beards
Well-Known Member
Why do new users who post contentious replies not fill in their biogs? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
State of the River
- Thread starter pmd
- Start date
boatone
Well-Known Member
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Why do new users who post contentious replies not fill in their biogs? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
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Is this a trick question ?
Why do new users who post contentious replies not fill in their biogs? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Is this a trick question ?
beards
Well-Known Member
No an honest question, I just find it strange that the more contentious forum members (not only on the Thames Forum) don't fill in the biog that helps everyone judge where they are coming from e.g. vested interest etc. isn't the whole point about open, honest input?
boatone
Well-Known Member
My slightly facetious question was, shall we say, tongue in cheek?
I certainly get the impression that we have been joined by several new members who wish to keep their identities concealed from their employer?
I have no objection to them joining in, and adding to, debates and information relative to the Thames but I would personally NOT want the forum to become some sort of pseudo battleground for issues they need to resolve through their own HR procedures.
I also get the distinct feeling that we are long on emotion and short on facts which always makes for a poor analysis.
I certainly get the impression that we have been joined by several new members who wish to keep their identities concealed from their employer?
I have no objection to them joining in, and adding to, debates and information relative to the Thames but I would personally NOT want the forum to become some sort of pseudo battleground for issues they need to resolve through their own HR procedures.
I also get the distinct feeling that we are long on emotion and short on facts which always makes for a poor analysis.
beards
Well-Known Member
That was my point if we know the background we can take a balanced view. Time for a /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif and watch the football.
boatone
Well-Known Member
I'm afraid I take issue with quite a few of the things you have to say.
However, in particular.....
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They must be absolutely naive and operating in a vacuum, if they cannot establish the real facts based on what everyone is writing in magazines, journals and the press.
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God help us if you consider all that emotional tripe "facts".
and.....
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Nowadays the EA is solely reliant on canal boats coming onto the river from the canal system.
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Would you like to explain this most peculiar statement?
However, in particular.....
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They must be absolutely naive and operating in a vacuum, if they cannot establish the real facts based on what everyone is writing in magazines, journals and the press.
[/ QUOTE ]
God help us if you consider all that emotional tripe "facts".
and.....
[ QUOTE ]
Nowadays the EA is solely reliant on canal boats coming onto the river from the canal system.
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Would you like to explain this most peculiar statement?
pmd
Member
Re comments re details of contributors etc., I hardly think this is the issue (you can get my details as they are posted!!) The real issue is that irrespective of how many posts have been "posted" by so called "newbies", I argue my points from 25 years experience on the river, not on how many posts I have made to this forum. It is a shame that when a serious post is sent to thisd forum, the subject is hijacked by so called regular contributors who want to comment on everything except the actual content of the original post.
pmd
Member
As recently as today I was advised by a lock keeper,a person with more experince of the river than either you or I, that the EA would not exist solely with the income from cruisers. They are absolutely reliant on the "new" income derived from canal boats. If you do not agree to this "peculiar statement" as you call it, take issue with those with the knowledge, not with me!!!!
boatone
Well-Known Member
According to EA figures, the total income from craft registrations is only about 15% of total budget. This includes visitors licences and Gold Licences.
As far as I understand it, income from Gold Licences is retained by the issuing authority and not apportioned. i.e BW keep Gold License income from BW registered NB's and the EA keep any income from Gold Licences issued to Thames registered vessels.
To suggest as your informant puts it that :
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They are absolutely reliant on the "new" income derived from canal boats.
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is laughable. The figures and documents I refer to are available on the EA website if you care to look for them.
As far as I understand it, income from Gold Licences is retained by the issuing authority and not apportioned. i.e BW keep Gold License income from BW registered NB's and the EA keep any income from Gold Licences issued to Thames registered vessels.
To suggest as your informant puts it that :
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They are absolutely reliant on the "new" income derived from canal boats.
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is laughable. The figures and documents I refer to are available on the EA website if you care to look for them.
Captain Coochie
Well-Known Member
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hijacked by so called regular contributors who want to comment on everything except the actual content of the original post.
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Liveaboards and the flow of the river are both topics i have commented on and both subjects are covered in the post you made of your opinion on the state of the river .
hijacked by so called regular contributors who want to comment on everything except the actual content of the original post.
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Liveaboards and the flow of the river are both topics i have commented on and both subjects are covered in the post you made of your opinion on the state of the river .
byron
RIP
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That was my point if we know the background we can take a balanced view.
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I was always taught that if something is anonymous then it should be ignored or at least taken with a large helping of salt. Ergo for me a nom de plume without a bio and I don't give too much credence to the posting.
That was my point if we know the background we can take a balanced view.
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I was always taught that if something is anonymous then it should be ignored or at least taken with a large helping of salt. Ergo for me a nom de plume without a bio and I don't give too much credence to the posting.
byron
RIP
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the subject is hijacked by so called regular contributors who want to comment on everything except the actual content of the original post.
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This is common to all forums on all subjects and is a well known phenonemon called 'Thread Drift'
the subject is hijacked by so called regular contributors who want to comment on everything except the actual content of the original post.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is common to all forums on all subjects and is a well known phenonemon called 'Thread Drift'
pmd
Member
I've never mentioned gold licences. I was referrring to the annual EA canal boat licences which are increasing year on year
boatone
Well-Known Member
There is no such thing as an "EA Canal Boat Licence"
NB's are registered as powered launches just like cruisers. As far as I am aware the EA do not have any analysis of the number of NB's vis a vis cruisers.
Although the number of NB's actually registered on the Thames may be increasing slightly, I would bet that the majority of NB's we see on the Thames are visitors, either short term visitors licence, or Gold Licence holders who are primarily registered with BW.
