YM - March

[claymore]

Without trying to make this sound like a crib of Fergies post, I do get tired of the opening editorial column of a magazine that appears on the one hand to say "What a wonderful thing technology is and look at all these gadgets that reduce the size of the planet and make everything safer" and on the other hand seem to bemoan the fact that we cannot have the peace and tranquility of bygone days because of mobile phones and new technology.
Reading further into the magazine - I was mildly disturbed by the article about the GCSE students who wanted to party all weekend. Written by someone who supposedly trains people to be outdoor instructors, she allowed 5 mobile phones with different ringing tones to be used for texting each other, condoned under age drinking and permitted unlimited partying despite that fact that other boats were nearby at anchor.

Strange example to be setting, by both the Author and the Editor.

On a positive note, I'm looking forward to the continuation of Ken Endean's voyage.
Finally - where was the Scuttlebut bit?

regards
Claymore
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[Cornishman]

The Baywatch Babes looked OK on the beach, but with their delightful legs hanging over the side like a racing crew, and without lifejackets, is not really very good seamanship is it? I don't believe the photo caption at the bottom of page 36 - she's not at anchor, no anchor ball!
One handed washing up doesn't look very efficient, and what were those funny coloured pieces of material on the port signal halyard meant to be?
Altogether an unsatisfactory article

 

[david_e]

Claymore & Cornishman

Come on guys, get real.............. let he who is without sin......

I think it is a really good article, but when mentioning it to my 14 year old daughter this lunchtime got the retort "What - with parents - no chance!"

 

[claymore]

Re: Claymore & Cornishman

Well David - Cornishman and I come from the same place here - and along with your Son, feel the author and the young people would have enjoyed it more it they'd just packed them off to Oasis or Center Parcs for the weekend.
The author is supposed to be teaching people how to be instructors in the outdoors - that ought to have developed in her an attitude towards safety, consideration for others, environmental sustainability etc. that doesn't get switched off when it suits.
That aside - I thought she demonstrated a poor example considering she was acting in loco parentis.


regards
Claymore
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[Twister_Ken]

Haven\'t read the article yet, but this is all...

...beggining to sound very nanny-state-ish.

Teenagers have done daft things since young people were invented*. Mostly they survive to tell the tale, and they end up better people for it. Me, I'd far rather they sat on the rail without lifejackets than experimented with hard drugs.

*I developed a penchant for scree-running once. Very silly it seems now. But only a few scars remain on my forehead.

 

[claymore]

Re: Haven\'t read the article yet, but this is all...

Oh - I agree entirely with what you say - what I'm taking issue with is the attitude of the people who are supposed to be in charge of other peoples children.Scree running was great fun but having dinted the cranium once or twice it's unlikely you would be advocating your offspring's friends to do it for fear you'd have to scoop their brains into a bin bag and explain what happened to their parents.
Did you ever do the one from Gable - at the Wasdale end of the Climbers traverse?

regards
Claymore
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[sailbadthesinner]

As someone involved in running a scout troop i really feel sorry for young people today.
i know it is easy to go misty eyed about the past but today we are not capable of having half as much as fun as we did in my day. there are all manner of restricitons on activities that stop us from doing stuff because we are either not allowed by law or fear of beinfg sued or because it would break scout regs. eg i have to replace alltroop kit that cannot be confirmed as less than five years old.

I have loads of axes and other kit that i cannot use because records for its purchase do not exist. anyone wanting old gas stoves axes and tents should pm me. i am doing an inventory on April 12th pm me with kit you may want. one of it is a danger and is all capable of being serviced. yet it is easier to bin it. someoen put one of those 'do you remember' posts up. one of the things was when kids just had accidents it was noone's fault. that is so in the past. nowit has to be our fault the kit fault or our processes are wrong. risk acceptance is gone. we cannot even allow them to say wash cars for charity as we have to have expensive insurance in case someone claims we scratched it.


as pointed out kids will do all that experimienting it anyway i think the use of blanket bans does nothing to help, why not let them have a few beers and be allowed to be treated like adults.much better the parent who lets the kids have a few beers and some fun on an accompanied trip than the ones who just leave it to chance to find out stuff out and may be exposed to far worse.

sorry rant over

</font color=red>Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Lake district was too far

Used to do it in Snowdonia and the Brecons, but don't ask me the names, it was a very long time ago (35 years, approx)

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Scree running!

