Are Sailors Individuals who differ from the norm..

[boatman61]

It has recently been claimed I am trying to be Individualistic because I choose to use Comic Sans when I post.. or use some alleged power because I support CF.
Three strikes and two bans prove otherwise about 'Power' methinks..
For me simply choosing to go to sea makes me an individual, different from the 99% of people I know who think I am insane to do what I do.
One of the reasons I joined CF (and stayed) is it gives me a chance to meet and converse with likeminded folk that I may run into in real life on my travels.. and I have been lucky enough to run into a few, from Turkey all the way to Australia.
In the main they have been great folk (with the very rare exception) whose company I have enjoyed (however briefly) so for me it has more than compensated for time spent posting on here.
But lets be frank.. even sailors come in various shades.. the one's who prefer to shoal, racing, the ARC etc, the social/team side of the activity is a major factor that drives their passion.
Then there's the family pods, couples with family, friends who sail together either recreationally or as a way of life.
Lastly there is the voyaging solo sailor, the one who (most of the time) likes to be out there alone without the distractions others bring.. and happy in his own company.
Which group do you feel you fall into, as an individual.???
Or.. do you feel we should all become an amorphous swarm dancing in unison.

[GordMay]

I’ve previously posted this, several times, on different threads, discussing cruiser psychology:
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...html#post22950
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...tml#post136764
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post1919751
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post2755394

“Ocean cruising: A study of affirmative deviance” ~ A Doctoral Thesis, by Dr. James Macbeth, Phd
The thesis concludes that cruisers, as cultural 'heroes', can be seen as affirmative deviants. That is to say, given an humanistic and western individualistic value system their deviance can be seen as contributing to their individual health and growth, and to positive social evolution.

Abstract ➥ https://researchrepository.murdoch.e...id/eprint/172/
Full Thesis➥ https://researchrepository.murdoch.e.../3/02Whole.pdf

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Which group do you feel you fall into, as an individual.???

I love being on the water, the act of making a boat go with wind, and the activities required to maintain and improve boats. It's as simple as that for me. My wife is into it too. She doesn't want to sell up and live aboard, but we do as much as we can with our current little boat, or as crew or guests on other boats, and have so far done one bareboat Caribbean charter.

We generally find that we get along well with people who share these same interests. Because of that, we've enjoyed belonging to a yacht club, and an informal class organization. But I also very much like getting out on my own, even for just 2 hour daysails.

We may not share the politics of every other sailor, but face-to-face, it seems that most well-intentioned people are courteous enough to not get into all that (til late at night, after a few, anyway). So we generally get along with other sailors.

Of course, many people seem to lose that courtesy online; they must bring their politics with them wherever they go, and they say stuff online that would lead to a knuckle sandwich if said in person. (and I have to include myself in that group )

CF would be a better place without political arguments. If that means killing any such arguments when they break out, or even banning all non boating/cruising threads, I would be in favour. Just my opinion.

So, to sum up - the shared interest in boating unites us, politics divides and aggravates us.

[boatman61]

True enough Gord.. however that is a generalization of the 'Group Think' and the only thing discussed is a thesis..
A search for the author reveals nothing about personal experience at sea so it falls under 'speculation on motivation'
I am more interested in learning how CF members view themselves in our common passion.
Myself, I fall under the solo sailor by choice, being a voracious reader I can happily indulge without the constant demand to 'entertain' because my crew is bored, not having to explain why I am not increasing sail or answer that recurring question.. "Are we nearly there yet.??"
First jobs after clearing in is, find a supermarket/store and a local book swap/charity shop.
Even sailing with crew/owners on deliveries after the first few days one has learnt all one needs to know about a person, everything else then falls into the (to me) unfathomable need to talk about anything.. Example..
"Do you think ethnic Africans are a sub species"
Talk about stirring a pot.. whatever answer one gives will spark a counter that will lead to an argument..
For what its worth I said Yes.. but then aren't we all by now..

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by boatman61

True enough Gord.. however that is a generalization of the 'Group Think' and the only thing discussed is a thesis..
A search for the author reveals nothing about personal experience at sea so it falls under 'speculation on motivation'

You, obviously, didn't even read the first few pages.

[Island Time O25]

Being on the water, messing about with the boats, interacting and hanging out with likeminded people. The freedom from land based rote. Nothing like a boat centered/based emergency to get one's adrenaline pumping. One does not get the same level of fun in one's everyday land based activities.