NB's are registered as powered launches just like cruisers. As far as I am aware the EA do not have any analysis of the number of NB's vis a vis cruisers.
Although the number of NB's actually registered on the Thames may be increasing slightly, I would bet that the majority of NB's we see on the Thames are visitors, either short term visitors licence, or Gold Licence holders who are primarily registered with BW.
pmd
Member
I THINK IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO END THE DEBATE WITH YOURSELF. YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY ONLY INTENT ON PROLONGING THE ARGUMENT BY BEING PEDANTIC AND IRRELEVANT, AND NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS THE REAL ISSUES. SADLY FOR A "REGULAR" YOU APPEAR TO HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
I'm inclined to agree on the narrowboats B1, all the craft I've seen on my last two trips upriver have been visitors tickets or Gold. Including two who rafted just behind my on Bath island. Yes, rafted!
chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
To keep it on the original thread...
I grew up by the Thames at Marlow (1970s / 80s). In those days, it was still the Thames Conservancy who looked after things, including towpaths, vegetation, etc. One of my first summer jobs was working for the TC as it became the National Rivers Authority. Those who transferred kept the same standards, the managers knew the river and had come up from the ranks, and working for TC / NRA was a source of pride.
Then came the EA. At the same time, work to me away to sea and moving house to Somerset on the edge of the levels. I began to see the erosion of the NRAs good work as it became subsumed into the all knowing EA - the replacement of skilled locals with idiot graduates, the replacement of local knowledge with computer modelling. Budgets started being cut to fund a new HQ in Bristol, regional offices were refurbished whilst flood defence assets wilted.
This has continued apace, with the end result that last year's major flooding, most of which was entirely manageable if not preventable. which finally highlighted the appalling state of most of the EAs river and flood assets. The last year has seen a bit of window dressing, a lot of repeated studies and surveys, but bugger all actual work.
Meanwhile, the EA become more involved in prosecutions, enforcements, and money wasting schemes (for example they recently ordered a load of Mitsubishi L200s with winches for maintenance. The winches have now had to be taken off - apparently they hadn't been "crash tested" if there was an accident on the roads. That's not anecdotal - it came from the Mitsi main dealer doing the removal work!!
The EA is simply not "fit for purpose" - and now they're trying to get the power from the local drainage boards, which if it happens will be another disaster in the making.
The answer ? Go back to NRA structure, or event better, Thames Conservancy, River Severn Board, etc, run by people with years' knowledgeof the river.
But of course actually doing a good job does't fit within the ZanuLabour structure, does it?
I grew up by the Thames at Marlow (1970s / 80s). In those days, it was still the Thames Conservancy who looked after things, including towpaths, vegetation, etc. One of my first summer jobs was working for the TC as it became the National Rivers Authority. Those who transferred kept the same standards, the managers knew the river and had come up from the ranks, and working for TC / NRA was a source of pride.
Then came the EA. At the same time, work to me away to sea and moving house to Somerset on the edge of the levels. I began to see the erosion of the NRAs good work as it became subsumed into the all knowing EA - the replacement of skilled locals with idiot graduates, the replacement of local knowledge with computer modelling. Budgets started being cut to fund a new HQ in Bristol, regional offices were refurbished whilst flood defence assets wilted.
This has continued apace, with the end result that last year's major flooding, most of which was entirely manageable if not preventable. which finally highlighted the appalling state of most of the EAs river and flood assets. The last year has seen a bit of window dressing, a lot of repeated studies and surveys, but bugger all actual work.
Meanwhile, the EA become more involved in prosecutions, enforcements, and money wasting schemes (for example they recently ordered a load of Mitsubishi L200s with winches for maintenance. The winches have now had to be taken off - apparently they hadn't been "crash tested" if there was an accident on the roads. That's not anecdotal - it came from the Mitsi main dealer doing the removal work!!
The EA is simply not "fit for purpose" - and now they're trying to get the power from the local drainage boards, which if it happens will be another disaster in the making.
The answer ? Go back to NRA structure, or event better, Thames Conservancy, River Severn Board, etc, run by people with years' knowledgeof the river.
But of course actually doing a good job does't fit within the ZanuLabour structure, does it?
apollo
...
Its always rained, just used to need two weeks of this to cause a red boards, now its two days. And I am NOT wearing rosy spectacles!!
byron
RIP
[ QUOTE ]
I THINK IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO END THE DEBATE WITH YOURSELF. YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY ONLY INTENT ON PROLONGING THE ARGUMENT BY BEING PEDANTIC AND IRRELEVANT, AND NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS THE REAL ISSUES. SADLY FOR A "REGULAR" YOU APPEAR TO HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
[/ QUOTE ]
No need to shout. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Boatone (Tony) is a valuable contributor and a founding father of this Forum. I don't always agree with what he has to say but admire his tenacity and research that goes into his answers.
I THINK IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO END THE DEBATE WITH YOURSELF. YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY ONLY INTENT ON PROLONGING THE ARGUMENT BY BEING PEDANTIC AND IRRELEVANT, AND NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS THE REAL ISSUES. SADLY FOR A "REGULAR" YOU APPEAR TO HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
[/ QUOTE ]
No need to shout. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Boatone (Tony) is a valuable contributor and a founding father of this Forum. I don't always agree with what he has to say but admire his tenacity and research that goes into his answers.
apollo
...
Peter
Totally agree on all points!
Another week last week dominated by Red Boards yet again, after only two days rain.
If the summer is screwed like last year, we will either move the boat elsewhere or sell it.
Mike
Totally agree on all points!
Another week last week dominated by Red Boards yet again, after only two days rain.
If the summer is screwed like last year, we will either move the boat elsewhere or sell it.
Mike
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