David Cragg wrote: > Actually the most damaging to locks incidents that I have seen in the last > couple of years all concern either BW or contractors boats going through > locks - often on a very regular basis pushing mud hoppers. Bricks were > knocked out, gates damaged and the primeaval mud of the canal glued to the > lock walls was ground away. Of course they don't care as they are just doing > a job and not paying for it like us. > > Roger Millin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Will wrote: >> I don't believe in making spin Roger. If it is true that boaters >> are a significant cause of the need to repair locks then I think >> we are better off being aware of it. That way we can take steps >> to improve the situation. I mean, it doesn't require a degree in >> aeronautics to steer a boat in and out a lock without hitting the >> gates. If more people know that it is a problem then perhaps more >> people will take more care. > > I'm sure you're not spinning Will. My concern is that we are publicly > airing opinions that further reinforce the idea that boaters should pay > a lot more for the system upkeep. We're likely/certain to get clobbered > so badly over the next three years that I'm not convinced we ought to > be perceived to be helping them clobber us. I've never really been a > believer in helping the hangman make the rope that he's about to hang > you with! ;-))) (with apologies to the grammar police)
We appear to disagree on the meaning of the word spin ;>) - my interpretation includes ignoring the real facts for the benefit of one's argument. That is, you were suggesting that I (we) should spin the facts. Sorry, but I just don't work that way. If I believe something needs correcting I will say so whether it favours my argument or not. (Probably a good job I'm not a politician). In this case I think it is in our interests to educate boaters (both leisure and commercial) to operate their vessels with due care. If you knew someone who drove a car so badly that they damaged other people's property would you advocate not talking about it for fear that the insurance companies might feel an increase was justified? From Wikipedia: Spin In public relations, spin is a sometimes pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Cheers Will -- Will Chapman Save Our Waterways www.SaveOurWaterways.org.uk
