Does YM think we are all idiots?

[ctva]

How easy it is for us to read an article in which we have expertise and laugh at the "dumbness" of it. But then you read an article that you think is interesting and informative, which by the way is dummbed down tosh to someone else!!

As someone who has been involved in clubs, and RYA training in some form or other for the last 30 years and having met James on many occasions, without "stuffed balloons" like him and the many others, we would not enjoy the diverse freedoms to enjoy our hobby and for others a profession. As to his knowledge and experience, I'd back him against many of the armchair experts and snobs on here!

 

[ctva]

That's a pretty powerful assertion. Can you back it up with any specific proof?

You started the "I bet...." posts.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Written articles can only target and satisfy some people but not all; criticisms such as too basic, too advanced, too biased etc are common, however, it is good for an article to be able to generate more questions than answers too.

I have a comment to make on this month's edition; on page 22 "The best way to pick up buoys" shows a man, picture 1, leaning right over to pick up a buoy, with most of his weight overboard; this is a good way to go overboard too. My advice is Don't do this, just use a hook, unless the freeboard is very low, unlike the boat in the picture. However, we all have our preferences based on our knowledge, experience and capability at the time.

 

[capnsensible]

That's a pretty powerful assertion. Can you back it up with any specific proof?

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/james-stevens/2b/771/446

 

[john_morris_uk]

I know him well and he's a down to earth guy who I've never seen wearing red trousers.

The Association of Sail Training Organizations represents all of the volunteer charities around the land who work so hard taking disadvantaged kids to sea on a wide variety of vessels including classics and square riggers. Chairmanship is a thankless task and it's as far from red trouser land as is possible. James receives no financial reward for his services. Feel free to rubbish the article, but don't rubbish the man due to your own prejudices.

Plus a few…

I also know James and the descriptions of what people think he must be like from their rather small minded prejudices about things are completely wide of the mark.

Like so many of these thing, the ill considered remarks say more about the person making them than the person they are referring to. James is a practical sailor with a vast experience. People vastly underestimate the amount of work he and some other have done to preserve sailing and boating from the intervention of heavy handed government regulation over the last twenty years or more. James occasionally had to take some difficult decisions over very tricky incidents. I know how he managed situations with great skill and fairness to all concerned. However more to the point of this discussion, he is an extremely skilled and experienced offshore sailor.

 

[Puffin_Billy]

Wully, you're making a bit of a fool of yourself here mate. JS is not only more experienced than you'll ever likely to be, but he is quite the opposite of the Committee Types that you so obviously detest... In fact you're playing up to a pretty poor stereotype yourself and nobody is moving to your defence! Speaks volumes...

 

[Robert Wilson]

A drift, with apologies, but in the same vein - YM not getting facts right?

Previous issue showed a picture of a beautiful Rustler sailing past "Falmouth Castle" (Sic; from the caption on the inside page). It was quite clearly St. Mawes Castle, and the one on t'other side of the Carrick Roads is Pendennis Castle - which happens to be on the Falmouth side.

I wasn't going to comment until I saw this OP.

 

[wully1]

and nobody is moving to your defence!

I wouldn't expect anyone to. Don't need anyone to. Didn't ask anyone to.

I commented on what I thought of an article and who wrote it. I really couldn't less care what you or anyone else thinks.

 

[Resolution]

I wouldn't expect anyone to. Don't need anyone to. Didn't ask anyone to.

I commented on what I thought of an article and who wrote it. I really couldn't less care what you or anyone else thinks.

Clearly a person who will not let facts get in the way of a solid prejudice. Rather depressing, but on the other hand it has been encouraging to see other posters rallying to the public defence of this guy James.

 

[Emjaytoo]

I really couldn't less care what you or anyone else thinks.

And maybe "anyone else" couldn't care less what you think!

 

[rotrax]

I wouldn't expect anyone to. Don't need anyone to. Didn't ask anyone to.

I commented on what I thought of an article and who wrote it. I really couldn't less care what you or anyone else thinks.

Your opinion on James, who-unlike you, or you would not spout such tosh, I have met, , is, to me, a matter of supreme indifference.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Your opinion on James, who-unlike you, or you would not spout such tosh, I have met, , is, to me, a matter of supreme indifference.

Thanks for telling us.

 

[SimonFa]

From my experience of magazines, mainly golf, photography and bridge, they have a cycle of about 2 years and then start addressing the same subjects again. I suspect this is because that is how long the average reader takes the magazine* and how many topics can be reasonably covered in any single issue.

This also means that they have to attract new customers who in general tend to be new to the interest at hand, which is why they have to find a balance between attracting the beginner/novice whilst trying to also retain the more experienced. IMHO, and based on only a few months, YM gets this about right and I put myself in the advanced beginner category.

On the article in question, as it happens I had the magazine open on that page on my bedside table ready to read and when I started it last night the first thing that sprang to mind was that the author makes it clear right from the off that it is aimed at the novice/beginner, who probably hasn't done any training and in the example used doesn't believe they need to. If I was as experienced as the OP I would do what I do with bridge articles aimed at novices, move on and use my time more productively, but I look forward to reading the rest of this article.


*OK cause and effect here, people could be leaving after 2 years because of the cycle.