ID a Stroke

[MikeFerrara]

This is funny, mostly because I heard it with my own ears. The owner of a dive shop used this picture to describe DIR divers

he said about DIR, Who wants to dive recreationally looking like a christmas tree :06:

NMO, just repeating what I was told when I was asking about some DIR GIR.

A sad but typical display of what you can expect in most shops. A hogarthian configuration is anything but cluttered especially when compared to the (usually very dangly) rigs worn by most recreational divers.

 

[Spectre]

A sad but typical display of what you can expect in most shops. A hogarthian configuration is anything but cluttered especially when compared to the (usually very dangly) rigs worn by most recreational divers.

While the word sounds the same and looks the same, the definitions of dangly in the world of the dive shop owner is much different then the world of the diver:

Dangly [Diver version]: Something hanging from your gear producing an entanglement hazard.

Dangly [Shop version]: Something I don't carry and/or wish to order.

 

[Otter]

so I asked John Walker a few years ago...his reply had nothing to do with gear configuration, but attitude. I am paraphrasing..... Stroke, coming from EGO STROKE, is related to the diver's arrogance and need to stroke is own ego by spouting off about his dive experience, correctness of gear configuration, and/or risk profile.

In short, a stroke is a diver who is too busy listening to himself talk to learn better ways of diving. By my observation, there are DIR divers, non-DIR divers, and strokes who may/may not be GUE trained.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Great explanation Otter! Makes sense.

Thanks

 

[FreeFloat]

so I asked John Walker a few years ago...his reply had nothing to do with gear configuration, but attitude. I am paraphrasing..... Stroke, coming from EGO STROKE, is related to the diver's arrogance and need to stroke is own ego by spouting off about his dive experience, correctness of gear configuration, and/or risk profile.

In short, a stroke is a diver who is too busy listening to himself talk to learn better ways of diving. By my observation, there are DIR divers, non-DIR divers, and strokes who may/may not be GUE trained.

I like it!

It even fits firly close to the generally accepted story of the origin of the term.........

 

[cdiver2]

so I asked John Walker a few years ago...his reply had nothing to do with gear configuration, but attitude. I am paraphrasing..... Stroke, coming from EGO STROKE, is related to the diver's arrogance and need to stroke is own ego by spouting off about his dive experience, correctness of gear configuration, and/or risk profile.

In short, a stroke is a diver who is too busy listening to himself talk to learn better ways of diving. By my observation, there are DIR divers, non-DIR divers, and strokes who may/may not be GUE trained.

I think I may print it for future use

 

[bwerb]

You have to remember that terms evolve over time. I agree that the term "Stroke" came from Ego Stroking...it then grew in practice to have several different nuances. We kid each other and call each other Strokes with tongue firmly planted in cheek...ultimately, a TRUE Stroke is an unsafe diver...most likely due to their own attitude of superiority and the expression of it may or may not come across in their gear...but to some degree, if you have a kit characterized by all sorts of convoluted, duct taped, clipped, multiple bungied, D-ring circus wearing, el-crapola of a dive set-up...you likely are walking the path closer to strokery than not. If you don't need it, don't bring it. If you believe that you are a "skilled diver" because of your gear or overall preponderance of gear, you are likely treading the waters.

So...does the gear make the stroke? No...but it may be an indication of a greater tendency towards the lifestyle...

 

[boomx5]

WHAT IS A STROKE ?
(written by George Irvine)
Very simply put, a "stroke" is somebody you don't want to dive with. It is somebody who will cause you problems, or not be any use to you if you have problems. Usually, this is a reflection of the attitude of a stroke, but that can be inherent in the personality of the individual, or others can teach it.
For instance, if somebody is taught that diving is an "every man for himself" sport, that you "can't help somebody deep," that "my gas is my gas," or "know when to leave your buddy," then that is somebody you do not want to be in the water with. Some people are natural strokes, but all too many are created. Unfortunately, people believe best what they hear first, and given the low-level food chain structure of dive instruction, most strokes are man-made, and are then hard to fix.
Obvious strokes are not so bad - you can see them and you know to avoid them. Frequently they will give it away with their choice of gear and gear configuration. If you see something that is a complete mess, makes no sense, is less than optimal, or is designed to accommodate some phobia while ignoring all else, you are dealing with a stroke. If the stroke is pontificating about how he can "handle" deep air diving, or obsessing about depth, or appears to be trying to compensate for internal fears, this is an obvious stroke and you merely avoid them.
The really insidious strokes are those who pretend to be squared away, but are in this game for all the wrong reasons. Usually they wish to prove something to themselves or others, or to overcome some internal fears. These tend to try to do things that they are not ready to do, and when something goes wrong, they flee for their lives.
Diving is not an intuitive thing. It is not a natural thing. Natural reactions of human beings on dry land do not work underwater. To be a good diver, you have to control your natural responses, and know that they can only hurt you, not help you. A stroke cannot do that. A stroke is driven by fear, ego, bull**** and self-concern.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

I find it hilarious when instructors wear their tec gear to an ow pool session
or ow check out dives.

I'm not sure that I want to know the answer...but...just what do you mean by "tec gear"?

 

[wolf eel]

A stroke is anybody who calls somebody a stroke.

Cheers
Derek