The future of this forum

[H2Andy]

somewhereinla, i think there's a disconnect here

this forum is for people to ask what the DIR view on things are; DIR answers are the reason this forum exists

it's also for DIR people to discuss their DIR views, and for non-DIR people to ask about DIR solutions

it is not a place to debate DIR v. non-DIR ways of doing things. non-DIR answers are not what this forum was made for

the rest of the board is open to non-DIR answers

why is this forum here? because whenever someone gave a DIR answer, a bunch of people jumped in with non-DIR answers and drowned out any possible DIR discourse

this is the place to discuss DIR answers; it's what the forum was created for, not to debate DIR v. non-DIR

hope that helps

 

[Soggy]

I understand that but some answers will often lead a potential reader to want to add a non DIR answer to whatever topic is discussed. Should you everytime that happen start a new thread with the same question on a different forum?

Yes, you should. The whole point of this forum is to get DIR answers, not "well, I do this, and I do that".

 

[dbulmer]

Soggy,H2Andy,
The problem for some of us non DIR folks is that we don't have that frame of reference that you do and sometimes the non DIR content is added inadvertently without any trace of malice but sometimes gets jumped on in an unconstructive manner. Generally both of you give sound solid reasons why something is not DIR but I'm afraid there can be times when that does not happen (other DIR folk) and a poster can feel perhaps a little overwhelmed by the correct DIR response. So in saying this, if a DIR person feels that something is not DIR or is off topic please say so but do so in a constructive manner. Just saying that something is not DIR is not enough, give a reason and I think most people will accept the answer even though they may agree to disagree. For people out to cause an argument, come what may, then by all means instigate a ban or some form of action but always give a reason.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

The DIR forum lost its initiator and its overseers with the departure of Uncle Pug and Snowbear. I've seen it get diluted and unfocused, and I take some responsibility for that, because somebody really needs to stay aggressively on top of the threads and the answers, and vet each of them for correctness. Sometimes I don't know what the "real" answer is, and sometimes I'm just not eager to delete posts because they're not "quite right".

With the advent of sites like DIR Explorers and the 5thD-x forums, do we really need a forum on SB for DIR answers? If we do, does anybody have any suggestions about someone who is knowledgeable enough to make sure the answers are correct, and who has the time and energy to go through the posts and threads and make sure they're on track? Because I don't feel as though I'm doing a good job of that.

Why do you believe that the Moderator should be vetting posts for 'Correctness'. I don't believe that is the purpose of Moderator. And, I don't think you could ever get everyone to agree on who is qualified to do that anyway.

Who is editing the Solo diver forum or any of the others for correctness?

 

[JeffG]

Jeff, if we drop the "heavy moderation" of the forum, what differentiates it from general scuba, or the general technical diving forum? (I'm not being sarcastic or hostile here, I honestly don't know the answer to the question.)

Why should it be different?

DIR as a subject matter has a slightly different focus than general technical diving, but there is no reason to treat it differently than any other subject matter on SB.

So it should have its own forum, but the stringent rules in the forum are really not required.

Drop the "heavy" moderation just because there is no absolute resource on SB that can answer the yea/nay...So why even bother trying.

 

[Charlie99]

heavy moderation = no anti-DIR rants allowed
<snip>
we don't need the Mod police keeping the "purity of DIR" or making sure "only the correct answers" are provided (what a quagmire that would be)

Well put.

Mods delete the "anti-DIR rants". Forum members thrash out what is or isn't DIR, and why.

 

[texdiveguy]

IMO-- this sub forum for DIR is a good idea....I just really don't feel it needs a set of 'Special' rules and MOD's policing what 'they' think is DIR and not. Not being of the 'flock' I do occasionally see a thread that asks a safety question that I persl. feel needs a reply that may not be DIR....I feel I should be able to post such a reply without it being struck from the thread as have occurred of recent. Just lighten up and allow the sub forum to function as most all the others here on SB,,,that is very well without all the 'Special' treatment. Heck we are all divers first...so we have differing views at times, that is what makes life interesting.

 

[JeffG]

Well put.

Mods delete the "anti-DIR rants". Forum members thrash out what is or isn't DIR, and why.

Yep...let the herd decide. Sometimes it will be right and others it will be wrong, but maybe in the process we can all learn something.

 

[Meng_Tze]

That's why I've been shying away... There's too much of this and the "report post button" does nothing....

I have been shying away because moderation was too heavy, too much censorship.

 

[texdiveguy]

I have been shying away because moderation was too heavy, too much censorship.

Police State mentality.........:no