Laser:
If it can be done without getting into a pissing match, it's a good thing for those looking for instruction. He's willing to defend his course in a debate, on the merits.
But that's the point. His course isn't the issue here. Nobody's even dragged GUE into it. MHK has dragged himself into a debate on another agency's course. Remember what Sydney Diver wrote in his very first post?
Sydney Diver:
If you dont have anything constructive to say, then dont say anything at all!!
As for the pissing match, and comments about being "specific and [attempting] to elevate the knowledge of those reading the thread", well, I beg to differ. Consider the following statements, collected for clarity:
MHK:
Please understand I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything I'm all for giving diver ALL of the information My intention isn't to slam anyone else's program If I came on strong, please accept my apologies since I'm trying to keep the focus on the facts I'm not trying to be combative, just trying to understand the point.
To me, each and every one of those statements are part of rhetorical technique. My evaluation of them clearly differs from many others on this board. Now consider the following statements:
MHK:
but at the end of the day it's still a bad program
but my big problem with the PADI entering the technical market is that by-in-large PADI doesn't go the extra mile in terms of rigorous training and is more inclined to be an inclusive agency, sometimes at the expense of quality, and you maybe able to get away with that in the 60' range, but once you get into technical diving the campy, happy, positive reinforcement, feel-good approach isn't enough..
PADI saw other agencies like TDI, IANTD et. al. establishing a great market share in Europe so PADI needed to get into the game which is what is the purpose of the class if the agency brings nothing to the table other then to tell the student to dive alot to build up a tolerance level??
My concern with PADI is that it has breed a culture of moving divers up the chain that really ought not be up the chain, you maybe, and I emphasis "MAY" be able to get away with that in the recreational realm, in the tech realm that culture is a receipe for disaster..
Furthermore, teaching technical divers by putting students on their knees speaks to a ideaological philosophy that they just don't get it.
Now tell me that this isn't agency bashing or that MHK is merely 'being specific' or 'trying to elevate the knowledge level' on this board. Right. And I've got some magic beans to sell to you ...
Most of the statements above are insidious and quite deceptive. They come from somebody who (unlike me, DTDiver and UDTMAster for example) has not actually done the course. I think it quite incredible to write about 'putting students on their knees', 'moving divers up the chain' and 'bringing nothing to the table'.
I could argue MHK's (attempts at) physiological points, too, but then this thread would never end. I'll just leave it with the above comments on the objectivity in question.
Now, you could reasonably argue that MHK feels so strongly about his perceived views of the PADI program as unnecessary and dangerous that he must speak out, even if it means hijacking the thread.
Allright. But what then gives him the right of being shielded from scrutiny as to his motives himself? Nothing. And judging by his own writings, he should be expecting scrutiny. There are a lot of bitter ex-PADI instructors on this board. To me, from the case given in this thread alone, MHK is merely another to that number, 4000 dives and technical dive experience nonwithstanding. And yes, that is this thinking diver's subjective opinion.
