Luddite et Al

[WayneS]

Why do I have the feeling that the word “Luddite” should be added to a number of member’s bio’s.

Over the last week there has been an inordinate amount of whinging about new technology, people’s achievements and just about everything else you can imagine.

No wonder we are referred to as Whinging Poms.

Or maybe I’m just too young to remember the good old days. The days when people used the best technology that was available at the time to break records. When people used the best technology available to make cruising as safe as possible. Oh, maybe those days were not so different to modern times after all. Maybe those achievements were no better than current ones.

Or am I missing something, other than a sense of humour.

 

[Magic_Sailor]

It could be said that with extra years comes a realisation that for all our technical advances, we're not really any better off.

I mean, what have the Romans ever done for us...eh?

Magic

 

[Evadne]

re. last sentence, got it in one. Maybe you're just taking people a bit too seriously.

The only thing we all have in common is a love of sailing, which is why we're so different. I have the same objection, as you do to prehistoric practices, to twats who insist that it is unsafe to go sailing in an old or engineless boat or without gps or without radar or not clipped on with a lifejacket and full body armour etc., etc.. The only real sins, in my book, are to impose your views and prejudices on others, or to put them in danger by coming to your aid.

But I still think its cheating if you need 100 billion dollars of orbiting american satellite technology to help you find France from the Isle of Wight. People have been navigating there by dugout since the last ice age, for goodness sake!

 

[tcm]

Sense of humour failure perhaps - together with a misunderstanding of the meaning of the word "Luddite"...

 

[WayneS]

Wrong on both counts.

Take some tome to re-read the last week's postings regarding AIS and Ellen's achievements in particular and then tell me that there are not a bunch of Luddites out there who cannot deal with the fact that technology has moved on and that it is about time that they should embrace it or at the very least, stop whinging about other people who have embraced it.

I can assure you, I have a sense of humour, just not one that extends to pompous or arrogant attitudes.

I’m getting off my soap box now…..

 

[jimi]

how did tome react when you chopped a bit of him off for a snack?

 

[WayneS]

You have me really worried now. I have no idea what you are talking about.

W

 

[Parsonsheath]

A luddite was one who was opposed to the industrial revolution because they had the sense to see that this would lead to the end of their jobs, in a day when there was no fallback, so they saw the situation as it was at that time before the mass caught up!

What a lot of folk have said is that while in no way seeking to detract from what Ellen has done, let us also use a little perspective, and reevaluate what others achieved without all that kit, money etc, Shane Acton had an effect on me which Ellen never will, I am sure that both had a level of will and determination, you may not agree with me, that is your right, but next time you throw your rattle out of the pram remember I respect your right to do that.

 

[tcm]

Hit and run

The luddites attacked technological inventions in the early 19th century that affected their livelihoods.

None of this applies to any "whingeing" about technology on ellen's boat - the technology doesn't affect anyone here, but merely affects ellen's boat. She'd be daft not to take every generator, gizmo and everything else which the rules and practical considerations allow.

What are these posts to which to take exception? And who are these posters to who you refer? Not normally the done thing to pick and argument on yer own thread and then run off. The luddites didn't do that either. Yorkshire, see?

 

[WayneS]

Re: Hit and run

No hit and run I assure you. I am here and you will note that I have already made a number of responses to replies to my original post.

Am willing to admit that the word "Luddite" was not used in the true sense. If you can come up with a better word for me then I would be happy to use it.

What I am getting at is that, on the first subject of AIS, there have been a number of posts from a number of people suggesting that anyone who thinks that AIS is a product worth having is somehow misguided. This is absolutely not true as most sensible folks would agree. It is not a replacement for anything but an additional tool. Some of us cannot accommodate Radar within our budget or boat and so AIS might be a useful half way house.

On the subject of Ellen and her achievements, it has been suggested that her achievements are somewhat false because she made use of technology, including weather forecasting, that others have not. She used nothing that is not available to anybody else who attempts the record. Just because Joyon did not use outside help, does that make his achievements somehow bigger and better. I would say not

I wonder if her achievements would be better received if Joyon had not not ripped up the record books as he did. If she had smashed the record by 3 and a half weeks would we then be happier.

I assure you that I do not have a list of names who I am taking pot shots at. My comments are about the general tone of posts and not directed at any particular post or poster.

W

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: Hit and run

[ QUOTE ]
Am willing to admit that the word "Luddite" was not used in the true sense. If you can come up with a better word for me then I would be happy to use it.

