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Showing content with the highest reputation on 03/09/11 in all areas

  1. Unless the Mods are prepared to verify the details of every new forum member to the nth degree I doubt very much if giving a name and address adds anything by way of a safeguard. And so, by the same token, not providing those details doesn't really take anything away. Names, addresses and contact details can all be faked. In boating circles they're also very likely to become inaccurate very quickly, even if correct in the first instance, because many of us lead itinerant lives. That's the way it is. If someone has a particular interest in something contentious, it is helpful if they state what their interest is. Whether they do so using their real name or an internet-only ID is irrelevant, provided they are prepared to stand by what they say and, if necessary, take any 'real world' flak that accompanies their online activities. The use of forum IDs in no way precludes or guarantees this, so who cares? Those who are only interested in mud-flinging can be a problem, but they'd be a problem whatever name they chose. The issue of IDs isn't central to the debate. I also agree with those who have mentioned the security issues associated with leaving either one's house or one's boat unattended for long periods of time. Too much information can be a bad thing.
    2 points
  2. You know perfectly well what I was referring to. Furthermore, there were several posts, not one. I have to say that when I saw the massed ranks of sanctimonious humbugs calling down calling down fire and brimstone on the hapless Nina, I was reminded of certain passages in the Bible. For example: "Whosoever be without sin, let him cast the first stone". It was frankly, a most unedifying spectacle. Like the witch-finders of Salem, the righteous members of this forum marched out to find a devil, and then exorcised it. In the 17th Century, the thugs and chancers sought witches. Now "racists" (whatever they are) have become the new witches. It just needs one moron to shout "Racist!", and all the other nasty lemmings take up the cry, just as their forbears did when they heard the word witch. The word "racist" is so powerful that it triggers a Pavlovian response in those with the brains of dogs. And having labelled somebody a racist, there is no further argument, or discussion. No need for evidence either, the victim has been branded and now has the status of a leper, or a Jew in former times. It must make you feel very virtuous, having found somebody so morally inferior to yourself. But I do wonder how a Mandela, or a Ghandi, would have responded to Nina. I doubt if they would have exhibited such hatred and venom.
    1 point
  3. I use an alias and hide my email im details for a very good reason. When I first got onto the Internet I joined a certain forum about one of my other big interests which is rugby league. Won't go into full details as it would take to long, but a group of about 10 people who about half where friends in the real world not just online got together and gave me a lot of abuse and hassle not helped by the fact that one of them was actually a moderator on the site. The abuse I was getting now I think about it was cyber bullying although I would not admit that to myself at the time. When I joined that site as I said I had only just started using the Internet and was very naive and had made my email public, which resulted in one of them constantly sending one swear word messages every time I logged onto my hotmail. Which resulted in me having to change all my emails and ims. So I am sure you can see from this post why I am reluctant to share certain information on here. Suppose I could sign each post of with my first name but as I have noticed we have another poster already signing off with Steve I thought it might cause confusion lol. But just to finish off, on that other site there where no make that are still some decent people as well and it was the backing I got off them that helped me to beat those causing me problems, I'm still on that site but the ones who caused me problems are banned. In part because the site owner who for there own reason never had the time to run it handed it over to someone else who just happened to be one of the decent people and the first thing they did was ban those who had caused trouble
    1 point
  4. I think there can be valid reasons for witholding real names online. One example (not relevant here so much) is that the website I run is for parents of vulnerable disabled children who need support when tackling LEAs, social services and so on - and it's very much in their interests NOT to be easily identified. A few people know my given name on here - I'll use it freely in PMs, as that's a personal conversation and I feel it's appropriate there and I've also met a few forum members. However, with the verbal ping-pong that goes on so much, I don't yet feel comfortable to do so on the public forum although I'm reassured by some members that people who behave in certain ways online are actually lovely in real life. I'm comfortable with semi-anonymity. I would wonder at the motivation of anyone who wants to know more about me.
