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Mike -- I said, with irony, in a purely rhetorical way: >Above all: don't think for yourself. > >George NEVER said that. That is bullshit. What are you thinking? You have >to be thinking all the time, because very simply if you don't use your head >you DIE. I was referring to developing a piece of equipment or a technique. You may have jumped to some other kind of conclusion or missed exactly what it was that I was referring to. It is apparent to me, I can assure you, and to most people, that you have to be thinking for *yourself* all the time when diving and in everything else we do. (It's the American way.) In fact I argue in favor of independent thought quite frequently in my posts, getting raked for it just as frequently. And yes, g-man, in not so many words, does desire to have the last word and the final say on what is and isn't worthwhile -- but that is, ironically enough, ultimately futile. But IMHO, Jorge's utter discouragement of anyone trying something for him/herself is counter-productive. That attitude is what *ends* innovation and experimentation. You will find, as you experience more avenues of life, that quite often researchers do experiments which *they know will not work.* According to your post and many of george's, you and g-man would say "Stupid fuck-wads!" However, true researchers, whether they be amateurs, hobbyists, or southern red-neck goobers -- or even gay -- know full well that witnessing a failure *can* teach you something sometimes -- *can* give you a clue to a better way -- *may* trigger an inspiration -- or lead to a synthesis of disparate concepts that ultimately do work. Bill Gavin, a superb engineer and WKPP-er, knows this full well. It's the *trying* that is extremely valuable -- and it is a grave disservice to us all for that spirit of exploration to be condescended (Webster's: To deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner.) and discouraged. However, if I can bore you with some examples, perhaps you will understand what I mean. Rebreathers were around long before open-circuit. If Jacques and buddies had left it at that, we'd all be diving rebreathers -- and g-man wouldn't be cave diving at all. During Edison's time, his contemporary "george's" said "Stupid idiot fag sissy boy! We use oil lamps -- we know what works already, you shit-for-brains goober-person -- you're a do-nothing who never contributes anythingshutthefuckupwithyourstupidideasyou'regonnakillsomebody -- you're dangerousdowhatwedoorfuckoff, etc.!" But, even when Edison's attempts *didn't work* he kept on trying, creating the filament bulb, and providing g-man with another area of expertise. Yet others said "Fuck the filament!" and came up with excited gas that created light. This resulted in the "Bar" and "Motel" signs. >>No one who ever came up with a good idea or >>innovation, or made an advance in *anything*, ever made a mistake, so >>why try? No one ever learns from mistakes -- and the best never make >>mistakes. > >Again this is total horseshit. You and you backwoods logic are still missing >it. Who's missing what? My backwoods logic doesn't get any complaints from those who truly have the cotton out and are willing to entertain a viewpoint that's different from their own. g-man never gives me a logical argument -- he just calls me school-yard names -- and that's when I know I got him by the short hairs and is so entertaining. THE PROS (let me spell it out for you, the WKPP) have been there. They >know what works, what does not, how to do it and get the job done. Agreed -- so far -- as of today -- perhaps tomorrow too -- but that is certainly not the end of the story. You might be surprised to know that I have pretty good respectful relationships with many WKPP's -- "friends" I'd go so far as to say. I might even know more about some of them, and have known them longer, than you but I appreciate your pointing the gruop out to me anyway. >They have already been through these mistakes, You just made my point -- 'cause they learned from them -- and learned well! >only a moron would want to go through them again just to verify that this >is the wrong way when somebody else has >already shown that. Again, you don't repeat mistakes with the intent, as you say, "just to verify that this is the wrong way.." you do it to see "why" it didn't work, to get inspiration, as a starting point, to gain experience that may enlighten .. for all kinds of worthy reasons. > >> Doing your own research never got anyone anywhere. > >Again, they have already done the research. And there's no more to be done? You give up too easily. > Why not learn from them? i have -- everyone has -- never argued otherwise. Show us where I did. > >>Coming >>at a problem from an original standpoint is just stupidity. The >>penultimate in diving has been achieved by the Borg. Anything else >>anyone else tries is bullshit and strokery. Original, independent thoughts >> are unacceptable. You don't have the end of the line, so you are nothing, >>can't do anything, and never will. Just go away -- or get assimilated. > >Chris, I just don't understand you. Obviously. I hope the above helps -- and i also hope that you respect me in the morning. You have people (WKPP) that have "been >there and done that" several times. You would think that they know what >works and what does not. They do. where did i say they don't? In fact they are willing to share their wealth of >knowledge with whomever. But yet there are still people like you that insist >that there is a better way. IFF you have a better way, then prove it. Never said I had a better way did I? I'm *learning* too, watching, trying, experimenting, with cotton out. Been doing that for a long time -- before there was a catch-phrase for it. AND >iff in fact it is better, then it will be used (YES, George said that). > However, I doubt that will happen as these guys are pros and know what they >are doing. Well, if where we are today is all she wrote, then why look any farther down the road? I own 2 horses, but thank god someone came up with an air-conditioned machine with tunes and cup holder for making those trips into town -- and to the sinks. With all due respect, I hope this helps you understand my unpopular position. Christopher A. Brown Sci-Graphica PR and DOCENT FILMS The Technical Diving Video Library (TDVL) (N.Am. & Canada): 1-800-373-7222 Outside US:904-942-7222 Fax:904-942-1240 Life is short -- this is not a rehearsal.
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