I'd be DIR from the get-go
and
I'll second Roakey's post
and
I'm with Roakey here as well
Since this post is just as much if not more-so about "Thinking", I have one for you ... Actually, it's more than one but here goes ...
If asked (and I've done this little survey before on the SSN sites and it wasn't pretty) what do 90% of people have come to mind when asked what they think about those that are "
DIR"?
This isn't a question that is really meant to be publicly answered but before you answer yourself remember some of those basic lessons you were taught as a child, or rather for some I better say,
should have been learned as a child ...
1) One rotten Apple Spoileth the whole bunch aka The few ruin it for the many
2) You'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.
3) You only get one chance to make a First Impression
4) It is never right to do wrong in order to do right!
and the biggest one of all ...
5) Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself ...
Then ask yourself why all gear isn't made to the DIR standard, why aren't all Divers DIR, why does the mention of DIR make for some of the ugliest conversations ever, what is it that turns people off so badly about hearing someone is DIR, what is it that has prompted some of the oldest and most experienced DIR Divers to break ties, why have some of the most prominent DIR Divers started to make it public that they are going to be forming their own branch off of DIR, why do some of the oldest and most experienced Divers on this planet and many long time military divers scoff at the mere mention of DIR?
I would impose some of the other key questions but they assume some of the above questions were answered properly. I've talked to a few people from this board about this and from that I understand for many sincere DIR divers they really hadn't though about it from that view point because this doesn't really point any fingers at them. But unfortunately, just as each individual represents a given association, you are represented to the public by that association. It gives deeper meaning to "Guilt by Association".
Just some food for thought ... blame it on Fishkiller ... they started this whole
thinking thread.
hehe
=-)
ps...
really makes me understand why the DIR crowd tends to stay to themselves
Honestly, based on your post, I don't think you do.
it's sorta like seeing the light and then having the rest of the community make fun of you
I'm afraid that light is only a train and your in the middle of the tracks if that's what you think. For some it might be seen as having "the community make fun of you" ... Just ask our very own Mr Iguana Don, I for one, don't think it's funny, not even a little bit. He can tell you first hand that I think it's a much more serious problem than that and have no problem speaking my mind about it. I mean, it is only each others lives at stake here, not to funny is it?