Also the landlubbers pronouncements of how expensive sailing must be. That from people who will spend 10-15K and more per family on a 7 day couped up resort vacation. Priceless.

[davil]

Originally Posted by GordMay

You, obviously, didn't even read the first few pages.

============================
just downloaded the full thesis
500 pages!!
transferred to my Kindle!!
good stuff, will take some time to read, but time is relative at our age!!!
reason prompted my interest?
two words caught my interest.

Deviance!!! (am all for been deviant)

Autotelic!!!??? did not know what it means,found it (Google it) I fit in!!

"Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes people who are internally driven, and who as such may exhibit a sense of purpose and curiosity, as autotelic. ... An autotelic person needs few material possessions and little entertainment, comfort, power, or fame because so much of what he or she does is already rewarding."

[davil]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect


[B

CF would be a better place without political arguments. If that means killing any such arguments when they break out, or even banning all non boating/cruising threads, I would be in favour. Just my opinion.

So, to sum up - the shared interest in boating unites us, politics divides and aggravates us.

[/B]

======================================
off topic,apologize if drifting
I do not know the answer
mixed feelings
it is part of life living in a world seemly getting away from reason and humanism, yet, is the reality, have a tendency to dislike burning books, censorship, letting others sanction what I can read and special groups like recent suggestion to have an "old people group" "women group" "short people group" etc. etc.
Easier to decide what I like to read, ignore what I do not want.
================================
On the thread tittle is a whole universe with the few "chosen ones" mostly if defined as a "lifestyle"
As mentioned on my prior posting, just downloaded and plan to read the thesis as a very interesting paper as well as my been bored out of my mind.
Is an (attempt?) study on a very defined and small group of "deviants?" attempting to live our own reality, in our own terms, are we succeeding?, well there will be room on our epitaphs for the final verdict!!!
Back to read the paper.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by davil

======================================
off topic,apologize if drifting
I do not know the answer
mixed feelings
it is part of life living in a world seemly getting away from reason and humanism, yet, is the reality, have a tendency to dislike burning books, censorship, letting others sanction what I can read and special groups like recent suggestion to have an "old people group" "women group" "short people group" etc. etc.
Easier to decide what I like to read, ignore what I do not want.
================================

Probably the wisest answer.

I once remarked that if the cruising lifestyle is so darned wonderful, why are so many hard core cruisers "out there" spending so much time posting on CF, especially in non-boating threads?

Enough derail.

I think sailors as a group are more into autonomy and not moving with the herd. We are content to be self-reliant, and not afraid of being alone. Beyond that... I'm fairly average.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by GordMay

You, obviously, didn't even read the first few pages.

After scanning the page that popped up I did not bother downloading it..
But.. Davil managed to make it sound interesting.. so downloading now..

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Probably the wisest answer.

I once remarked that if the cruising lifestyle is so darned wonderful, why are so many hard core cruisers "out there" spending so much time posting on CF, especially in non-boating threads?

Enough derail.

I think sailors as a group are more into autonomy and not moving with the herd. We are content to be self-reliant, and not afraid of being alone. Beyond that... I'm fairly average.

I don’t think cruisers are that different from the mainstream. There are many many people who engage in outlier pursuits , wilderness travel , rock climbing , pot holing etc. Everyone has a passion for something.

Cruisers are not loners , or “ weird “ even if every group likes to plump up its feathers from time to time and claim exceptionalism.

Most cruisers , share a common passion but beyond that seek out the company of others and are generally social beings like most of us. Few sailers are loners , few sail on their own

Just ordinary people with a particular passion.

[Don C L]

Aren't we the norm?

For me, now, I am one of those who prefers to be sailing with friends or family... occasionally I'll head out for the afternoon solo and I'll get out a couple miles and it just doesn't feel right not having the family along... not as fun...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Which group do you feel you fall into, as an individual.???
[/SIZE][/FONT]

I belong to all of them

just at different times

[Tupaia]

The font used for my boat name is in 10" high Comic Sans, what does that mean.

I find boat names in unreadable, swirly script that can't be read from more that 15ft away or that are not proudly displayed on the bows irritating in the extreme.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I belong to all of them

just at different times

Good answer Don..