Aggressive environment / 14 day movement suspension?

[Steve Bassplayer]

When we meet up with boaters we haven't seen for years, it's like we only met up yesterday. I still regard them as part of the community on the cut (even those we meet for the first time). 

 

A community is also a bunch of people with the same interests, cultures and beliefs. I still believe most boaters love our unique heritage.

 

 

[dogless]

For years I have met almost on a daily basis, other people on boats ... hirers, shares, renters, owners, all different and all with differing views of what 'boating' means.

 

Some think travelling on the boat for the full daylight hours every day is the thing, whilst others choose to stay in one place for as long as possible.

 

Some hate locks and constantly seek assistance, whilst others love the physicality and exercise.

 

There are those shuffling cars about, those with motorbikes, and even mobility scooters.

 

There are those that gather and burn wood, those that use generators, and those that love to debate cassette, pump out, or compost.

 

Some know and lecture anyone who'll listen on the history of the canals and others that want to go to the pub.

 

I even meet those who are on a canal for the first time and will NEVER return.

 

I see radically different people who can rarely even agree what 'boating' is ... the vast majority are friendly and sociable and generally willing to offer a hand.

 

But I also see those who'll rapidly pull away as you hove in view or turn a lock in their favour against you, or sit on a tap whilst their washing machine has finished its cycle.

 

Some are friends , some are passing acquaintances and I'm happy to wave and smile to all because it makes me feel good, but I really don't understand the 'community' idea.

 

Rog

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

A community is also a bunch of people with the same interests, cultures and beliefs.

 

I strongly disagree. 

 

It's a bunch of people with the same interests, cultures and beliefs who know each other.

 

Without the last bit, it's just a load of people who have never met or communicated in any way, and have no idea who any of the others are. 

 

A bit like most boaters actually.

 

 

 

[agg221]

4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

More so than random boaters out ther

Even if we don't recognise each other in real life! (you passed the boat on the Shroppie in late July, just north of Norbury, but my younger daughter was steering and she would have idea who you are, and then you would have had no way of knowing that it was me on the towpath about 15mins later heading towards the boat having just had to run back to Norbury and pick up the fuel cap!)

 

Alec

[Steve Bassplayer]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

 

I strongly disagree. 

 

It's a bunch of people with the same interests, cultures and beliefs who know each other.

 

Without the last bit, it's just a load of people who have never met or communicated in any way, and have no idea who any of the others are. 

 

A bit like most boaters actually.

 

 

 

No, You can belong to a community without 'knowing' eachother. 

 

I doubt anyone in this virtual community knows everyone else in it.

 

Like all boaters in the boating community actually. 

[ditchcrawler]

58 minutes ago, agg221 said:

Even if we don't recognise each other in real life! (you passed the boat on the Shroppie in late July, just north of Norbury, but my younger daughter was steering and she would have idea who you are, and then you would have had no way of knowing that it was me on the towpath about 15mins later heading towards the boat having just had to run back to Norbury and pick up the fuel cap!)

 

Alec

Correct, I spotted the boat 100%

[phantom_iv]

It’s not a community unless it has a coffee morning.

[Twopints]

Just now, phantom_iv said:

It’s not a community unless it has a coffee morning.

and leaders?

[agg221]

8 minutes ago, Twopints said:

and leaders?

What if it's an anarcho-syndicalist commune...?

 

Alec

[Twopints]

4 minutes ago, agg221 said:

What if it's an anarcho-syndicalist commune...?

 

Alec

Then everyone is a leader, but must do as they're told.

Edited September 2 by Twopints

[agg221]

2 minutes ago, Twopints said:

Then everyone is a leader.

Do they take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week, but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting?

 

 

Alec

Edited September 2 by agg221

[phantom_iv]

Presumably a simply majority will suffice for purely internal affairs?

[Twopints]

6 minutes ago, agg221 said:

Do they take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week, but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting?

 

 

Alec

Sorry, late edit! But yes.

 

[b00ke23]

1 minute ago, phantom_iv said:

Presumably a simply majority will suffice for purely internal affairs?

 

Yes, but a two thirds majority for more major affairs.

[agg221]

4 minutes ago, phantom_iv said:

Presumably a simply majority will suffice for purely internal affairs?

I would think so. Just watch out for people being repressed though.

 

Alec

Edited September 2 by agg221

[Twopints]

1 minute ago, agg221 said:

I would think so. Just watch out for people being repressed though.

 

Alec

Bloody peasant!

[b00ke23]

4 minutes ago, agg221 said:

I would think so. Just watch out for people being repressed though.

 

Alec

 

That's the violence inherent in the system I'm afraid!

3 minutes ago, Twopints said:

Bloody peasant!

 

DId you hear that....that's what I'm on about 😂

[phantom_iv]

This being a boating community, surely some strange woman standing in the canal distributing swords might be a more convenient basis for a system of government?

[Twopints]

2 minutes ago, phantom_iv said:

This being a boating community, surely some strange woman standing in the canal distributing swords might be a more convenient basis for a system of government?

It's better than many of the alternatives.

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, phantom_iv said:

This being a boating community, surely some strange woman standing in the canal distributing swords might be a more convenient basis for a system of government?

You can't expect to wield supreme power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!

[brianthesnail96]

He must be a King a boater from somewhere other than the K&A... 

 

 

I'm not sure about community, but I think there's at least 20 Alecs out there, every time I get on a boat I seem to bump into him! 

[Mike Todd]

3 hours ago, brianthesnail96 said:

He must be a King a boater from somewhere other than the K&A... 

 

 

I'm not sure about community, but I think there's at least 20 Alecs out there, every time I get on a boat I seem to bump into him! 

As you know, or should do by now, every product worthy of its time has to have its old fashioned name prefixed by the word Smart.

[hoopdriver]

On 02/09/2026 at 20:55, Steve Bassplayer said:

No, You can belong to a community without 'knowing' eachother. 

 

I doubt anyone in this virtual community knows everyone else in it.

 

Like all boaters in the boating community actually. 

I agree with you. You don’t need to know everybody in a community for it to be a community. And by my own experience I woukd definitely say there is such a thing as a boating community 

[dogless]

So you community people,  can I ask if the community includes ...

 

Those boaters who shout abuse as you pass

Those who run generators or engines at all times of the day and night

Those who moor on lock landings, water points and other inappropriate locations

Those who never move and litter the towpath with their 'possessions'

 

Or is the community those we like only ?

 

Rog

 

 

[Steve Bassplayer]

2 minutes ago, dogless said:

So you community people,  can I ask if the community includes ...

 

Those boaters who shout abuse as you pass

Those who run generators or engines at all times of the day and night

Those who moor on lock landings, water points and other inappropriate locations

Those who never move and litter the towpath with their 'possessions'

 

Or is the community those we like only ?

 

Rog

 

 

You find undesirable behaviour in all communities as there is friendship.