Should new divers be exposed to controversial views?

[Sinbad the Diver]

Absolutely, all views, controversial, accepted, etc should be shared. I have learned more from this board than I could possibly have learned without it in the year since I took up diving. Most of it I've learned by reading divergent views on topics and analyzing it based on my background, experience, views and values to determine what is right for me.

Information by nature is subjective and as Walter said early on...who is going to decide what is right and what is wrong? As for questioning the standards of the certifying agencies...I see no issue with a reasoned debate over changes and relative merrit of different requirements by different agencies. If nothing else, those discussions teach you things you don't know. Who needs to know that more than a new diver?

I'll give you a perfect example, in one of these discussions the subject of breathing underwater without a mask came up. Guess what, when I certified we didn't do that other than remove and replace mask, never did it for an extended period of time. So, to make sure it was something I could handle, when I went to the pool to practice some skills and check out my gear for the upcomming season, I swam around without a mask for a couple minutes. One less unknown now. Can't be a bad thing.

 

[TSandM]

The special rules for this forum only say that people are not to be rude or short with new divers asking questions. It is a "no flame" zone. It does not say that the discussions have to be bland.

It's one the reasons you're DIR and I'm not. I was never able to tolerate the culture of verbal abuse and you were. I think we're quite different in this way.

Sorry for the brief hijack, but I had to address this. The only place I have seen a "culture of verbal abuse" in DIR diving is on the internet (and mostly, sad to say, here on SB). In three years of diving in a wide variety of places, I have yet to see it at a dive site.

 

[Blackwood]

I agree. It's entirely unclear to me what the first amendment has to do with diving in general

Some people hold views so deeply they border on religious... (though I'm certain that's not what the poster meant).

 

[Blackwood]

Which party line should be allowed?

Exactly.

 

[Kevrumbo]

The Internet at its best is simply the modern day forum in the tradition of the ancient Greeks & Romans of "debating the wisest courses of action by exchanging information and opinions in new ways". . .Start your learning & training with a trusted fundamental source in person as baseline . . .then go out there online and search for relevant data, opinions, scientific studies and anecdotes as well etc. --to see how everyone else is faring in applying it all. . .

 

[NudeDiver]

Some people hold views so deeply they border on religious... (though I'm certain that's not what the poster meant).

HAHAHA. THanks for the chuckle

 

[String]

People should be exposed to as many different (valid) viewpoints as possible so they get enough information to make their own minds up.
The instructor has to be careful though to make it clear what is his particular view/opinion and what is accepted fact so the students dont just end up clones of their instructor.

For example with me i teach CESA and tell them clearly i teach it because i have to any the AGENCY says it because it believes this. Then i add MY view that its a completely worthless dangerous relic but make it clear that's my view and nothing more.

Same for any mention of snorkel and other things along with rescue techniques, nitrox and so on.
Id hate to see students qualify having only ever been exposed to 1 viewpoint - thats a way to create non thinking clones.

 

[NudeDiver]

Ah -but String - do you make it clear WHY you are telling your students your view, if it is "nothing more" than your view? I mean, presumably, you're giving them your view because there is some value in it - or at least you think there is. So, do you explain this value to the students, and why you think your position has value - over and above the agency party line? If not - then why not?

 

[String]

Of course i do. Stating something without providing reasoning is pointless. Im more than happy to explain my reasons for every view i hold and do so when teaching and if asked when im not.

 

[JeffG]

I think I am talking more about simply agreeing to stick with the spirit and purpose of the specific forum, as described in its special rules, leaving othe discussions to other forums. One can make the argument that no forum should have special rules and intentions, the way I once thought this one did. I can see that point.

On the other hand, you yourself have argued otherwise. Here is a piece of a longer post that has your signature on it:

Comparing Basic Scuba vs DIR is not a good comparison. DIR is a very specific implementation, general scuba isn't.