Why does everyone say Mk 1 eyeball when they mean eye?

shmoo

shmoo

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This is not a complaint, so please don't flame me. I would just like to know...

There seems to be a strange reluctance to use the word eye, plain, naked and unadorned. I am sure; well, let's say I hope, that forumistas don't go round saying "I have to go for a Mk 1 eyeball test next week" or "I have something in my Mk 1 eyeball, please fetch a mole wrench".

In posts it typically comes over something like "I have S band, X band, image intensifier, multi-band infra-red video and a towed sonar array, but I still rely on the Mk 1 eyeball when I want to see something"

What is the origin of the expression? Why does it have such a hold?
 
Because its fun and clever in a sort of beardy superior way perfectly suited to the yachtie type.
 
I think its pretty much a military thing. I spent 20 years in the navy, 14 of those years flying as aircrew and it was an everyday saying. Lots of ex military people on these lists and sailing yachts.
 
fishermantwo said:
I think its pretty much a military thing. I spent 20 years in the navy, 14 of those years flying as aircrew and it was an everyday saying. Lots of ex military people on these lists and sailing yachts.
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My understanding too. The whole point of it is that basic common sense can be as good as (if not better) than the most sophisticated instrumentation in some situations. It's the Mk1 eyeball, because it is still the original model, as designed several million years ago & still working well. See if your electronics last that long.:D

I'm sorry to upset your sensibilities Shmoo, I use the expression a lot because it exactly describes my approach to sailing. In general, the fewer instruments the better. Tho' I do enjoy seeing my little boat traipsing across the PC screen on a chartplotter - dead sexy that, but I can't always be bothered to switch it on & it does use a lot of battery power.
 
Well the Mk 2 would be after surgical enhancement via lasers etc, so Mk 1 is def fuzzy logic.

I would love a Mk 3, complete with digitalised night vision, scope, tele,full width appreciation of the colour spectrum.

As to the beards and maritime elitism, well I bow to your superior knowledge.
 
Searush said:
I'm sorry to upset your sensibilities Shmoo
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I appreciate your concern, but you would have to work much harder than that to upset my sensibilities. Indeed, Mrs shmoo would say I didn't have any.

Lakesailor said:
I have never used the phrase. To make the assumption that everyone uses it is a bit rich.
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You spotted a careless overstatement. The original post was written after my bedtime.
 
and while we are on Mk1 why this desire to use sexy inappropriately

Searush said:
... boat traipsing across the PC screen on a chartplotter - dead sexy that ....
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... and in a similar vain why are inanimate, utilitarian objects devoid of carnality described as "sexy". Perhaps the superiority of the bearded maritime enthusiast masks an insecure familiarity with normal concupiscent relations.

Note to Searush - its just a coincidence that beard, superiority, your avatar and the other posts collide. I do not assume that you seek wanton, salacious experainces from chart plotters. :p
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
... and in a similar vain why are inanimate, utilitarian objects devoid of carnality described as "sexy". Perhaps the superiority of the bearded maritime enthusiast masks an insecure familiarity with normal concupiscent relations.

Note to Searush - its just a coincidence that beard, superiority, your avatar and the other posts collide. I do not assume that you seek wanton, salacious experainces from chart plotters. :p
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It gets the screen all sticky - oohh , err no, err, I don't understand your point.


Quick, where's those Kleenex?
 
One of many slightly quirky descriptions used, I fear.

Iron topsail, when engine will do (and having a sloop, not many topsails in evidence anyway).

And of course, I now can't think of the others that get passed around the conversation on board....must be a failing of the Mark 1 Memory Banks......
 
Blueboatman said:
Well the Mk 2 would be after surgical enhancement via lasers etc, so Mk 1 is def fuzzy logic.

I would love a Mk 3, complete with digitalised night vision, scope, tele,full width appreciation of the colour spectrum.

As to the beards and maritime elitism, well I bow to your superior knowledge.
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In that case, mine are Mk IV! But I am afraid the various "enhancements" are simply to bring them back to Mk 1 specification;)
 
As an ex-military aviator, we always talked about the Mk1 eyeball as being the basic means of looking out for nasty people ignoring whatever the airborne equivalent was of the Colregs. Her Maj's airplanes tend to be quite old and often upgraded, so you often had the Mk3 airframe with the Mk17 radar and Mk5 Decca etc etc.

Laser vision correction would give you the Mk1A eyeball, as the eyeball is still mainly the Mk1 but with certain upgrades.

I know a chap with a Mk2 eyeball which he takes out at night and leaves in a glass of water by the bed!
 
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