Being more positive on CF

[Fore and Aft]

I have been thinking about this a fair bit after a few newbies posted some negative opinions of CF.
I seriously do not think we can be more positive. Being involved with boats can be a sharp learning curve to a newbie and even the experienced sailor still gets bitten occasionally.
Here in Queensland, boatyard hard stand fees are fairly expensive so if you choose the wrong project boat then very quickly you start going backwards. It’s a scenario I see all to often and a lot of members post with similar experiences.
The same with living aboard, I am not into YouTube but a lot of these posters have watched these clips and assume it’s utopian environment that they can’t wait to be part of. I often feel like saying how about totally living in the bathroom of your house for a month, only using the window as access and see how you feel about being a live aboard.
Other posters want to get onboard for their first sail, but they seem to forget that for a lot of us our yachts are an extension of our house and for us the yacht is part of our family. I am happy to have strangers onboard for a coffee and sail as long as they have good manners and I get a good first impression, that concept seems alien to some posters.
So in short I think it’s hard for a world wide audience to be completely positive since there can so many pitfalls for a newbie sailor.
Cheers

[Kenomac]

Agreed. Yesterday, the Russian family Med moored next to us in the cove in Greece came over to borrow some salt, then later we assisted the UK couple on charter with Med mooring their Sunsail with some advice to make it easier. Both, very nice families.

It’s only here on the internet where you see an over-abundance of armchair experts posting endless tripe on stuff they apparently know nothing about. Those of us actually out cruising are all just one big happy family helping each other.

I hope to get together for a meet up in a few days with another CF member along with her two companions and three cats... looking forward to it.

Ken

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I hope to get together for a meet up in a few days with another CF member along with her two companions and three cats... looking forward to it.

Ken

Geez Ken, I hope those three cats don't motor 100% of the time!

Joke!

[Kenomac]

Ha ha. My wife’s a cat woman. We had a new Lagoon powercat 70 pull up next to us the other day. WOW! What a boat.

[john61ct]

I want to cruise with catwoman, any version but my fave is Eartha

[GordMay]

Michelle Pfeiffer portrayed Selina Kyle in 1992's Batman Returns. She’s still hot at 60.

[ttex]

This forum has the personality of a cranky old man.

I can hear the "get off my ocean" old man yell in almost every thread.

I find the whole thing quite indearing.

[boatman61]

Likely coz the majority are cranky old men..

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Likely coz the majority are cranky old men..

Who think 60 year old women are “hot”.


And we wonder why the younger generation think we are nuts...

[svHyLyte]

Old men that spend more time on their boats and less on "'puters" tend to be less cranky!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

Who think 60 year old women are “hot”.


And we wonder why the younger generation think we are nuts...

Hey.. I'm a sucker for younger women as well.. and 60 is more in my energy range.

[Captain Bill]

A long time ago I worked at a gas station across the street from the beach in Florida. While I was pumping gas for this "old" man I was admiring a couple of young ladies in bikinis crossing the street. The "old" man said "I really feel sorry for you". I responded "why"? He said "I noticed you admiring those young ladies." I said "OK". He asked how old are you, 18 or 19'. I said 19. He said "You can admire women from about age 15 to maybe 24 or 25, while I can admire them from 15 to 80, that's why I feel sorry for you." That conversation was a pearl of wisdom I have carried into my "old" age.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Old men that spend more time on their boats and less on "'puters" tend to be less cranky!

I like the satire of the post

[Greg Mason]

Sailing information, and passing of such is like life. There has to be people willing to pass the information, and there has to be people willing to accept it. However, the format can be an issue. What for some is pure f....ng magic, to others is just plumbing. Find your pearls, even if they are buried in a pile of crap.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

I have been thinking about this a fair bit after a few newbies posted some negative opinions of CF.
I seriously do not think we can be more positive. Being involved with boats can be a sharp learning curve to a newbie and even the experienced sailor still gets bitten occasionally.

Cheers

I agree completely. I would add a few things too. As I am sure you are aware, a lot of times the newbies forget that when they ask a question, they have to be prepared for an answer they don't want. Too often, as you pointed out, they have a preconceived notion that may (often) is not realistic. Answers which don't support what's in their head are often perceived as negative instead of honest.


Also, people forget that the written word does not convey nuances well and can be easily taken the wrong way.


I have found the vast majority on CF to be very helpful, friendly, and full of good information.