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That's not true really is it. You object to those "insulting the breed", (i.e. the boat), simply on the grounds that a number of forum members own the, even where nothing is said about the owners, just the boats. Those seem fairly weasley words, and don't really wash with me! It is not that hard to make it abundantly clear when posting who you are directing comments at. The highlighted bit would seem to say that despite what you have just said, you do like stirring it a bit! It is equally easy to go back and edit a post that has lost it's context because of some moderator intervention. I'm happy to be a "usual suspect" if I am that for just saying that I don't understand the attraction, nor understand why a boat that is marketed as Josher styled isn't. If that means I am being discourteous or rude to owners, then so be it, (although many have been at length to point out that they see the boats as a creation of something stylish in their own right, not an attempt to copy anything, despite the advertising). I'm sure you can find the odd post to prove I have said something rude about the owners, probably in poor attempt at humour following something like.... Frankly if you can dish out like this, even if you would say you are just attempting to be funny, then you can hardly complain if you receive something back. But, if you seriously believe complaints about the snout of your boat come into the same camp as Gibbo's attempts to see how far he can push the boundaries, then you must be one seriously sensitive boat owner. I've not expressed a view up until now. Personally I don't give a toss what Gibbo's technical input to the forum was. If he not only doesn't want to abide by the rules, but also deliberately wants to keep testing the boundaries, then personally I believe he should stay away permanently, unless he can learn to live within them.

Which explains the previously unexplained rise in IQ levels in Peterborough in the past few years ...

I'll bet all the money in all my pockets that has nothing to do with the Friday joke thread one bit. Its to do with all the rest of you lot in all the other threads in all the other sections (who apparently seem to think theyve not done anything, as i said earlier.... denial!) And if you do ever hope of bringing in a younger audience ever then you might just have to get down of your high horses on that fluffy pink cloud youre on and smell what youre shovelling(you plural, not just whom I quote - with about 5 or so exceptions). Back on topic. I get the impression Gibbo lives in a house and when you live in a house you dont suffer the cabin fever and that is about the only thing, I can see, that brings people back.

I'm guessing here, so apologies if I'm wrong, but I imagine that your white-knight sensitivity to domestic violence sufferers feelings isn't as a result of personal experience? You see, being told what I can and cannot say about domestic violence I find more unsettling than someone making light of it. My past life involved a lot of being told that I was a bad person for using certain words, or saying certain things. It seems in your last post that even the term "political correctness" has now been added to the list whereby we can automatically label someone as evil and ostracise them for it's use. Personally, I think that racism has diminished because peoples' attitudes have changed through education and experience, not because some controlling thought police outlawed the "n" word.

Yes better to leave the towpath like this.

I reckon I'd just got him twisted round my little finger, before you load of berks upset him. He hadn't screamed any insults at me for ages...!! Have to say, I enjoyed his posts. I rarely visit the VP as I thought it would be like another forum i frequent where they have a sub forum called "The back Yard" You have to be signed in and you are warned before you enter of its horrendous content...it is very very bad and not my cup of tea. I guess I'm too old to be impressed by the shock treatment joke/video. I dont find them funny anymore. Whereas a well worded cutting put-down from the keyboard sword finger of Mr. Gibson used to get me rolling....even when directed at me....A shame

Will you lot give up with this PC Health and Safety crap please...its boring, and no one will win. Lets get on with talking about someone behind his back - the ultra interesting 'Wheres Gibbo' dilema.

They were far too busy throwing bricks at policemenwomen and their children, apparently, so had to sub-contract out the battery nicking for this month. Their press officer has informed me that they'll be able to resume normal service shortly, and they've already nicked all the lead off my boat roof. Actually, I'm not 100% sure there ever was any lead on my boat roof, but there certainly isn't now so it was probably nicked by gypos.

Hi Alan It's getting a bit "you said... I said..." but just to summarise, I think it is perfectly reasonable for you to dislike Hudson styling. However you do on occasion border in being unnecessarily rude about it. I doubt you would make such comments face to face to an owner, but presumably you feel it is OK to do so from the safety of the forum. I don't think you have ever been openly derisive of owners as a group, though you have come close. Regarding your last quote of mine, it interesting that the first time you quoted it, you did so in full. This time, you have selectively quoted it missing out the last sentance which made it quite clear that it was satirical and a made-up ridiculous rant in the vein of the abusive rant I was responding to, which was one of those that the mods deleted. By slectively quoting you have made it seem more insulting than it was Perhaps you were a journalist in a former life? You seemed to think it was aimed at you. I suppose I could have removed it but I received a number of plaudits by PM about it and thought it should stay because a number of people (including me!) thought it was funny in its full context. I am sorry if you found it hurtful, but I suppose like bow shapes, humour is in the eye of the beholder. Regarding your last but one point, I didn't see the joke but as I have mentioned before, I see a difference between personal insult and bullying, versus an inappropriate joke that is not aimed at anyone in particular.

With respect, aren't those weasely words? How can you insult a type of boat without, by necessary implication, insulting the owners? You are impugning their judgement, if nothing else. And the diatribe you re-posted as an example of "dishing it out" was actually an example of what a Hudson owner could have said in reply. You have altered the context to support your point when the real context was contradicting it.

Because a lot of it is between friends, and results in mutual amusement, which might not be immediately apparent to an outsider. I would far rather have people insulting me, on the forum, than making jokes about domestic violence or derogatory comments about immigrants, for example.

Absolute nonsense. I'm pretty sure there were far more (albeit different) things that could not be talked about before the term 'political correctness' was even invented. PC does have a very specific meaning and was developed in a specific context. I bet that if you did a statistical analysis of the occasions on which the term is used, over 99% of those would be by those using it as a term of derision. Those of us who wish to argue for good manners, decent behaviour and consideration of others have no need of a whole new set of jargon with which to do so. And how could anyone opject to the true meaning of health and safety, as opposed to its use as an excuse for all manner of unrelated things? Yes, and I have great concerns about that, given that offence is such a subjective and grey area. My view is that the use of the law should be limited to protecting people from actual harm.

What, in reality, has happened, is not a misconception of the term 'Political Correctness' or for that matter 'Health & Safety', but simply an exploitation of their true meaning. Certain factions have taken both terms and used them to their advantage. It's the fools who pander to these groups that cause such outrage. Mike

Much simpler to use one of the British shell builders for several reasons. In no particular order: You can drop in and see what they are doing. Transport to where you want it will be far cheaper - moving oversized loads across the North Sea is a very expensive business. You can swear at talk to them in your own language and they will understand. You have a better chance of getting the immovable bits in the places you want them. You will be creating work for British craftsmen, who understand the niceties of the English canal system. I'm sure there are more, but that's a few to start with.

Hey its a bit of a nuisance but not the end of the world. I cant count the number of times over the years that our boats have been peppered with grass up and down the country but on the greater scheme of things I think how lucky I am to own a boat that can be peppered with grass.

You could always put wheels on it and drive it around. Very slowly. On the wrong side of the road.