The "other" end of the DIR question

[H2Andy]

I don't believe I called any specific person a name. The qualifier "some" allows the DIR reader to decide whether they are in the "narrow-minded" subset or not.

that sort of name-calling does not further discussion and leads to argument. please
refrain from name-calling, whether you direct it at a specific individual or a generic
group.

 

[jhelmuth]

Soggy's absolutely right. The very essence of DIR is analyzing everything to the smallest detail. Android unfortunately hears what all the non-DIR people say about DIR. Any DIR guy on this forum will be more than happy to explain every subtlety of the reasons why something is done and analyze situations for you.

jonnythan,

In that case, I'm very interested in DIR fundies. I am always up for additional training that can improve skills and offer new ideas. Just don't like rigerous equipemnt configurations. Can you point me out to a DIR instructor you'd recommend?

 

[Aquamaniac]

I would much rather dive with AADiveRex than some of the narrow-minded DIR divers that post here on a regular basis. Being able to analyze and evaluate each situation is a far greater challenge that following ritual practices and procedures passed out by the powers that be. (That almost sounds like a religous argument, doesn't it?)

If you dont mind, could you please cut and paste a few examples of Narrow minded DIR posts?
Many thanks
dave

 

[jonnythan]

Umm.. which instructor you go with has a whole lot to do with whereabouts you are. Up here in the Northeast we usually have Bob Sherwood teaching at Dutch Springs.. I got into a class Mike Kane held there. I've only taken Mike's class, but I have yet to hear of any DIR instructor being less than great. It's a really great class, too. I think a lot of people here would expect it to be "this is how you're going to rig your backplate, and this is where your hose is gonna go," but it's not. My class, at least, was the instructor giving us lots of hypothetical situations and having us think through them.

Look for a local class (since you're in FL there should be plenty).

http://www.gue.com/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.cgi?function=webmonth&cal=GUE+Course+Schedule

 

[android]

I'm sure there's a lot we can learn from DIR, but when it is presented as a philosophy and lifestyle rather than sound diving practices and procedures, then the message is not going to be well received by many.

That's the big problem with the US today. Think of all the groups that want to sell you their philosophy and lifestyle and how skeptical you are about them: Amway; Zone,Atkins, SouthBeach and any other diet you can imagine; conservatives vs. liberals; religions vs. atheists; RightToLifers vs. FreeChoice, etc... You can think of hundreds. All these groups want you to accept their teachings 100% and not allow you to think for yourself. That's the perception that DIR presents.

Sorry, I like to learn about a subject and then pick and choose for myself what's right for me. If you tell me up front it's all or nothing and that your way is the only "right" way, I'm probably going to be very skeptical.

 

[android]

If you dont mind, could you please cut and paste a few examples of Narrow minded DIR posts?
Many thanks
dave

How about every time some poor recreational diver asks about rigging an octopus and they are told if it's not bungied around their neck and if the primary 2nd stage isn't on a 7' hose, they're an accident waiting to happen.

Just do a search....

Oh, and don't even mention an air2...

 

[Aquamaniac]

How about every time some poor recreational diver asks about rigging an octopus and they are told if it's not bungied around their neck and if the primary 2nd stage isn't on a 7' hose, they're an accident waiting to happen.

Just do a search....

Oh, and don't even mention an air2...

Thanks Android, I appreciate the fast response.
And it was the perfect answer too!
If you do happen to ever find a narrow minded post from a DIR poster, feel free to paste it here, Im sure we would all love to see it.
Keep looking, there must be one there somewhere!
Dave

Dave

 

[jonnythan]

How about every time some poor recreational diver asks about rigging an octopus and they are told if it's not bungied around their neck and if the primary 2nd stage isn't on a 7' hose, they're an accident waiting to happen.

Just do a search....

Oh, and don't even mention an air2...

You've been reading rec.scuba too much. That trash doesn't happen here.

Be skeptical. You SHOULD be skeptical. We WANT you to be skeptical. We WANT you to think through the whole process yourself, not believe something because someone told you.

Trust me, no DIR instructor wants you to believe what they say just because they say it. If you haven't thought the whole thing through and come to the same conclusions, we don't want you just swallow the rest.

 

[Soggy]

Trust me, no DIR instructor wants you to believe what they say just because they say it. If you haven't thought the whole thing through and come to the same conclusions, we don't want you just swallow the rest.

In fact, they spend a large part of the lecture time explaining (and correcting misconceptions about) *why* things are done the way they are and why you can't necessarily pick and choose pieces of the system.

 

[Mako Mark]

If you do happen to ever find a narrow minded post from a DIR poster,

Narrow minded???? Nah, I dont believe it.

by the way, have you considered a backplate/wings setup.

(thinks...will this thread NEVER die)