The Circle

Will Gilmore · Dec 4, 2017

interesting comments and thoughts about humans having the tendency to be bedazzled with the chance to experience the world through an alternate lens of their own creation. I think we dazzle ourselves with the novelty of technology and we often lose sight of the roll it plays as a tool because we start to immerse ourselves in it as a new paradigm instead.
On one hand, I am grateful for the GoPro because I watch other people's feeds and learn something from them. They are interesting adventures and they spark my imagination. On the other hand, it is so easy to watch the next video and the next one and finally, the hours I could have spent repairing my boat and going sailing, I've spent in a chair watching a movie of sorts. I'm also not the type too reciprocate with the publishing of my own movie. However, I see my attitude changing with the culture and one never knows. I like video games and played Assassins Creed Black Flag all the way through because I had fun experiencing the days of pirates and being astounded by the amazing achievement of virtual realism. If a real pirate ship had been available to sail, I would have rather done that. Unless the enemy were firing REAL canon balls at me.
It's the ease with which we become reliant upon our technology that is really concerning. Staring at the radar screen or the GPS course plotter takes away or changes the experience we go sailing for. This ability to view the world remotely has its benefits. It allows for greatly enhanced classroom experiences, for example, but, it can also rob us of deeper involvement in the world.
It's no wonder these things are addictive. We all feel pleasure at achieving something with ease and this "virtual experience" technology is designed to do that for us. The dopamine just goes wild in our brains. We have to practically force ourselves to look up to see the real instead of the "enhanced" world.
In the end, we need to keep in mind what it is we really want and try to stay on that course.
- Will ("philosopher", Dragonfly)

Stu Jackson · Dec 4, 2017

Kings Gambit said:
I don't have Instragram; a Facebook or Twitter account; Netfilx, nor even a Smart Phone; no Tablet, no Notebook, etc.

Me, too, pretty much. I do have a phone, but use it for nothing but music on the new Bluetooth system I installed last March, and I use the laptop to watch favorite shows or movies in the evening when I'm cruising. My GPS screen is a Garmin handheld; I keep my head outside the boat and use, not only just carry, paper charts. I don't think of sbo or the other boating forums as "social media" - to me they are technical training seminars on a daily basis.

See? Just like John said, test on Tuesday!

Sailm8 · Dec 4, 2017

We have recently gone back to basics due to a lightning strike. We have no instruments at all and recently went out sailing for 5 days. It was sort of liberating and confidence building at the same time. Paper charts and a compass. I must admit I miss the depth sounder most. It will be nice when the insurance company gets off the dime since this is the best time of the year for sailing.

JamesG161 · Dec 4, 2017

So far I am "bedazzled" only with CHIRP sonar from it nearly 3D pictures of fish and bottom structures. CHIRP radar is now available too.

The Boat Safety presented to the modern sailing Captain, using high speed computations and instruments is too much to relinquish.

For those not familiar with small craft MARPA radar tracking, it rivals Naval CIC rooms which see no horizons.

Even the US Navy stand weather deck watches using visual methods. Don't conflate collision avoidance with iPad distractions. In a high traffic area, even a visual check may not avoid a collision, since there may more than 1 Captain involved.
______
When looking for our boat, I didn't have Radar, Sonar and Auto Pilot on my lists of wants.
Now they have become a key to my Boat and crew safety.

I have grown to appreciate..
1) Anchor drift alarms
2) DSC and MMSI alarms and uses
3) AIS
4) Man Over Board location and tracking
5) Radar Guard Zones
6) FM Radio Channel 16
7) GPS SOG and COG
8) Digital Chart Plotting that compute ETA's for planning.

I am still learning of these advancements, thus reducing the "Cone of Uncertainty"

Jim...

RussC · Dec 4, 2017

When I was maybe 8-10 years old I had a very vivid dream that I was in a sailplane. I never knew where that dream came from, but it was a profound experience that I never forgot. I finally had the opportunity to actually go up in a 2-32 when I was in my late 50s and was so disappointed in the experience because it was such gauges based flying. it was my one and only sailplane flight. I did, however, fly hang glider for 18 years and 2500+ hours of airtime. best training for sailing ever! it's now second nature to always be aware of what the wind and weather around me is doing. only reason to even turn on the GPS is to see if we're sailing fast enough to brag about it later.

