What to do when an instructor is out of line?

[seaducer]

I'm not that interested in *the story* to bother calling the shop, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people in this thread did just that, yelling and screaming and hanging up.

All we can reasonably assume from this thread is:

In the beginning of June at Lake Travis, an incident occurred between an instructor and a student.

There were witnesses to some of the events.

The shop owner has talked to those involved and agreed to a refund of the students funds and has done little or nothing to discipline the instructor to our knowledge.

From that we have a few choices. We can conclude that the OP is correct, because we know there are some bad instructors and bad business people OR
we can postulate that things may not have gone down quite the way they were represented to us.

With the OP being such a fantastic story, where almost every conceivable mistake was made by a supposed proffessional, *I* personally require more evidence. We have become a society where it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a fair trial because the media reports a few facts about a crime and shows a suspect and everyone *knows* that person is guilty. Same thing here.

I would only urge people to have a higher standard of evidence, especially on the oh so anonymous internet forums.

Since there was enough information for people to ID the shop, real damage could result from this, at a time when dive shops in Texas are already IN trouble. There is a slight possibility that the OP is true, but a much higher probability that it isn't. But that doesn't seem to phase many people here, they smell blood.

As far as the F-bomb...I think we need to toughen up just a little. It is only a word, and not a particularly harmful or uncommon one. It does not induce panic or terror. It is not that big a deal to most adults, and it shouldn't be.

 

[D_B]

yep, just a word ... but you have taken that word out of the context in which it was used as told us by the OP
It could have been most any word and still been entirely inappropriate given that context

... it's not a word that would cause the damage here, it's the damage that an instructor could do to the student and his learning, and confidence by "losing it"

 

[Garth]

Alright, maybe I'm lazy too.. i read a bunch of posts but this is getting crazy.

Has anybody wondered where he got the name "hotpuppy" ?

... interesting.


anyway... hope this works out for you bro. Hope you have more dives since this thing started.

 

[peterbj7]

With the OP being such a fantastic story, where almost every conceivable mistake was made by a supposed proffessional, *I* personally require more evidence

I don't. As I said before, I don't really care whether this incident occurred as stated. I have come across instructors every bit as bad as this one was portrayed. This to me is a totally believable scenario.

As far as the F-bomb...I think we need to toughen up just a little. It is only a word, and not a particularly harmful or uncommon one. It does not induce panic or terror. It is not that big a deal to most adults, and it shouldn't be

I absolutely don't agree with this. Depending on context the "F" word can be deeply objectionable, and in fact it usually is. When people start using that language to me I usually just walk away. The guy in this picture didn't have that option, as he was the aggrieved party. In any case, I have NEVER heard that word used where there was not a better alternative, and it is at least a lazy form of speech that is intrinsically insulting to the audience ("you're not worth the effort on my part to order my thoughts and speak grammatically"), and is often used by people who through ineducation have never learned how to speak properly. It's just an attempt at intimidation, and is in itself contemptible.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

As far as the F-bomb...I think we need to toughen up just a little. It is only a word, and not a particularly harmful or uncommon one. It does not induce panic or terror. It is not that big a deal to most adults, and it shouldn't be.

In the appropriate context, I won't hesitate to use the F-word ... that context is not during a scuba class. Nor should it ever be directed toward a student ... particularly in the context of calling them an idiot.

That behavior simply isn't appropriate for scuba instruction, and should never be tolerated or excused.

We're supposed to be professionals ... and that implies a standard of behavior that's above using such epithets toward our students ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[peterbj7]

In the appropriate context, I won't hesitate to use the F-word

What context is that? I'm just wondering when is the appropriate time, after due consideration, to use language like that. But if you mean that under some circumstances you'll lose your temper and say whatever comes out, then at least I can understand that.

 

[RJP]

What context is that? I'm just wondering when is the appropriate time, after due consideration, to use language like that. But if you mean that under some circumstances you'll lose your temper and say whatever comes out, then at least I can understand that.

Q.) How many NJ divers does it take to change a lightbulb?

A.) F*** YOU!

:cool2:

 

[wrybosome]

In the appropriate context, I won't hesitate to use the F-word ...

What context is that?

Maybe something like, "This thread is completely fu@&ing beat".

Q.) How many NJ divers does it take to change a lightbulb?

A.) F*** YOU!

:cool2:

I heard it was A) None, they still use fire.

 

[Thalassamania]

Depends on what exit.

 

[RJP]

I heard it was A) None, they still use fire.

Of course in philly it would be:

C.) Two: one to change the lightbulb and one to throw chunks of ice at the opposing team.