YM Feb - Jellyellie - a waste of space

Ive not read the article because I dont waste my funds on Yachting mags which are basically nothing but advertising mags.
Only thing I will say is that you need to change your name/title.
 
Jellyellie, next time the Victor Meldrew brigade have a go at you for personal branding ask them why "Blondie" Haslar causes no offense.

Or you could refer the gentlemen to the following list of famous pilots. Personal branding was ok for the "Boy's Own" generation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aviators_by_nickname

"The Balloon Buster" — Frank Luke, U.S. World War I fighter ace
"Black Swallow of Death" — Eugene Bullard, African-American World War I fighter pilot
"The Blond Knight Of Germany" — Erich Hartmann, German fighter ace[1]
 
Boomshakka!!!!!!!!

(Which my daughter tells me will be understood by Jellyellie.)

Oh, ----and "keep rockin` kid."

I was young once, and believe it or not, so were some of these miserable sods!!


Best of luck!!!
 
Hi Jellyellie and all,

As the original poster I thought might respond to a few points made but you and others.

Firstly, welcome to the forums and good for you for replying. You probably write more eloquently than I and certainly put more effort and time in than I did on the original post. It's just a post on a forum at the end of the day it's not "real life" whatever that might be !

I am all for live and let live - you to choose whatever way of life you do and me to express an opinion on something which is clearly in the public domain. (Your article and websites) You (and others) may well agree or not with my opinions - that's fair enough.

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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.



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I didn't say it was controversial- just rubbish. It can't be too difficult to write something controversial - getting it published might be harder. It would seem that this thread is quite controversial. Which to be honest surprised me. And has made me think more about this - maybe there is a market for more of "this". But if a lot more of this ilk appears in YM I will be cancelling my subscription. That's my choice.

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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.



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I have found these forums AMAZINGLY helpful on all sort of queries I have posted. I never ceased to be amazed by the time, effort and sheer detail in some of the replies I have seen to practical questions. On the flip side someone has the tag line round here - "warning may contain nuts" the internet is like that (I am sure you don't need me to tell you that) Some people go off on one now and again - if you don't like that skip the post/don't reply or reply and offer a different view.

Oh and I looked my age up on Wikipedia - I am officially not middle aged yet (by a gnats whisker ;-) )

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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.



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You are right I can't see the "content" past the self promotion/advertising which is what annoyed me most. I at the moment anyway, actually pay for this !

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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?



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I do have my doubts about "marketing" in general. It's mostly trying to make you buy stuff you don't want or don't need. This comes from my direct experience working with marketing people in FTSE 100 companies. Where possible I go with companies/products that put more of there money into R&D or operations/service. It tends IMHO to make better products - but you tend to have to put more work into "finding " them. But the internet makes that so much easier. But ultimately they are part of the capitalist system that pays my wages too so I except them.

I think you are now marketing "you". The brand. The package. Again fair enough I suppose but I don't want to pay for it in my YM subscription. Once you do this successfully you don't need to "work" again. You just endorse products, give speeches have the right "media" outlets. There are many in the society in which we live who do this full time as a "job" and this isn't (the society) really where I want to be.

If you do this successfully you will beat me out the system as you will get paid more. Do you really expect me to support this model ? I am not bitter, I earn more than many more worthy people (Nurses, carers etc) it's the way the system is set up but I don't have to like it. So I like many others are trying to make "enough" crust to b*gger off under sail. I no I won't escape all of it but getting out of some of it would be nice.

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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.)



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Er fair enough - I don't really care how you get there. I don't hate you I don't think you would have/do inspired me either. I don't really know you - all I can see is your public/web persona. I heard something on the radio the other day (think streaming audio but with the computer ;-) ) that some "young" people want to be "celebrities" when they grow up. Not footballers or god forbid Doctors etc but their AMBITION in life is to be a celebrity. I think that is a sad reflection on our society.



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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.

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I realise you "didn't find enough mugs" - there is hope yet. It seemed that you didn't succeed with this one. It would seem that you were aiming to get people to pay for your boat in return "publicity" I think you only made a couple of hundred quid on this one rather than (I presume) the £3/4/5K or more you were aiming at. It still seemed like a charity case to me - one of your stated objectives was so that you and your partner could avoid could avoid "debt" ! Why should we !

The bit I don't understand is if you "media agency" work is so successful why did even think you ever need to do this ? Stick a few blue chips for £1k a day for consulting on "youth issues" and you have a yacht in not time.

For me, for £200 it wouldn't be worth the cost benefit of writing and hosting the website. But again from a media profile angle I suppose if looks good even if it wasn't a monetary success (my definition). Again its all marketing hype as opposed to real substance.

