Originally posted by maddiver
John
The post you quoted was to validate a point, not to 'Brag' or set a pecking order as one private msg indicated- there's always those with more experience and we all can continue to learn. Two different approaches.
I feel (opinion) that you and the rest of us, as certified full cave divers achieved a milestone and put forth some degree of verifiable effort and learning. It ticks me off to find out that people who are posting on lists are not what they 'claim' to be either directly or indirectly.
Do you really think that someone who is uncertified and unqualified and is hiding this really has your best interest at heart when dispensing advice? I don't and I think they should let everyone know before they start plagiarizing others ideas.
I have seen gross examples of this including a non certified diver (guy had never been in the water) giving out tech advice for 300 ft mix dives. Its like me talking about the specifics of brain surgery and directing a surgical procedure.
I believe we need some mechanism to separate fact from fiction to make ideas that 'sound good on paper' from hurting someone that applies these underwater. Maybe this is a little clearer. Hopefully the rest of that post was not disrupted by my little rant.
Lance
I certainly didn't mean anything offensive by my comment. Rather I meant it as a compliment that you have achieved a high level of experience and skill, one that I am still wishing to be at (thus the 'when I grow up' comment.) I did not in anyway take your statement as 'bragging' and having talked, discussed and debated with you in person, there is one thing that I would like to make perfectly clear for anyone else reading this board. You come across to me as a very knowledgeable, skilled and capable diver. I have had the pleasure of talking to you IN PERSON and in those discussions I
NEVER got the impression that you were 'talking down' to me because you had a much greater amount of experience.
I have met a lot of divers that talk a good dive and have all the best equipment, but unfortunately they dont' have the skills to back it up. You on the other hand, have the skills AND the experience and while you are willing to share I never saw you flaunt it or wear it as some sort of 'badge of honor.' In fact, the only reason I knew you were "Maddiver" was because I saw your gear setup and the other TSD team members pointed you out to me and asked if I had met you yet. You are certainly dont strike me as the type to go around flaunting your accomplishments. If someone holds your matter of fact statement of experience against you, then I think it is their loss as they will miss out on a lot of good information.
Again, my earlier post was my way of saying that I respected your achievements and looked forward to learning from you (and others) and reaching similar goals myself someday. If it sounded as if I meant it in any other way, I hope this clears it up and you have my sincerest apologies.
I also agree 100% with your comment regarding people giving advice beyond their skill level. I want to learn from those that have been there done that, not those that read about it and to me, YOU are one of those people! To paraphrase what you told me in our TL discussion: The best way to find the solution is to go out and dive the problem. (kinda catchy, might hafta make that my new quote...)
BTW, got my Jets in from LP today, and I plan to go to Houston tomorrow to check out the LDS you recommended and sign up for my DIRF class. Still waiting on my DIRF book to come in tho, maybe it will get here tomorrow...
Dive often, but dive safe.
John
