Bob, if you think it is just a marketing term and there is no implied "doing it wrong" then I need a hit of what you're smoking.
... then let me just point out, Ron, that the only person in this entire thread who has so far attempted to take it to a personal level by insulting someone they disagreed with is a non-DIR diver ... you.
So who is more deserving of stereotyping ???
Thankfully, here where I live, there is very little of this attitude ... by either the DIR or non-DIR community. And that which exists is easily ignored. In fact, our local GUE instructor is also a PADI instructor for the largest scuba chain store in our area ... and the store he works for sells both Zeagle and Halcyon ... as well as many other popular brands.
You complain that you cannot take Fundies in a Zeagle Ranger, ignoring the rather valid reasons why. That's your choice, but it begs the question why you would want to. As you and others continually point out, there are other ways you can obtain the skills to become a good diver. I teach for NAUI. I can and do teach those skills. One of my recent students was wearing a Zeagle Ranger, and did just fine.
DIR is one option for those who choose to dive that way. If you wish to stereotype those people, and to hold it against them ... or insult people like me who aren't DIR but who accept that their choices are valid ... then that says way more about you than it does about them.
I have the gear to fit the DIR lifestyle
... there is no DIR lifestyle ... there's a scuba diving lifestyle, and DIR is just one way to enjoy it. And that's really rather the point, Ron. You can either choose to go out and enjoy yourself, share your excitement about scuba with those who are also excited by it ... or you can choose "camps" comprised of your differences. That's really up to the individual, and has nothing whatsoever to do with your training or equipment choices.
It's all about attitude. I've never understood people who choose to take a negative attitude about something that we all do for fun, or the people who have chosen to do it a little bit differently than they have.
Ron Frank:
I was involved with the whole DIR set of problems we as mods had and it was not fun. We basically ended walling the DIR zealots off and that worked. It is still that way to this day. They have opt in areas and if you want to participate there you better be DIR. There is no tolerance for split fins or jacket BC's.
The creation of the DIR forum predates you as a moderator. I know this ... because I was a mod back then, was involved in the discussions ... in fact, at the time I thought it wasn't a good idea ... and you were not a part of those.
Frankly, Ron, you and a handful of other people who share your attitude are the main reason why the board admins felt that such a forum was necessary. It remains a problem today because ... even with a separate forum ... a few people such as yourself simply cannot allow a DIR discussion to take place ... even if it's just some DIR curious person asking a question ... without interjecting your negativity into the conversation. The opt-in forum was created as a place where people who have trained as DIR, and who have questions for similarly trained people, can go discuss those questions without having to fend off people such as yourself who just can't allow them to otherwise have that conversation without injecting your objections to their right to do so.
In other words, you did help create the "walls" you speak of ... not as a mod, but as someone who couldn't allow people to talk about DIR without having to listen to your complaints about what's wrong with it.
Do you also have objections to the solo forum? It exists for pretty much the same reasons ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
---------- Post added April 13th, 2012 at 03:44 AM ----------
My fault; I was not clear. I did not mean to imply that the GUE/DIR system should change its principles. I do not think that for a second.The OP solicited comments after reflecting it is "... incredibly sad that (a diver) had gotten such a bad impression of DIR people from this board.." when the reality is there are a number of fun and kind DIR divers (Which there are). My point is maybe after ten years of feeling sad and/or misunderstood it is time to change the way you (Not you or the OP specifically) talk to people on SB.
... I don't see any DIR folks in this or any other conversation saying "if you don't agree with me, then I want some of what you're smoking."
I do see someone who is not DIR ... and a memember of SB staff ... making that comment.
Do you hold him to the same behavioral expectations?
... Bob (Grateful Diver)