[/ QUOTE ]

technophobe seems appropriate

 

[Vara]

I am a Luddite in the sense that I do not trust new technology to work all the time.
I love new technology I'm using it now!
Remember Murphy's law not to mention his brother in law Sodde.
What upsets me is that people don't have fall back position,no plan B or C.
Lecky goes down and they're stuffed.

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Go on I\'ll take the bait.

You don't like moaning? Well you've got a funny way of showing it, by moaning.

If you like your technology why are you assuming I don't. Because I don't like AIS receivers or the way they're being sold. You think perhaps that this was some sort of kneejerk reaction caused by a fear of tehnology. Well your wrong.

As you researched the Luddites, you might be surprised to know that I researched AIS, in some some depth. I talked to trainers, shipping sources, a nice man at HMG a women at IMO and, including todays sample, about 25 boaters of various types. Add this to some of the comments on here and you'll find more than ample grounds for my assertion that there's some confusion about this product. Following the research I made what I considered to be a valid statement on this board. I'd have thought this was a proper place to air my views.

If I've stated the view that people are more likely to accept what they see in a screen today than once they were then that is the result of sailing with upwards of 80 people a year, which is a reasonable sample. They trust it too, which is why AIS, as it is today, worries me.

When I started boating, almost everything I learned was brought to my attention by the people I sailed with. The good, the bad, the exciting, the mundane. Some of it right some of it wrong, some of it I already knew, but all of it stated and discussed. I don't remember anyone saying you can't whinge. I don't remember many people spitting the dummy and saying "I already new that! or "Why don't you treat me like a grown up". You just used the bits you valued and let the rest slide.

On balance I'd say most of the posts on here are positive, bo***x but positive.
We do have a laugh here.

Your clearly against the Luddite's, who had their plus points to be honest, you do seem to be in favour of censorship though. Why is that?

Still I'll look forward to your positive lead in posts from here forward.

 

[Mirelle]

AIS

This is what I wrote:

"It is amazing how many ships are going in the wrong direction in the English Channel according to their AIS transponders - simply because the OOW has forgotten to update them after discharge."

Is this "Luddite" or an observation of why a technology is failing in use?

We have had two cases where the IMO in its wisdom has spent so long examining every aspect of a new bit of kit that by the time it became mandatory it was out of date - the S57 standard for vector charts and more importantly for most of us the GMDSS system. AIS now seems to be in danger of going off at half cock; it is seen by many watch officers as another bit of kit wished on them by a paranoid United States, and they don't bother with it.

I'm not knocking it as a bit of kit, but lets remember what it's for.

 

[oilyrag]

Wayne
FWIW I share your view. However don't forget that whingeing is what Brits do best, and our inalienable right to publicly espouse complete bollocks is what makes Britain the world's best democracy. (Although of course the nice Tony Blair is doing his best to rectify the problem!)

 

[RocquaineBay]

Re: Ellen Well Done! But For Real Achievment...What about..

Doing the whole lot over again but this time do it...

in a bath tub from present B & Q shop stock,
only wear your bra and nickers, frightened men need to see you are a woman!
use only as much food as you can carry in one tesco shopping bag, it'll be a challenge,
have no radio or any electrics onboards, so you can be really scared,
fly a thin but modern polyester shirt at full sail the whole journey from a broom handle which you must personally keep manually erected,
don't shave, and you must keep taking the plug out every ten minutes to keep everybody interested, because it seems no matter what this world or its people in it achieve, somebody always willl think they can do better. Ellen you are a gorgeous fruitcake, I love you and I want you to be my mother. Everybody chill.
Mike. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ColdFusion]

[ QUOTE ]
Over the last week there has been an inordinate amount of whinging about new technology, people’s achievements and just about everything else you can imagine.

[/ QUOTE ]
I've 'whinged' about our latest heroine's pathetic attempt to sell me a B & Q powertool on TV.

I've 'whinged' about a manufacturer of an elusive product that sounds too good to be true (not helped by the fact that nobody knows anyone who has one and the fact that the company threatens legal action at the drop of a hat).

I've also 'whinged' about Yachting Monthly not getting their act together when carrying out boat reviews.

And I've also 'whinged' about Big Ears getting married (who gives a xxxx).

All in the space of a week, which I think is pretty good going for saying the weather's crap /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[WayneS]

I get a sneaky feeling that we hold the minority view.

W

 

[oilyrag]

or maybe (mostly) silent majority! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[ColdFusion]

WayneS & oilyrag,

Stop that whinging /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif