Hey Tom:
Noble thought but I dont think that you could say much more than what has already been said, especially pertaining to boltsnaps and dry gloves!
Seriously, if people dont read the current stickies I doubt theyd read other ones that would also be well thought out and posted for curious individuals. I love Cave Divers sticky and I read it after the first time I read the term DIR. Of course I thought, What is DIR? and Cave Divers sticky introduced it nicely. It didnt answer my first, but now silly to me question, Is a ½ to 3/8 inch adapter DIR? Yup, I asked it, and got some really good answers. Was it a good question for the DIR forum? Since I eventually followed it up with a class, I will say yes.
Although I know there are many tones to the advice, Take a class, it really is the best advice. There werent any questions that my instructors could or would not answer. They gave it to us straight, they werent pushing Halcyon when it came to gear, and they never bashed anyone or their type of diving if it wasnt [GUE]. So maybe something describing the merits of taking a class (aside from the obvious) might be nice. But really, there are class reports that have been posted and I have not read one where the instructor was a DIR zealot or where the biggest issue was why someone couldnt use their triple gas computer to dictate their dive and still be considered DIR. I read that all of the instruction is top notch, patience is never-ending, no question is too insignificant, and that stereotypes are pleasantly quashed after being in the presence of DIR diving instructors.
If there was another topic that I wish would get further reinforced, is that just because you dont have training in GUE or UTD, doesnt mean youre DIW. In other words, DIR isnt elitist nowadays- its just a name. If you dont like tenets of DIR, then dont subscribe; if you dont like the name DIR, dont use it. I think [DIR] training made me a better buddy and diver and think everyone could benefit from it. Just because I think it though doesn't mean I think everyone should go to Essentials or Fundies nor does it mean that since someone didn't go through the training then they are an unsafe diver.
Probably the best stab at advice I could give you for a sticky, is make one of all the popular topics that have been discussed and then stress the search function to locate them or link them in the document. Good DIR websites might be beneficial as well.
Equipment issues can be roughly addressed up on the internet but having an even squared away rig hardly makes one DIR (looking like a duck and walking like one are two different things). Education can partly be gotten on the internet, books, but the class is the preferred for this type of diving. And last but certainly not least, experience. No matter how you cut it, we have to keep diving to stay proficient, keep learning, and to have fun. You cant get that in a sticky!
To the past few days worth of antics, I think the bottom line is that people are gonna believe what they want to about DIR from the previous threads or experience (especially negative); if someone is turned off from something some internet person says about GUE, UTD, DIR, or Unified Team Diving (as TS&M originally coined it as a replacement to DIR) and despite sensible explanations they still refuse the merits of the DIR system, then its their loss not ours. Why should you try so hard to objectively educate them knowing there may be a rebuttal for rebuttals sake? Sure, we have all had bad experiences with things and people. If I harbored detrimental feelings towards peas because I had one stuck in my nose when I was a kid, Id never know the joy of eating them now.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide to do.
With kindest regards,
Thomas