I have enjoyed the debate - as I am nearing old age I probably can't type as fast as you so may not reply in a point by point rebuttal if you or others reply again.

And if we ever are in the same anchorage (and you still want to) do say hello I will happily continue the debate over a beer or 4.


/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

(There is probably points I have missed and grammar/spelling errors but I have have to get back to real life and cook my dinner !)

PS I had made the assumption that you had written or at least co-written the article itself. If not then the much of my original criticism (but not all) would be aimed at the author not you. I my assumption was incorrect then I apologise for that
 
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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.


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A little more succinct than my post but exactly my point.
 
Well said.

Incidentally, having seen the state of "Powder Monkey" when he sold her, I am no admirer of Dick Durham.

But these two make a good pair; Mr Durham has made a career out of being a minor celebrity - Bob Roberts' last mate. And not for nothing was Bob Roberts known in Pin Mill as "Boasting Bargeman" - he also understood the gentle art of self promotion.

Incidentally, thinking of three boats, sold by three different YM "experts", I suggest a general principle - NEVER buy a boat from anyone who writes for YM and sets up as a "guru" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
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Sailing idly through the forum, I was startled to bring up suddenly against this post. Jellyellie had seemed a nice kid from my reading of her article. I enjoyed the article as a good humorous read - and in a few enjoyable paras this ‘trivial’ article rubbed home an important message for all about safety on board.

But here was a gale-force blast designed to blow her, her character, and her boat – out of the water.

It’s all too much. Jellyellie reminds him, he explodes, ‘..why I am saving up to leave this society’. Eh? What?

Jellyellie has demolished the charges in a very rational manner. However, blimey, what had he learned ‘following her links’ to set all this going? I swapped my Breton for my Sherlock deerstalker, and followed the same trail.

I found: the poster hasn’t even bothered to read the opening page of the article, and the box on the next page, profiling Jellyellie; let alone her links. In view of the abrasive language used against our author I am driven to sum it up as I’ve read it.

Before the age of 18:
.. the book she wrote has been translated into other languages. She’s writing a novel at the request of a publisher. The first client of a teenage research group she created, ‘was a huge multi-national media agency, and delivered an insight project that helped them secure a massive telecoms client.’ She’s earned enough with this and Europe-wide speaking engagements to buy her own 34ft boat. She’s been invited on to the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Youth Advisory Boards.

If she’s a ‘self-styled’ entrepreneur, then Dick Durham’s a ‘self- styled’ mariner. But…somehow..I don’t think that would be right.

Her YachtScribble idea (now ended with her boat purchase) is ‘begging’? Well, I’ve counted 40 persons or organisations answered. They’re ‘mugs’? Jellyellie is clearly a serious, cruising sailor. She’s spent months at sea for the Cirdan charity, mostly helping disadvantaged kids. She was a day skipper by 17 and now well into her Yachtmasters. The ‘mug’s’ short message, one of several on the side of a hull, will be a curiousity, viewed in ports galore and afar. And will also be seen across the web by a master of the medium. All for a fiver! They’re no mugs and that’s an entrepreneurial idea alright.

But.. hang-on! She doesn’t, “even promise to actually scribble on the boat!” Hope this guy’s not on watch should I sail his boat! I read (in big letters! didn’t have to use my trusty magnifying glass) on the opening page of the Scribble site that she and her partner are working out : “ how best to put them on their yacht”.

And could Jellyellie be, actually, a genuine young entrepreneur role model? I’ve found a number of comments on that. Here are a couple:

"Hi jellyellie it's David (the one who wanted to be a teacher) from the Young Chamber talk at Cowes! Thank you so much for a great talk and you have really inspired me for the future. I hope you have great success in your later life!"
David, 15, young person at Enterprise Week.

"Hey jellyellie it's Irteza from the Young Enterprise talk. I've got my goal up on my bedroom wall like you said to do!"

There’s more. They’re all there to be read, by those who want to see.

Britain is a messed up place today. I can understand people who want to leave. But Jellyellie reminds you why? That’s outrageous –and drove me to write this. For me she would be a good reason to stick around with hope that we’ve still got the right stuff; and that repair is possible under a different government.

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Perhaps some of my replies to Jellies post will illuminate you further as to what I am getting at. I just don't have time right now to go through all your points. I wanted to leave before I ever heard her name but she still represents part of why I want to leave. If you want to stay for her and her ilk - fair enough your choice.

I haven't exploded - I just checked I am still one one piece - but I have generated an interesting debate.

