Doing it Ridiculous

[WaterDawg]

Your right he did speak at the GUE conference, and from what Ive read he talked about WKPP things. Heck I know that the majority of "DIR divers" or GUE students or whatever, did NOT attend the conference.
And I seriously doubt that that is why the price was so high.

I just dont really get the whole "DIR divers worship GI" idea. Its kinda like saying that if you like IANTD you worship Tom Mount, except for the fact that Tom was in fact the head of the agency.
Im not being difficult I just think your statement is...not correct.

 

[Bobby]

Maybe it is because they pick up the same old tired puppet terminology that he started. Mainly strokes and what is inferred from him for the term. I do believe that he had the same drivel at the conference about how everyone else hates him and GUE because "they are the best divers in the world and have done the most". In reality my disdain for him is only because of how he talks down about others, has an ego problem needing to belittle others to make himself look better, and his comments about some of divings pioneers and greatest divers after they had died. Easy to talk crap about people when they are no longer around to defend themselves. Knowing their personalities though they would not have lowered themselves with as much as a response. I on the other hand do not hold my standards as high as I should. That is probably why they are referred to as his minnions.

If I ran around quoting Tom like others quote him then I am sure to be called a worshipper. Saying "They did not die with me, god took them" all the time would get me in I would think. Oh yeah that was Hal, never mind. Neither of them would bother to make the stupid comments that have been put forth from GI3. Oh yeah they are too busy still diving and teaching almost every day and they were the ones that put it all together for the rest of us to enjoy and continue to build on today.

Bobby

 

[pennypue]

Resistance is Futile

Perhaps I should have worded that differently.

I'm tired of the attacks against DIR.
I was attacked before I ever took my first class!!
Or even OWNED a bp/w......sheesh.
And you wonder why dir divers joke about a point system??

 

[WaterDawg]

In reality my disdain for him is only because of how he talks down about others, has an ego problem needing to belittle others to make himself look better, and his comments about some of divings pioneers and greatest divers after they had died. Easy to talk crap about people when they are no longer around to defend themselves. Knowing their personalities though they would not have lowered themselves with as much as a response. I on the other hand do not hold my standards as high as I should.

.

Bobby

Yeah I agree w/ you. And I will say that when people call others "strokes" it does (to me) say alot about them (usually not good). To me its like name droping, they wanna be cool and say things like "stroke" or "cool-aide" or whatever, all cause of things theyve read on the net. same type of people who if they meet someone famous they will be sure to bring it up for no reason.

So I think we agree for the most part. I just dont think that (lets use Pennypue for example) that it is fair to say that she "worships" Irvine.

 

[pennypue]

Yeah I agree w/ you. And I will say that when people call others "strokes" it does (to me) say alot about them (usually not good). To me its like name droping, they wanna be cool and say things like "stroke" or "cool-aide" or whatever, all cause of things theyve read on the net. same type of people who if they meet someone famous they will be sure to bring it up for no reason.

So I think we agree for the most part. I just dont think that (lets use Pennypue for example) that it is fair to say that she "worships" Irvine.

I've seen a picture and he has nice biceps.
But then I don't think that's what you meant.

 

[Daryl Morse]

There's nothing that's quite a much fun as watching a couple of them wander around a 30' reef looking like a junior Borg candidates.

That's too funny. ROTFLMAO.

 

[Derek S]

I agree and I don't think that rec divers have a problem with DIR rigs. Some DIR divers have a problem with rec rigs. And they say so - quite often. I really don't understand this split fin aversion. Splits are my fin of choice for tooling around a Carribean reef. You guys prefer to use the same set of gear for every dive and other divers perfer to use different fins and BCs for different dives.

So what you're saying is that divers should be chastised for using the same gear setup for every dive? This has nothing to do with the DIR system. If a NAUI Tech trained diver did the same thing, you'd not be saying a thing.

People can dive whatever rig they want, it surely is no skin off of my nose.

And for the record, my Twinjets give me leg cramps and don't offer the same propulsion that my Jets do.

There are people here promoting DIR with an evangelistic zeal that gets quite old, even if it is tongue-in-cheek on the face of it.

The original post had nothing to do with gear and everything to do with attitude. I read it as criticism of DIR divers calling other divers strokes while, as it appeared to the poster, their gear was inappropriate for the diving environment. The fact that so many DIR divers jumped on the defense bandwagon makes the system appear cultish.

I agree and use some DIR principles and reject others. I'm not anti-DIR, but simply trying to point out that DIR arrogance alienates people.

Problem is, what usually happens in the DIR forum is that someone asks a question, and is almost immediately flooded with answers from divers who have either not taken a GUE class, or someone who's agenda is nothing more than to futher soil the name of DIR and GUE. I know there are some bucketheads out there who do a huge disservice to both DIR and GUE, but the majority of us are great guys who want nothing more than to dive safely.

I'd be willing to bet that if all of the anti-GUE people just sat in on a class they'd realize that it's all just a bad rap that the DIR system has recieved.

What's wrong with wanting to get familar with gear? When I add a new piece of gear to my rig, I prefer to practice with it in shallow waters.

I've met and had dinner with both JJ and GI3. Neither one gave an air of being elite, and both were just fun to be around. I know GI3 has said some things that people find flame-worthy, but I say if you don't like what he's saying, don't listen. It's hard to deny what he's brought to the sport over the past decade.

 

[*Floater*]

...The lads in a loud tone talked about all the "strokes" who were diving with single tanks and rec. equipment. ...

Is everyone diving a single tank and rec equipment a "stroke"?

What exactly is it, where does is come from, and who invented it? (in the above context of course)

 

[Daryl Morse]

Is that sort of gear really needed for that dive?

Who's to say what gear is "really needed" for a dive, but the diver? I'm not DIR, but I dive with a bp/w and have a 7' primary hose. I use my rig all the time, including in the tropics wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Is it overkill? Maybe, but I'll be getting a set of doubles before I get another rig just for diving in the tropics. Do I need doubles? Again, that's my decision. Quite a few of my buddies dive doubles even for recreational diving and I respect that.

For me, the real issue is not what equipment a diver uses, but whether a diver shows respect to other divers, even if they don't share the same viewpoints on equipment or techniques.

 

[TheRedHead]

So what you're saying is that divers should be chastised for using the same gear setup for every dive? This has nothing to do with the DIR system. If a NAUI Tech trained diver did the same thing, you'd not be saying a thing.

People can dive whatever rig they want, it surely is no skin off of my nose.

And for the record, my Twinjets give me leg cramps and don't offer the same propulsion that my Jets do.

No, what I was saying is that it shouldn't matter if some people wear split fins and others don't, if some people use long hoses and others don't. Hardly a week goes by here where jokes are not made about split fins, pony tanks or anything else that isn't DIR. I'm beginning to feel that non-DIR divers need "protection."

If someone asks about split fins in the Mask, Fin and Snorkel forum, at least 5 DIR divers will recommend jets, even though the OP was interested in opinions on the split fins.

I have Biofins and and Jets. For reef diving, I like my Biofins. I'll admit I don't like the Jets very much. The vast majority of Caribbean divers wear splits and I'm sure a lot of people diving in dry suits wear jets. Different fins for different applications. That is what I'm saying.

And for Pue, I don't see the difference between being harassed about your DIR-ness and being harassed about split fins. Both are juvenile.

Stroke is an insulting term which is widely used despite the protestations from reasonable Stokes.

stoke (stir up or tend; of a fire) - I think this is an appropriate moniker for over-zealous DIR advocates.