QC
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2005
- Messages
- 22,783
Well being the pain in the arse that I am, I yakked a little with Admin 5 of iboats today. As our friendly neighborhood Sheriffs are just doin' what Sheriffs do (love you guys and gal), I thought I would kinda get it more from da horse's mouf concerning the changes here at Dockside, and I agreed to share his thoughts from the perspective of a fellow member.
Basically, iboats wants to move this as close to a real Dockside Chat as possible. iboats' intent is to offer a place for boaters to yak about stuff that is not specific to a certain area of boating and to foster camaraderie and discussion among members. However, like a real Dock or local Marina, those hanging around are from a variety of backgrounds. Knowing that, and out of respect, most people consider anything potentially controversial carefully before bringing those things up. People are there on their leisure time, after hours, or on vacation. If someone at a real dock was to bring something up that was not OK for the family in the slip next door, or if a topic appeared to make other boaters uncomfortable, social norms would cause someone to step up and calm that member down. Well, without the constant risk of being considered a social outcast causing one to behave, coupled with the anonymity of Internet Forums like this, things have gotten out of hand over a period of years. Dockside chat has migrated further and further away from the original ideal hoped for by iboats management and ownership.
Take the HOTD as an example, it wasn't necessarily controversial, but if a boater on a Dock had a fleet of women like that hanging all over his boat, frankly he would be shunned by most fellow boaters, particularly those who boat with their family. Yes, he would be a hero to some, but not the same people that a family boater would want hanging around his slip. Similarly if a seemingly innocent political discussion erupted into shouts and threats, then a family boater would also feel uncomfortable and ask that things cool down some.
So this is a cool down for sure. It is a reminder of the intent of Dockside Chat from the people who have given it to us. Myself, I like a spirited discussion, but I must admit that I would not want to hang around a Dock or Marina that was as spirited as we have been here at times. I love this site which is obvious by my post count, and I will do whatever iboats wants to continue posting here. I may push the envelope a little here and there, but I am going to respect the wishes of those that gave me this place to play, and I am gonna tie my boat up real nice a neat and remember that my conversations should be as sweet as my dock line spirals, AKA The Flemish Flake (I just learned that name BTW, you can find it here: Flake). How about that for a nice little Marina topic?
Kevin
Basically, iboats wants to move this as close to a real Dockside Chat as possible. iboats' intent is to offer a place for boaters to yak about stuff that is not specific to a certain area of boating and to foster camaraderie and discussion among members. However, like a real Dock or local Marina, those hanging around are from a variety of backgrounds. Knowing that, and out of respect, most people consider anything potentially controversial carefully before bringing those things up. People are there on their leisure time, after hours, or on vacation. If someone at a real dock was to bring something up that was not OK for the family in the slip next door, or if a topic appeared to make other boaters uncomfortable, social norms would cause someone to step up and calm that member down. Well, without the constant risk of being considered a social outcast causing one to behave, coupled with the anonymity of Internet Forums like this, things have gotten out of hand over a period of years. Dockside chat has migrated further and further away from the original ideal hoped for by iboats management and ownership.
Take the HOTD as an example, it wasn't necessarily controversial, but if a boater on a Dock had a fleet of women like that hanging all over his boat, frankly he would be shunned by most fellow boaters, particularly those who boat with their family. Yes, he would be a hero to some, but not the same people that a family boater would want hanging around his slip. Similarly if a seemingly innocent political discussion erupted into shouts and threats, then a family boater would also feel uncomfortable and ask that things cool down some.
So this is a cool down for sure. It is a reminder of the intent of Dockside Chat from the people who have given it to us. Myself, I like a spirited discussion, but I must admit that I would not want to hang around a Dock or Marina that was as spirited as we have been here at times. I love this site which is obvious by my post count, and I will do whatever iboats wants to continue posting here. I may push the envelope a little here and there, but I am going to respect the wishes of those that gave me this place to play, and I am gonna tie my boat up real nice a neat and remember that my conversations should be as sweet as my dock line spirals, AKA The Flemish Flake (I just learned that name BTW, you can find it here: Flake). How about that for a nice little Marina topic?
Kevin
