The (Anti)Social Issues with Starlink

[carstenb]

First

We now also have starlink and enjoy it. We can now easily keep up with our mails, blog and news from home. So I do NOT have anything against Starlink.

But (there is always a but)
We've sailed blue water for almost 7 years (we first got Starlink 2 months ago) and have been in many of out of the way places.

When we were in places with little or no internet, there was a lot of social interaction between the cruisers. As the internet got better, the social interaction decreased (because everyone was busy on the net)

Now we are sailing on the west coast of Mexico and at a guess perhaps 50% of the boats have Starlink. Everyone is busy on the net all day (and as you can see from this post - so am I)
The question I'm posing is - What can we do about it?

Any suggestions? The problem is probably only going to get worse (worse seen from my perspective - I enjoy the social interaction)

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by carstenb

The question I'm posing is - What can we do about it?

Turn. It. Off.

I sympathize. I cruised the S. Pacific 15 years ago and the only onboard connectivity was SailMail, not counting the occasional "Internet Cafe" we found ashore from time to time.

Now I am preparing to depart for another S. Pacific cruise and of course we have a SL dish. We do plan to keep a personal blog for family and friends, but we are retirees, not YouTubers. And so, I am concerned, worried, etc., etc., about how the experience will have changed from the last time. Reports like yours add to my concerns.

Ultimately, I expect the only solution is to just turn it off unless it is really needed. I do also see the massive upside WRT safety, better weather data, access to information about entry procedures, and connections to family (especially aging family) back home - I hope that ultimately, we end up feeling it was a net positive not a negative.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by carstenb

When we were in places with little or no internet, there was a lot of social interaction between the cruisers. As the internet got better, the social interaction decreased (because everyone was busy on the net)

I have posted same for 2 years. But keep getting told I am wrong

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I have posted same for 2 years. But keep getting told I am wrong

You're not wrong - anyone who has cruised for a number of years can tell you this.

[sailingunity]

Socialization can start with you. Go dinghy over to their boat and knock on it, make arrangements for sundowners or outings. It's what I always loved about cruising as well.

I get you, people will stay in their boats all day and browse social media, but it's hard to ignore someone who is knocking!

[FPNC]

Get rid of it. I don't have TV, Cable TV , internet, or even a computer at my home. I do have a smart phone. I recommend it.

[5BTM]

Nothing.

Shows that most people, given a choice, prefer not to interact.

In my case, at 66, I am looking to shrink, not expand my social circle.

I remember the pre-internet days, having to pretend to care about what others were interested in.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by sailingunity

Socialization can start with you. Go dinghy over to their boat and knock on it, make arrangements for sundowners or outings. It's what I always loved about cruising as well.

I get you, people will stay in their boats all day and browse social media, but it's hard to ignore someone who is knocking!

Doesn't matter much if a knock on the hull is seen as an unwanted interruption.


Sounds to me like anchorages are becoming just like RV parks

[HeinSdL]

Originally Posted by carstenb

You're not wrong - anyone who has cruised for a number of years can tell you this.

There was no need to be out cruising to have noticed this. It's everywhere the same. It's what social media has achieved.

[wholybee]

Different people have different needs of socializing. Some people have a real need for lots of in person socialization and would of course see Starlink or social media in general as a negative thing. For other people socialization is a very intense and exhausting experience. They (we) don't like being dragged into every social event going on with those that crave them. Having Starlink on board is a great relief for us.

But I think those people that need that alone time to recharge, were getting that time before Starlink was there, you just maybe didn't notice it? I spent hours on my boat alone, either reading or watching movies I had on-board, coming out when I had the social energy and needed some person to person time. And those that need more socialization can still find each other and get it.

Starlink is also allowing a huge number of people to cruise around and live the lifestyle that otherwise couldn't, because they don't have the wealth, but now can work to support it. Which I think is a positive overall, although some nice spots might become overcrowded.

[Matt Johnson]

Yup. I've been having this conversation a lot with newer cruisers to try and get them to be the instigators and restart that community aspect of cruising.

We noticed the difference on each run through the Caribbean. First time you could barely get the anchor down before someone was over inviting us to their cockpit for sundowners. Second trip - when cell phone data came - you couldn't get people to acknowledge your existence. If sundowners actually happened, they were short events and not the all night affairs from before.

Before we had no choice but to interact with the people directly around us since it was the only social option. Now, if we prefer to talk with our friends back home, we can totally ignore any other cruiser and be mentally okay.

It's sad and it's only getting worse.

[JPA Cate]

Carsten, most people will appreciate the knock on the hull and the invite for a beach pot luck or sundowners, or even morning cuppas, where all one has to provide are the venue, the morning coffee or teas, and cookies. They fall into a rut. Most of us have a time for "business", like checking the rain radar, or the wx predictions, and then do whatever we do during the day.

Where you are, maybe you could get a group together to go to Oaxaca or Guadalajara. Imagine a group of tourist gringos all yammering in different languages! It could be a hoot!

If you want social interaction, and I think most prefer face to face interacting, you gotta make it happen. Whichever of you who is the more gregarious on the day is the procurer, and brings home people to be vetted.

@jordenbigel: I'd suggest you'll have to make it happen, too, but also if you seek out vessels of other nations than your own, you will have more successes. The Americans seem to leave in groups, now, after some analysis paralysis, based on group decisions, and by the time they get to Tahiti, are all formed up in cliques. You'll do better relating mainly with "foreigners", and the locals.

Some, of course, will not be interested, but I would think more than half will. There's nothing like seeing someone's smile increase as they start to get the joke you just made. One of the more powerful reinforcers for genuine humor.

Ann

[Simi 60]

If anything, Starlink has increased our social connections as it allows us to stay in contact with people who we couldn't before due to distance and limited phone/interwebs connectivity.

We bought a boat to get away from living on top of people in suburbia
I see no reason to try and replicate it on the water.

I don't mind catching up for a few sherbets either onboard or the beach but there is a reason we are anchored waaaay over here.

[JPA Cate]

"...anchored waaaaay over here..."

I wasn't going to explain about that! We were notorious about that, though not for the sake of being left alone, more from wanting to be anchored with less chance of being drug down on by others.

The martini glass burgee usually means visitors welcome. You could make your own Cuppa! one, easily.

Ann

[boatman61]

To many rich folk who can afford Internet on their boats..
Us poor folk get in a dinghy with our laptops and head for a bar with Internet, go online for an hour till the battery runs down then hang out, socialise and get pissed..
Rich folk stay on board till supper time then go to a restaurant.. they have $3500> a month to blow..