YM Feb - Jellyellie - a waste of space

[MacMan]

February Yachting Monthly - "Digital Girl sail with Analogue man". I am the only one who found the whole article vacuous and pointless. I basically seemed to be 4 page promotional advert for self styled entrepreneur and “spokesperson for youth “Jelly” – She is too “cool” to give her real and is concerned about her “brand image”.

The idea of getting the young interested in Sailing is great (although maybe if they didn’t Marina prices might come down ;-) ) but this article was at such a trivial level I fail to see how it achieved that.

I followed some of her links – in particular “yacht Scribble” which seems to be a away of begging people for money so that they don’t suffer “debt”. (poor things) To be slightly fair they seem to have found enough mugs to pay for a yacht ! They don’t even promise to actually scribble on the boat !

This seems to me to be just another example of the “big brother” become a D list celebrity and never really work for a living philosophy. I don’t think all the young are like this – but I am proud to be “out of touch” with the ones that are.

This reminds me why I am saving up to leave this society !

 

[jellyellie]

Hi there

I realise that my article has been received quite controversially - just as I was reading this negative post, an email came in from someone random who had read the article and wanted to say how much she enjoyed it for all the opposite reasons you state.

So, I'd like to respond to some of your points.

Of course I'm concerned about my brand image. Which entrepreneur isn't?

I make a point of not using my real name in media appearances or online as I received a number of real threats surrounding my website bluejackQ.com when I was a younger teenager. Ever since, 'jellyellie' has stuck - and yes, it has become my 'brand image'.

The idea wasn't just to get the young interested in sailing. I originally contacted YM as, being a young sailor myself, I felt let down by the lack of young representatives in today's yachting media. There are so many young people out there who already enjoy sailing, but we're easily turned away from today's media. A few years ago I originally stumbled across these forums, and the yachting mags, for the first time. I took one look and didn't come back for a long time. Why? They're stereotypically full of stuffy middle-aged men with incredibly rigid views on what "yachting" is. That is never going to encourage young people to read the magazines on offer today, or join in with communities such as these. This is also why I expect the majority of posts on here about my article will be negative, as the people who think otherwise have no desire to join in with these forums. That may be a harsh comment but it is my opinion and I know that many others - people who don't join in with the forums for that very reason but are avid readers of YM - feel the same.

I knew that any contribution I made to YM was going to be controversial, because I was fully expecting some people like I mention above to turn their noses up at a "cool" young person concerned about her "brand image" because she wants to be successful. You can't see past it as an advertising feature. A lot of other people can - they're excited by the fact YM is trying something new, engaging a younger audience, and having a bit of fun.

You say I am aiming for D-list celebrity status and do not want to work for a living. How wrong can you be? At the age of 15 I wrote and signed a publishing contract for my first book, How Teenagers Think. I think most people would agree that is working for a living! I now run a youth insight agency, undertaking primary research projects for companies and organisations looking to gain an insight into today's young people. Do you want to tell all of the advertising and marketing execs they do not work for a living either?

Just because I have not followed the traditional route of going to university, getting a 9-5 job, acquiring a mortage etc. a lot of people instantly take a disliking to me. However, a lot more people find this incredibly inspirational. (By the way, I didn't drop out of school as such - I left at 14 to be autonomously home educated for a couple of years, teaching myself qualifications, writing my book, and joining in with the local home education groups.)

We haven't "found enough mugs" to buy us a yacht. In the end we didn't need the help of YachtScribble and paid for our boat our of our savings. We are now living aboard her in Portsmouth Harbour and, like you, are aiming to set sail for international cruising waters in a few years and enjoy the experience whilst we're young.

 

[Thistle]

[ QUOTE ]
They're stereotypically full of stuffy middle-aged men with incredibly rigid views on what "yachting" is.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't normally read YM so I've not seen your article but I'd have to take issue with the quote above. I grant you that within the sport there are some "stuffy middle-aged men with incredibly rigid views" (and isn't this the case in most situations?) but, in my experience, they are not the folk who are active on these forums. As I see it, what we have here is a fairly big group of folk who are experienced in a wide range of boat-related subjects, who are willing to share this experience and who are open to new ideas. Very properly they assess the information they are given about new ideas against their experience. They are generally particularly helpful to those who introduce themselves as young or inexperienced.

In short (and in general), the advantages of working with the forum far outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[SimbaDog]

Strange, I found it quite interesting /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Nice to see sailing through the eyes of someone of a younger vintage, wish I could get my daughter as interested /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
I grant you that within the sport there are some "stuffy middle-aged men with incredibly rigid views" (and isn't this the case in most situations?) but, in my experience, they are not the folk who are active on these forums.

[/ QUOTE ] Well, maybe in the Lounge /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think the OP's comment is just a reflection of the fact that you can't please all the people all the time. Personally I would much rather see space given to something like this than yet another review of hand held VHF sets or yet another article on how to come alongside a pontoon when you have Tom Cunliffe aboard.

- W

 

[Otter]

I didn't find the article controversial. If I had I would have found it considerably more interesting. Article could be summed up as:
"Shock! Teenage(ish) experienced sailor likes paper charts - old experienced sailor doesn't send text messages NEARLY as often as the teenager". Erm, that's it. Ed.

Not Jellie's fault at all, she didn't write it; but it's the filler season at IPC and we shouldn't expect too much before the spring "how to get your boat ready for the new season" articles come along.