Kings Gambit · Dec 4, 2017

JamesG161 said:
I have grown to appreciate..
1) Anchor drift alarms
2) DSC and MMSI alarms and uses
3) AIS
4) Man Over Board location and tracking
5) Radar Guard Zones
6) FM Radio Channel 16
7) GPS SOG and COG
8) Digital Chart Plotting that compute ETA's for planning.

I am still learning of these advancements, thus reducing the "Cone of Uncertainty"
Jim...

1) is a substitute for not keeping an anchor watch; 2) is a substitute for not being able to tell the USCG where you are in an emergency; 3) is a substitute for not knowing how to use your radar and not knowing the vessel light configurations; 4) is a substitute for not being tethered or not holding on while moving about the boat; 5) is a substitute for not keeping a proper lookout; 7) is a substitute for not keeping a DR track and not making LOP fixes when possible; 8) is a substitute for not being able to divide Destination Distance/SOG and then look at your watch or ships clock.

JamesG161 · Dec 4, 2017

Not a substitute at all, but an Enhancement.

I still have my paper charts, compass, sextant, binoculars, fog horn and megaphone. I even have a radio direction finder. [OMG really]

Plus I know how to use them.

I love MARPA since it will compute avoidance coarse corrections, timing and distance of passing a vessel, and relative course and speed... much much faster than by hand, for a single handed or two person crew. The hand calculator is much faster than a Slide Rule. I know how you use both, also.

Do Not Conflate Improved Safety with hand done computations.
Jim...

danm1 · Dec 4, 2017

When shopping for a boat this Fall I was shocked at the number of listings with a flat screen t.v. but no chartplotter.

Terry Cox · Dec 4, 2017

jssailem said:
What are your thoughts about Social Communities like facebook/twitter/instagram/etc.

When

jssailem said:
What are your thoughts about Social Communities like facebook/twitter/instagram/etc.

When Phil first introduced the War Room forum, I was quite enthralled and active. Over time, however, just like with other social media, people have trouble with dialogue they oppose, so I dropped out permanently. No matter the facts or thoughts, much of what people do when they disagree resort to verbal attacks, personal slams, profanity, etc. That is why Phil shut the forum down and also the reason why I do not participate in social media. I do text with immediate family and friends, but when it comes to issues outside the family I try hard to steer clear.

SFS · Dec 4, 2017

jssailem said:
Tis the season and I'm struggling with "Visions of Cones of Uncertainty" dancing in my head.

Just don't go Ramblin' too far. Keep those visions 1 nm apart, in an unbroken chain of 50.

Stu Jackson · Dec 4, 2017

SFS said:
Just don't go Ramblin' too far. Keep those visions 1 nm apart, in an unbroken chain of 50.

Aha, someone else who has ventured into this fascinating subject.

For those of you who may be interested:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...f-uncertainty-and-appropriate-cpa-189919.html

It's a very, very long thread with great discussions.

Will Gilmore · Dec 4, 2017

Terry Cox said:
much of what people do when they disagree resort to verbal attacks, personal slams, profanity, etc.

In logic it is called 'ad hominem' (against the man) it is a logical fallacy that you see a lot in politics.
I can't find in the Google the exact quote or who said it but I think it is a truism that those who don't come to their opinions by reason and logic shall not let their opinions be changed by such.
- Will ("the logician", Dragonfly)

Kings Gambit · Dec 4, 2017

Terry Cox said:
No matter the facts or thoughts, much of what people do when they disagree resort to verbal attacks, personal slams, profanity, etc.

It's the basic creed of some that when you begin to lose an argument or debate on the lack of merit attending your view, then personally attack your opponent. After all, if your opponent is "shown" to be a bad person in some way(s), then s/he could not possibly have a good argument, or point of view, etc. (So the thinking apparently goes.) Chess playing is a good "metaphor." I once saw a guy upon losing his third game slam his opponent's head with a champagne bottle.

Stu Jackson · Dec 4, 2017

Kings Gambit said:
I once saw a guy upon losing his third game slam his opponent's head with a champagne bottle.

Waste of good champagne.

Kings Gambit · Dec 4, 2017

Stu Jackson said:
Waste of good champagne.

Champagne bottles are too thick to be broken open by impact against a mere skull of skin and bone.