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The recent condescending and obsessive litany of complaints leveled against George Irvine and other WKPP members, including myself, by Harris (Grandma) Martin, just cannot be ignored. The real agenda behind the increasingly provocative, personally insulting and sarcastic tone of these posts is to discredit George and by direct inference demonize and villify the WKPP and its membership. Martin cleverly trys to lead the reader to conclude that the WKPP's accomplishments and objectives are illusory, because the Director, he believes, is really a sociopath and raging lunatic. The discourse is filled with disconnected snippets and humorous episodes of hyperbole from historical posts. I almost expected him to postscript his diatribe with a QED. It's the old "the clock is broken, but it's correct twice a day" routine. Apparently, all of the WKPP members should be so ashamed of this "divisive" and "childish" behavior on the part of our Director that we must spontaneously rise up and impeach George or collectively prevail upon him to "shut up". If we don't follow this prescription for action we are either stupid or afflicted by some undiagnosed neuropsychosis. After gagging on this bolus of disinformation, even project scientist Pete Gomez finally had to speak up. He states that he became involved with the WKPP precisely because of the productivity and results the project is generating. In addition he, as all of us, have nothing other than respect and appreciation for George's leadership and accomplishments. We didn't join the WKPP based on George's net pronouncements, although we have many people in our membership who endorse and appreciate certain of George's outspoken viewpoints. Exploration diving and any activities associated with it is deadly serious business. There is no need to reiterate the horrifying list of fatalities which have occurred over the past 4 years. George has made it abundantly clear that on issues of safety, procedural practices, equipment configurations and diving fitness there is absolutely no compromise. Individuals who espouse idealogies in contravention to these principles are fair game for unrestrained, and if necessary to get the point across, impolite criticism. I personally would rather be insulted and alive rather than cold and dead. As for fake posts, who really cares? The issue of anonymity on the Internet is still hotly debated and is presently being litigated. Phony people or fabricated posts ultimately originate at the keyboard of a real person with some agenda. Whether the objective is mischief, satire or an anonymous attempt to focus attention on an issue the end result depends on our decision to respond. Sometimes these fabricated posts provide comic relief or are tasteless and offensive. As is said time and again on talk radio, "if you don't like what you are hearing, turn the channel" or in the case of these lists, unsubscribe.
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