A general social question regarding sailing

[visionsinsight]

Absolutely! I always treat other people's boats with the utmost respect.

[ontherocks83]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

Well at least it’s not Karen :-)

Love the reference

Otherwise they'd have no friends

[barnakiel]

To me it is all the same. Name or no name, I forget in five minutes.

Some people introduce with name, some never introduce, others give their full name (s), surname (s), job title (s) and shoe size (s - if left differs from right).

Francesco Pablo Gonzalves Primeiro Segundo, doctor of sciences, father of seven. My new neighbour. Hell.

I drop whatever they say, nearly immediately, and from now on will only ever refer to them as:

- the tall one,
- the fat one,
- the Swede,
- the drunkard,
- the father-of-7,
- etc.

The special honor belongs to the one who fails to introduce her-/himself and starts out with asking my name, job title, nationality, and source of income. The lippy ones will ask if I am gay or straight. All these I call by one common name: dock jerks, followed by a number (on a long dock there may be more than one).


Good way:
- Hi, I am Pete, I am from the new boat that has just sunk in the entry to the marina!

- Hi, I am Jack, I am very sorry for your loss. How about a drink?

Bad way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ

b.

[dfelsent]

People say to me “oh I have a friend who sails and keeps their boat in your harbor. Their name is blah de blah.” And I say “what’s their boats name?”

[Montanan]

This is how one asks to learn a person's name and how they should respond when introducing yourself. Very proper etiquette.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83wO_d4Jp9M

[CyKlop]

I think it's a matter of focus. We are, all of us, focused on boats, boating. As such, we tend to remember boatnames. I can't count the number of times I'll see someone for the second time and almost always the second question from them is, "Which boat are you from, again?" They don't remember my name, but they remember the boat.

In your case, you don't have a boat for them to have seen and cemented into their head. So, as someone pointed out, they revert to the more conventional naming.

I wouldn't be put out if someone asked you for your last name. They need SOMETHING to differentiate "Paul ____" from "Paul on WaveDancer", and "Paul, that guy who hangs out on the docks and is looking to crew for a boat" is a bit of a mouthful.

[BadDecisions]

My last name is way too hard for everyone to pronounce nonetheless remember. I rarely tell people my last name. Everyone at my marina calls me "Cowboy", It fits I suppose, I grew up in Prescott, AZ and the name has grown on me. I also have a very hard time remembering names, I refer to most people by boat names or first names.

[Sidney777]

I've noticed that in the deep South when you are introduced, generally they say their first and Last name.
Makes it harder to remember names.
And don't say God in any passing comments. Use gosh or goodness,etc

[Montanan]

Or if you are deserving of such honor, perhaps a person of the First Peoples may gift you with a Native name, that will be more memorable and associative to the person; just as they derive names for places that correspond with the nature of the place, and not being named after some person, or named after some other older place [such as New York, New Jersey, New England].

By way of example: Apenimon - "Worthy of Trust".

[polbndr]

Happens in the horse world too. Focus is on the horse. Lots of times you are introduced as "Sheza's" trainer or "Buddy's" owner. There were 4 Ricks on our boat dock. Great nme to call in an emergency as plenty of help would come running, but when conversing it was Rick on X boat.

We keep boat cards as we have met people while cruising 4-5 years later. Recognized the boat name but had no idea the names of the owners until reviewing the boat card. Make some cards up. Most cruisers keep them for future reference with notes to remind them of when, where, and pertinent info of special skills etc. We put a pic of us on the back of ours as a reminder of what we look like. Many a time when we check out a card and see a pic of the person (s), we can recall exact times we shared and it all comes flooding back.

[zeehag]

i donot remember peoples names. i may remember cat names and maybe boat names and slip numbers.
i meet new folks i tell em i am zeehag. when they are friends, if they get that far, we will maybe remember names.
we have much transience here so itis moot remembering names unless there is a specific reason for same.
and yes inventing appropriate descriptors is the norm... couple with 3 kids; boat towed in by rescate; 4 cats in a 30 ft boat--know all cat names not human ones hahahahahaha....perlitas momma; so many different ways to remember those who pass thru
i donot do boat cards.

[seamaiden]

I'm with you on that one!

Originally Posted by AKA-None

Wait people have names?

[OloteleMtn]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Or if you are deserving of such honor, perhaps a person of the First Peoples may gift you with a Native name, that will be more memorable and associative to the person; just as they derive names for places that correspond with the nature of the place, and not being named after some person, or named after some other older place [such as New York, New Jersey, New England].

By way of example: Apenimon - "Worthy of Trust".

Or "Walking Eagle"..........

[delphys44]

Any resident dock rat will be immediately suspicious of a man walking the docks inquiring about someone by using their last name. It’s never ends well.

[BlackHeron]

Originally Posted by delphys44

Any resident dock rat will be immediately suspicious of a man walking the docks inquiring about someone by using their last name. It’s never ends well.

Snitches get stitches.