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Have to disagree with you on this. Regardless of past achievements, if some "respected pioneer of diving" is promoting something dangerous or stupid (and holding firmly to his position after repeated polite attempts to dissuade him of this opinion) then I think this person has lost the protection from more aggressive debate that his position might otherwise disallow. A professor that makes an incorrect statement in class is one thing. A respected leader in the dive industry advocating dangerous diving practises gets people dead. In fact, a position of leadership in the industry should require that one be held to a higher standard and one's words and actions be subject to more aggressive scrutiny and correction than the average diver. For example, when I read an article in a national dive publication by Brett Gilliam that advocates drinking and diving I don't give a damn what he has done in the past I have to call him the fool that he is. I will not even get into the arguments over deep air and other nonsense he advocates. Now I may not have earned the "respect" in the dive industry held by Brett Gilliam but I know stupidity when I see it and see no reason to hold back because he happens to have more hours under water than I. Skip At 05:22 PM 5/24/01 -0400, you wrote: > >Hi Jim, > >You may recall that you and I have butted heads a number of times in the >past, as well as agreeing on various subjects also. But I see another head >butting coming on. > >I have on numerous occasions chastised posters on the net for saying >derogatory things about Trey. Not ever for arguing about his opinions or >advice (which are usually pretty sound), but for showing a lack of respect >for his accomplishments and dedication to the sport of diving. There comes a >point that even if I disagree with what is being said, I must respect the >speaker if he has earned a certain position in the community. A freshman >doesn't challenge a full professor. He or she may question, but never accuse >or direct. After the freshman has graduated and contributed to the >community, then he or she may argue. > >Now I must request that you display a greater respect for several of the >people in the dive community who don't happen to be associated with the WKPP >or GUE. Tom Mount, whether or not you agree with his dive techniques, is one >of the clear leaders and outstanding figures in the technical diving >community. He at IANTD, along with Ed Betts at ANDI, Bret Gilliam at TDI, >et. al. for example, are, whether or not you choose to accept it, among the >true pioneers in technical diving. These people and others like them, are >our teachers and have devoted major portions of their lives to advancing >diving techniques and making the sport safer for all of us. > >Perhaps you now feel that some of the information being presented by these >organizations has been superseded by new data that points in a new direction. > This may be so. But it does not give you the right or even simply >permission, to forget that these people and organizations have persevered and >should have earned your respect. > >Trey, by virtue of his unique position as a nonprofessional whose >accomplishments, experience and contributions to the body of technical diving >knowledge have earned him the respect of divers worldwide, happens to have a >confrontational communication style. Because of his position I, and most >others who wish to learn, overlook this as a personal negative. It is his >way and we accept him for what he is and what he has to offer. And we are >appreciative for his time and efforts. > >But make no mistake that you have certainly not earned a similar position. >In my opinion, you have no business whatever telling Tom Mount or the others, >what they SHOULD be doing. They are the teachers and you are the student. >They tell you. You listen quietly, ask for more information, choose what is >right for you and make your own decisions. But you do not pretend to be on >the level of your teachers and direct them. That is pure ego. > >Let's not forget that we live in an ordered society where true respect is >earned over many years of accomplishment and service, not simply by who can >yell the loudest or type the most curse words into his or her computer. I >consider myself really fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from >individuals of this caliber. > >Jim, I think that you ought to consider this carefully and perhaps modify >your approach when communicating with these folks. And I need to say here >that although this message is addressed to you Jim, I am actually also >speaking to a number of the other posters on this list. > >But then OTOH, this is simply one diver's opinion. > >Take care and dive safe, Scott > >Some weeks it's just not worth the effort to gnaw through the restraints and >scramble up out of the pit. > > > >In a message dated 5/23/01 9:12:32 PM, cobber@ci*.co* writes: ><< Tom- >Maybe not but there are plenty of diveshops out there who would >love to sell some of these high margin pieces of shit and saying what you >said below is about as close to a promotion as you can get. Did you purchase >yours or was it a promo? ><snip> >Tom, as I recall you used to stuff the long hose, use bungee wings, use >steel stages, dive deep air, etc. Don't make this mistake too. >> >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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