Gun running - now there's a pastime for a growing lad!

I used to jump out of my Nan's upstairs window - does that count?



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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Scree running!

>I used to jump out of my Nan's upstairs window - does that count?<

Only if she lived in a tower block!

 

[billmacfarlane]

I thought the parents were incredibly brave taking that many teenagers on a cruise. When my daughters were finished their GCSE's they both took a crowd of mates down to our boat for a couple of days and used it as a caravan/pub/night club/telly room and doss house to let off steam. When I picked them up to bring them home they looked relaxed and happy. Mind you I was glad I wasn't there - as to taking them sailing , I took them once round the bay so to speak, tied the boat up in the marina, headed for home and let them get on with it. NO WAY would I have taken them on a cruise.

 

[Mirelle]

My subscription has just expired

March was the last one I got; it contained nothing to make me want to renew it.

 

[Rich_F]

Re: Haven\'t read the article yet, but this is all...

Yep, Great Gable was my first ever scree run, on my first ever fell walk.

Great fun for me, less so for the poor unfortunates 100 ft lower down, dodging the rocks that I sent flying. I had to slow down quite severely, to avoid catching up with them and getting an earful (or worse).

Rich

 

[Cornishman]

Re: Claymore & Cornishman

Thanks John - we are of the same school of thought. YM used to be so good about safety and seamanship but methinks standards are slipping a bit.
I can't help but think that with youngsters the responsible person should start as you mean to go on.

 

[bigmart]

I can't help but agree with you. When I was a Venture Scout we built Aerial Runways, went Potholing in the Medips & experienced numerous weeks on the Canals & Norfolk Broads. We made loads of mistakes, got very drunk, had a great time & learnt how to be responsible (well almost) members of society. All this was done without a Charge Certificate or any specialist qualifications in the various activities. We just did a masive amount of research before the event & that made us better people relying onourselves & not some so called expert.

The first time anyone in our district got injured was when a so called expert, with a Charge Certificate, took a party of Scouts Hill Walking in Snowdonia & several came back with Frostbite.

Nowadays I take kids on Sail Training Voyages & have to be qualified to the Nth degree. Every time we sail out of harbour I know that I am risking all kinds of litigation from people who know nothing about the sea, it dangers & what a marvelous place it is to teach young people self reliance & teamwork.

Having said all that I am still doing it. So I havn't killed anyone yet & no one has found out how incompetent I really am but there are times when I wonder if it is really worth the risk. You only have to see the growth in stature of a trainee after one week at sea to know that all the risks are worthwhile.

Martin

 

[david_e]

Re: Claymore & Cornishman

Thing is you are technically right, but who is to know that the brats didn't just point blank refused to wear them. Also I recall seeing some advice which takes a commonsense view and says after certain conditions or situations, then put your lifejacket on.

Can you swear hand on heart that you have always done everything by the book is my point?

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Claymore

I get miffed off as well by people not taking others (me!) into account but I have to say I didn't see too much wrong with article. Kids will let off steam and its difficult enough to get them involved.

Thinking back and alluding to other posts recently I can remember long hair, not washing, very loud music (Led Zep etc), too much drinking.

It didn't sound like anyone was in danger to me. (Although constant text messages are the single most annoying thing in the galaxy!)



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[bob_tyler]

I couldn't agree more.

I hope that it never comes to the point of having to examine every 'photo or word for its political correctness before publishing. (Mind you it has got far too near it).

Its becoming as bad as the changes in the language. What's wrong with helmsman, chairman, etc.? Anyway, what do the PCs want to rename a manhole cover?

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[claymore]

Manhole cover becomes person hole. Suppose the old word for a person hole cover would be underpants - or have I missed something.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Twister_Ken]

And I thought...

...a manhole cover was the lady cricketer's equivalent of the gentleman cricketer's box.

(NB - this post may fall on stony ground north of the border)

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