[Snowbear]

Did he let you guys push of the wall for the 400 yard swim?

Yeah - but since I'm not too good at the turn-arounds, it didn't help me much. If anything, it made up for the clumsiness. One guy in my class was a former competitive swimmer. He did at least a 1/4 pool length with each push-off. I would have rather done the 400 yards in a continuous line (actually, since it was in Canada, the pool was probably meters rather than yards?). At any rate, at least I know if I ever do Tech2, I can do the swim

 

[Snowbear]

Sorry - I didn't mean here in the forum. I have seen though that that is the general term used by DIR divers to describe non- DIR divers. If it's not true then I stand to be corrected.

As with many misconceptions, there are a few "DIR" folks who try to elevate themselves by calling others derogatory names, but most of the ones I've met do not. And most of them (including me) will even dive with non-GUE trained divers. It's too bad a few negative personalties on the internet cultivate this sort of attitude.

 

[Snowbear]

Maybe he was just thinking about another symptom of smoking.

Symptom or side effect?

 

[Kim]

As with many misconceptions, there are a few "DIR" folks who try to elevate themselves by calling others derogatory names, but most of the ones I've met do not. And most of them (including me) will even dive with non-GUE trained divers. It's too bad a few negative personalties on the internet cultivate this sort of attitude.

Point taken. I have edited my post to reflect this.

 

[RichLockyer]

HEY!!! I had to go look it up.
What you said is correct according to the standards on the website.
For my Tech1 we did the 400 yds in <12 min, then 60' breathhold - the instructor wouldn't let us push off the wall - had to start from a standing position.

So in the tradition of GUE's view of the RSTC standards themselves, you found an instructor willing to exceed GUE's standards.