 

[Otter]

And BTW, last few times I've been out on the water there have been far more teenagers sailing than old blokes. Admittedly they were in dinghies, but so was I when I was 17.

 

[flyingscampi]

"Stuffy middle-aged men"

That's an outrage, I'm not stuffy /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The MAJORITY of young people want to (quite rightly) have fun by jumping in boats and sailing them not spending time on these forums trying to find a solution for unblocking their heads. They leave that kind of thing to the stuffy middle aged bloke that owns the boat.

I thought the article was interesting enough anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sniper]

Well, in another post I was critical of this article and 'Jellyellie'. I still can't say I found it particularly interesting or a useful contribution to a yachting magazine. However, having read 'Jelly's' response above I think it appropriate to give credit where its due.

Most importantly she has had the courage and willingness to come on to this forum to defend herself (and by the way, most of us are hiding behind nommes de plume here!) She has presented a well considered and thoughtful response to what might be considered a very forceful and personal critique (I'm not slating the OP, just setting out how it came across) In her response she displays a maturity and clarity of thought which is a credit to anyone and I'm not going to patronise by saying 'for her age'.

I think she is right to say that the magazines and fora are '...stereotypically full of stuffy middle-aged men with incredibly rigid views on what "yachting" is'. She is not saying that that is what exists, just that the stereotype exists. I am just such a stereotype and I'm sure others would own up to the same. However, we probably all have a little more colour in our views and experiences than is represented by a stereotype.

Still not sure that I want to see more teenage-oriented articles, but well done to 'Jellyellie' for fighting her corner and good luck for the future.

 

[MrTrat]

more power to you jeiiyellie! live the dream and keep the faith. hope you have more success with dr pepper than guns n roses!

 

[knewboater]

I thank Jelle for bringing to my attention the question "why do I buy any yachting magazine?" when much of it is filled with the same old adverts, and the same people writing the same stuff year after year, along with stories that would frighten any youngster off of ever going sailing. I must not forget that the magazine is just another business trying to make money.
Sorry for sounding like Victor Meldrew.

 

[Otter]

Surely it's OK for the demographic of Yachting Monthly to be rather older than Yachts and Yachting?

 

[photodog]

Dont sweat it Jellie, the original OP is just jealous that he had to spend 15 years behind a desk before he could live his dream..... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I admit I did find the article annoying as well... for all the reasons you state... being not too old, I am jealous and annoyed that I will have to spend most of my life tied to work until I can escape..... And I also think that I am totally out of touch with the younger generation.... and that annoys me because I still think of myself as young.....

I have read some of the posts you have made here, and I think that you have made some very good contributions....

So keep it up!

But be carefull not to remind us that we are no longer as young as we thought we were!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Dear Jellyellie,
You EGO should take you far. We certainly hope it will!!!!!
I have spent most of my life sailing but I put a very high value on the opinions of other experienced sailors whether I agree with them or not. That is the essence of a Forum.

 

[cnh]

So yachting is full of middle aged men.

And clubs on a Saturday night are full of teenagers.

Both are statements of the obvious.

Why are there few young people in yachting? Yachting requires a reasonable amount of disposable income. Most young people are too busy earning that money. Twenty years later, they may well have the time and money. And twenty years later ... surprise, surprise, they've become middle aged.

 

[Kukri]

Who wants to "attract more young people into sailing?"

Very silly idea. If there were fewer of us, the cost of running a boat would drop, and there would be less crowding.

Let the youth of today stick to "clubbing", whatever that is.

Yours, etc.

V. Meldrew.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Jellie,

You have my full admiration for what you have already achieved and the way you are promoting yourself now. As you say, there will be people who will find it hard to take but don't let them stop you. I suspect you are not likely to let them, anyway!

 

[Greenwichman]

Re: YM Feb - Jellyellie - NOT a waste of space

It's great that you have posted on this topic, because it has helped to see the set-up from your viewpoint.

I am one of those who thought the article a bit naff, chiefly because Dick Durham (respect) is not a typical modern yachtsman; he has indeed had a substantial influence through the pages of yachting mags, but I doubt that he has ever pretended to keep up with the times. So he was a bit of a soft target and not someone I, for one, identify with.

By contrast, you have masses to offer a broader audience. A gifted pen for a start; and evidently bags of initiative and entrepreneurial spirit. To my mind you don't need to pitch yourself as a contrast to anyone; you already have a strong identity of your own.

I look forward to your writing about the epic voyage you are planning. If you can emulate (and improve on) the fabulously informative blog being written and illustrated by Sam Davies on the Vendee you will be another "must see daily" site!

Like you, my formal education was a bit unusual. Lying on a sail bag under the stars in Rio, waiting to start the final leg of the first Whitbread Round the World Race, I recall thinking that skool had not been as exciting. After we won our leg (by 24 hours) work turned out not to be either, though I got over that - eventually!

Good luck - and please keep us all in touch with your adventures. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Nico]

Re: YM Feb - Jellyellie - NOT a waste of space

18 year olds who use marketing-speak are hardly the voice of today's youth, even if they say "awesome" and "it rocks". In my experience young sailors (yacht sailors) tend to come from wealthy families who sail, while older sailors include a much higher proportion of people who have had to sit behind that desk for 15 years. Jelly-ellie sounds more like such precocious types as Richard Branson or William Haig than a typical yoof of today.

 

[oleander2]

I do not think it was a waste of space. In fact I quite enjoyed the article and I am the wrong side of fifty.