for several Sojourns , I can attest that it they are carefully crafted events with paddler safety paramount. Its just not a mob of paddlers on the water.
You had instructors among you. I guarantee it. If they imparted any information it was done in a fun style. Learning ought to be painless. Sojourns are an ideal way to have a good trip and to pick up a few pointers.
Instructors are never festooned with badges on our event. Its not about instructors. Its about safe paddling and having fun.
Congratulations.. the Schuykill event is a long one!
Learning takes place in many manners and mediums.
Society in general, doesn't heap admiration on slackers.
If a person tries, even a little bit, then people smile.
People want everything for free, and nearby.
Two conditions that create formidable barriers.
Many people just don't "value" paddling knowledge
as they think everyone already knows how
- just jump in and go, it'll be fine and fun.
Kayakmedic's statement "of not knowing" was on target
and the sticky widget to overcome
Not only were you only “splashing”, … you were making little, if any forward progress. Now, how one can account for the distance you covered in that amount of time is beyond me, but I have it on good authority that a newbie can’t make much forward progress at all.
response "(1) No, you CAN take such a course, from a private instructor.
(2) No, there are plenty of course options."
Name one in Michigan.
“Defensive driving courses” are almost all online, involve no actual driving, and are designed for persons with points on their license.
Driving schools are for people learning to drive.
Advanced driving schools, of which there are several in Michigan are oriented to racing and closed track driving. None advertise anything else.
And no, I am not going to go to Nebraska.
As to the analogy, you are confused. The OP is talking about newbies to kayaking. The driving equivalent is “driver training” for people who do not know how to drive
Now it’s “slackers”, yet another name… …to expresse your distain!
“Society in general, doesn’t heap admiration on slackers.”
One doesn’t take up kayaking to “be admired”. So being a slacker is perfectly inline with the purpose of recreation and relaxation.
“If a person tries, even a little bit, then people smile.”
When a newbie goes down to the pond with a kayak paddle, he’s putting a smile on his own face, not “trying” to put it on that of onlooking “people”!
Your comment shows your own mentality. You’re looking to impress, and you couldn’t understand why newbie “slackers” are not impressed with your knowledge. So you find it necessary to call them names: “slackers”!
Been in the shrooms lately? I know you know better. But the Sojourns are excellent places to pick up some instruction. We have taught some 120 people the heel hook rescue and that was just on the 2012 Conne-Alli-Kiski Sojourn. It is in PA.
What? I have NO clue what you are trying to tell me. “Shrooms”? “Know better”? Know better than what, and about what? I can’t figure out if you agree or disagree with the fact that I like what slushpaddler and the person he’s responding to have said.
Thanks for reading ALL of my posts! "How do you perceive this post
am I being nice or mean ?"
So it’s a multiple choice with only 2 answers!
Neither. You’re arrogant.
I know that’s not one of the two answers you proposed. But you won’t get what you wish, which is your ego stroked, from this board any more than from those slacking kayak newbies.
Unfortunate What’s unfortunate is to think that since this thread is on the Advice board, it will be archived. It’s long since it’s had any redeeming value, if it ever had any to start with.
I think it did have redeeming value But requires picking at it and scrutiny. Its kind of like buying lobster now. The 1 pounders are for sale cheaper than hamburg.
But you do have to check that they have two claws. And bring the pick… the best meat is under the swimmerets. I get really pissed at tourists who waste meat; until I remind myself they paid for that privilege.
Rant over. Read and think what might apply to you. Yes we do need a librarian to sort. Where is g2d when you need him?
"Hard to get past initial bad reaction to message tone even if the msg itself is mostly sound."
What's the message?
- That all beginer would benefit from some skill development?
- Or that all beginner MUST learn a certain level of skill to shed their "newbie" designation?
Those two may look similar but are very different message!
The OP had come back in multiple posts to clarify it's the latte. (I didn't happen upon the thread till 30-40 posts later, by that point the OP's "message" had become crysal clear)
As such, I don't consider that message "sound".
The OP's "tone" reflects correctly the message. So there's no separating the tone from the message because the two are consistant. The reactions to the tone are appropriate because that's the message itself. No sugar-coating the distain the OP has for anyone who "shun" technique even in a casual recreation passtime.
There're many others who wish to discuss the first point (which was implied in the OP) while use a more polite "tone". But that wasn't really "the message".
What I found interesting is the many valid reason why beginner may wish to remain beginner and not commit the time and effort to improve, in more than just kayaking (driving, lawn bowling). In this goal oriented world of ours, where everything got turned into competition (against each other or against the outside environment), I find that concept refreshing.