    1 point
  5. Sorry for the late response to this post but I've only just read it. I used to give approaching boats a courteous 'wide berth' and as a consequence, risked grounding our own posh, shiney and coach bolted hull on the shallows. That is, until I was educated on here as to what's termed as the 'chicken run'. This correct method of passing an oncoming boat involves both craft staying in the channel up until a safe distance apart, then both boats pass each other with only a small distance between them. The resulting action maintains that the boats stay within the channel, or, very close to it throughout the maneuvre. Unfortunately and more often than not, this skilled steering of the boat is often misconceived as pure arrogance. Whilst cruising down towards Kinver on the Shroppie recently, we encountered several traditional working boats that were heading towards the Audlem Festival. Every one of their steerer's adopted this method of passing me and reassuringly, acknowledged that fact that I did the same. Meldrew
    1 point
  6. Dude! For £8k I'd want Michelangelo to paint my boat! If anyone turned their nose up at that in this time of recession then they're living on another planet.
    1 point
  7. Says who? My understanding is that the law requires a 'margin for error' on speeds before a prosecution, but that margin is not defined. Even if it is defined, it doesn't mean you can legally exceed the speed limit. Just because you're unlikely to be prosecuted doesn't make it legal. Tim
    1 point
  8. I have read with faciniation this thread so far, trying not to get involved, but how dare you !!!! What a ridiculously short sighted view you have on army service, I was born in South Africa, am one of those dreadful immigrants you whitter on about yet every man in my family for the past generations fought to defend YOUR king and country in WW1 and WW2 , although all South Africans were VOLUNTEERS , they fought in the British Army. My grandfather spent WW1 in the Somme was sent home injured and yet he PAID HIS OWN way back to the front to continue fighting after his recovery. My father served in Burma and was Commander of Simonstown Navy base until he died - a British Navy base although he was born in a place called Koemga in East Griqualand. How incredibly crass and stuped to make a comment like - the cannon fodder of world wars too often came from the colonies - ask your Australians about Gallipoli, ask Canadians about Juno Beach or look up Delville Wood. I am on lunch break from my job where I pay my taxes after immigrating here 14 years ago with never a day unemployed. You are a silly small minded ignorant person - sorry for giving the life history here, but there must be thousands of immigrants who would feel the same way reading your post.
    1 point
  9. You can admire the scenery at speeds greater than tickover too. You can see the scenery just as well at 3mph as you can at 2, but if you like long boating days, think how much further you could go. I regularly boat, when on holiday, for more than 12 hours per day. An extra 12 or so miles per day over a 3 week holiday is a much longer possible cruise.
    1 point
  10. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  11. We came down Braunston yesterday, and will be going back up again on Monday (hopefully). In the past, it has always been noticeable that the majority of boats use these locks singly, often in a queue, with a variety of excuses such as "we don't like sharing" or "we waited for ages but nobody came along" (when there is a single boat in the lock ahead of them and another in the lock behind them). Even yesterday morning, the boat in front of us insisted on going down alone because his boat was GRP and therefore might get damaged by a steel boat. It is excellent that people are made to share when it is practicable to do so without an undue wait (which I take to be about 30 minutes). The water levels are low, but not so low as to be problematic - although as with Alan, I cannot comment on the reservoir levels.
    1 point
  12. I recall not so long ago being one of a convoy of boats all stuck behind a boat travelling far too slowly. It was not only neccessary to keep selecting neutral but also bursts of forward and reverse just to keep enough rudder authority to not ground. The vista ahead was full of other boats doing the same in intermittant spurts of uncontrolled drifting followed by a bit of engine to regain control. The boat at the front was quite determined, like Petain at Verdun that "they shall not pass" and caused a situation fraught with peril and frustration by his determination to impose his personal decision as an enforced speed limit. As for "If you're in a hurry you shouldn't be on the canal", why not take it to it's logical conclusion and stay on your mooring, what does it matter if you delay your journey by a year or two? Rather, if you have nowhere to go and no need to go there, save us all some bother and don't untie the ropes.
    1 point
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