One thing in terms of practical accuracy - if you read the T&C page on yacht scribble is DOES say that she makes no promise to ACTUALLY write on a REAL yacht.

It's says (And I quote her web page)

"Your scribbling is not guaranteed to appear on a yacht, but is guaranteed to appear on this website."

Rather your fiver than mine !
 
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........ having seen the state of "Powder Monkey" when he sold her, I am no admirer of Dick Durham.......... Mr Durham has made a career out of being a minor celebrity ........not for nothing was Bob Roberts known in Pin Mill as "Boasting Bargeman" - he also understood the gentle art of self promotion.

Incidentally, thinking of three boats, sold by three different YM "experts", I suggest a general principle - NEVER buy a boat from anyone who writes for YM and sets up as a "guru" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

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Maybe it's just me, but I feel very uncomfortable about people, who are forum non-combatants, being publicly slagged off behind their backs like this; especially by a poster who maintains total anonymity by revealing absolutely nothing in his/her profile.
 
Jeez, how can you have an idea about the youth of today living on a boat in Portsmouth? It is about as far away as you can get from what the real youth of today have to contend with.

It's like saying your in touch with what's going on with the environment whilst jetting around and driving a very large engined 4x4.

To bang on about how sailing mags don't appeal to youth blah blah blah is just so short sighted, Surely with your marketing savvy and knowledge you'd know the average readership age of YM is around the 50's? Why would they want to appeal to a very, very small segment of youth that have limited access to a boat?

As for stuffy... please. Many boat owners take their responsibility very seriously. In order for friends and family to have fun a skipper needs to be fully aware of the risks they undertake as well as the law in order to protect their boats and their crews. Sorry it's a bit as you say stuffy but many skippers and their crew would like to come back from their time at sea alive and I've no idea how you can make col regs more exciting to read.

YM shame on you for publishing that trite advertorial and congratulations on successfully promoting the yachting stereotype by turning Dick Durham into a bumbling idiot, with bits of paper and not knowing what this watch thing is.

I'm pretty sure 99% of your readership know what a laptop, phone and social networking is so why insult your readers by suggesting otherwise? We are not idiots!

I'm sorry but there's far better subjects about teens and sailing that can be written about rather than being subjected to what I felt was the blatant self promotion of someone in their last gasps of their teenage years.

YM if you really want to do a youth piece why not get in touch with many of the kids trusts and offer a series of sailing experiences and report on that annually? Why not look at sail training for teens and what's available? Disadvantaged kids go to sea for a week - how does it help them if at all?

Proper articles are required, things that are of interest to those with teens e.g. What are other teenagers experiences of sailing with parents and what would they do to improve it or How can experienced skippers help their teens transition into skippers.

You don't need someone who openly admits to branding themselves and calling themselves cool, that's not arrogance and it's certainly not entrepreneurial. From what I've seen so far it's very, very ugly and not representative of youth at all.

Do yourselves a favour YM and bin this Jelly gimmick and focus on proper articles before you start to lose readers.
 
Working for a living?? You're not doing it right!! You're meant to subscribe to New Labour's way of thinking - sit on your a%se all day getting money for the taxpayer for the priviledge!
Cynical - me - Never!!
 
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Maybe it's just me, but I feel very uncomfortable about people, who are forum non-combatants, being publicly slagged off behind their backs like this;

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Well, I'm sure that Dick Durham and other contributors to YM know about these forums - it's their choice not to post here. But I hardly think they are being 'slagged off behind their backs'.

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especially by a poster who maintains total anonymity by revealing absolutely nothing in his/her profile.

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No argument there.
 
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Maybe it's just me, but I feel very uncomfortable about people, who are forum non-combatants, being publicly slagged off behind their backs like this; especially by a poster who maintains total anonymity by revealing absolutely nothing in his/her profile.

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Erm - last time I looked it wasn't compulsory to fill in my profile. I choose not to. Well actually I have never really looked at it. IF I post with a question I also put the relevant information in the post itself BUT if you or anyone else would like to know more about me please follow the link below to my blog (it was on the posts above as well)

It's got my (real) name, my wife's name and the name of my dog, photos and a fairly detailed account of three months last summer on what we did on our cruise. All this and I am NOT a self declared "public figure" or voice of anybody.

(Or at least no more than anyone who had a blog up on the web)

These forums are related to the magazine - Jelly wrote/was featured in an article in the YM magazine. I wouldn't think that writing about that on this forum was a particularly strange thing to do. If you (or Jelly) don't agree with me then fair enough (from the posts here some do some don't) but expressing an opinion on the article can't be that strange surely.

I am surprised this made you "uncomfortable".
 
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