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In the science fiction movie classic, "DUNE", the Fremen said of Paul Mahdib, " He can kill with a word or a thought". In technical diving, today, catastrophically dangerous gear configurations and procedures are accepted by many, standardized by some, and those who step forth on the tech list, supporting these dangerous notions, arguing against the face of logic and exposure proven DIR (Doing it Right) practices, bring the exaggerations of science fiction to real life...and death. The Wrolf Courtneys and John Hanzels out there, have the potential to "kill" with their ideas. They argue repeatedly with the most basic and well proven DIR concepts, and by the volume and intensity of their arguments and questionings, they bring confusion and uncertainty to issues which have been settled previously, and which by implementation, would enjoy pervasive life saving functions. With each successive denial of DIR credos by the Hanzels and Wrolfs out there, they forestall the process of implementation in the "learning stage technical divers", and justify the unsafe practices of the past which we are now trying to do away with. This is NOT about a "Right to free speech". Its about the "power" of certain types of ideas. If Hanzel wants to disagree with George's taste in music---fine---he has the right, and this disagreement will "kill" no one. When George/WKPP and DIR diving say with absolute certainty, that a certain practice ( say, stuffing the long hose, or using tanks with no markings ) is WRONG, for Hanzel or Wrolf to "argue" with this, and demand proof, is tantamount to threatening the safety of any who listens to them. Neither of these individuals has ANY skill level allowing them to place their ideas on Equal footing with DIR philosophy. Yet by the intensity with which they argue, they can effectively destroy the potential DIR has to save lives. By their "demanding" of proof, for each DIR practice or configuration, they slow the acceptance, and raise enough doubt in the mind of the novice, to prevent immediate adoption of a practice that would save their life. Yes we all have a right to free speech. But when those of us who are without knowledge ( i.e., Wrolf, Hanzel, et al ) , argue publicly against those who do---on issues in which life or death will most certainly result, the "Right" to public free speech can allow an errant individual to commit what is in reality, a CRIME against the technical diving community. Rapid adoption of DIR would save lives. For the novice with intellectual pretense, to attack basic DIR implementation, using only his sense of "apriori knowledge", behavior like this must be seen as contributory to future deaths, and constant sanctions on them, by the "skilled" divers in the group, MUST answer this irresponsible behavior. If you were in a group of 20 persons, huddled under cover, as terrorists sprayed gunfire above your heads, how would you feel about a moron next to you, urging the group to stand up, out of cover, and run away----and you knowing full well this would put all in the line of fire, causing members of your group to die immediately.....would you defend this moron's right to express his opinion??? With the tremendous increase in technical diving deaths we are now facing, we are facing the equivalent of this gunfire over our heads. When Hanzel, or Wrolf, or even Gilliam speaks up, and claims sticking your head up is "safe", someone needs to smack them silly, and shut the morons up before they get someone killed. As you may have noticed, there are some "watchdogs" in this Internet community, that are doing just that. I for one, appreciate their efforts. Regards, Dan Volker -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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