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Hi Steve, on 22:25 14/02/00 you wrote, >Finally I openned my eyes and ears to these new ideas that were contrary to >everything else I had ever heard, and they started making sense. I _was_ >where you are now -- in the dark and missing out on a great system. Now I >know better. > >What I find ridiculously funny is guys like you who don't reccognize what a >valuable resource this list is. Actually, Steve, I couldn't agree with you more. What actually prompted me to write was that its obvious that the arrogance and vitriol from some of those trying to "spread the word" is actually having the exact opposite effect. The message is valid and one that every diver should listen to but there are so many many people who will not listen because of the vehement attacks on all and sundry. DIR is dead in the water, its missed its window, and it makes me very frustrated to think that because it has so much to offer. People at large just will not listen because the fascist reputation of the [major and minor] proponents of the system go before them. I'll give you an illustration. I live in the North East of England and was recently talking to a diving friend who had just got himself on the Internet. I said to him that he should subscribe to this, this and this list. He clarified the names and then replied "TechDiver, is that the American one where they shout at you for so much as daring to breathe?" "No thanks, I'll not bother". To me that was such a huge loss, in terms of a learning opportunity... and I've got to ask myself who told him that about this list? That's what I meant when I suggested that the list, and by default DIR, has been turned into a laughing stock by the bad-mouthing and intolerance. The prevalent attitudes and approaches are often justified by saying "Oh, well, we tried talking nicely but that didn't work". I tell you now that the shear amount of nastiness and the prevalent fascist behaviour has done more to alienate and marginalise DIR than any "lost argument" by the previous, more civilised approach. Now its the case that the major players you're seeking to influence still don't listen and the thousands of little fish, who might otherwise have taken DIR on board just won't because of the reputation that precedes it. Unless there's a major sea-change and a more civil approach is taken then DIR will forever be a minority approach to diving. That is the way of the world... you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink... you ever tried rounding up a horse by shouting at it? The stupid thing is, from my point of view, that I know that whatever I say will have no effect because the people who need to change are simply too arrogant and too ignorant to even consider the detrimental effect their approach is having. -- Steve... -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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