Another Boating Nightmare

[bekosh]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

In WI the law is no wake 1/2 hour after sunset

That is not a state wide law. Some lakes are no wake after dark, some are not. It is usually posted at the boat ramps as to what the rules are for the specific lake.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

We could not function here with "no wake" at night. But there probably should be a top end limit. Problem is, the waterways are too varied. You may run a few miles in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay to get from home port to the fishing grounds (bridge). But there are also heavily populated narrow rivers and creeks* that would be like your lakes and require caution--maybe just planing speed, maybe less.

*technically estuaries

In WI the law is no wake 1/2 hour after sunset

In mn the law is no skiing 1 hour after sunset

 

[emilsr]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Tragic for all involved....my thoughts and prayers go out to them.

What I find difficult to understand is WHY the press would even report on an incident like this without having their facts straight. Report the news; don't speculate. For example, the "speedboat" was a Larson.....since when did they make fast boats? It was reported that both boats were going "over 20mph", so what difference does it make anyway? Does the reporter have a bias against one type of boat versus another? Some reports had both boats at a bar earlier, some had one or the other. Until/unless it was determined that one or both operators were intoxicated is that even a relevent fact? The lack of factual and verified information in these so called "news articles" is troubling.

My point here is that even though the mods on this site have the good sense not to let this turn ugly, the general public has no such safety net. People tend to believe what they want, and that's not a good thing. Shoddy reporting only tends to spread rumors.....rumors that won't help either the families involved or the boating community as a whole.

 

[QC]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Maybe we should turn this into a factual news site . . . But the fact is that all reporting includes bias. Has to. There's very serious bias in what we choose to lock and what we choose to leave. I am totally convinced you cannot escape it, and the only solutions are to ignore everything (stupid) or to personally investigate everything (less stupid, but seriously time consuming).

What I like about this site when things go well, is that we respectfully kick it around. Look at all angles, gather more information as available, and kind of come to a conclusion as the thread dies a natural death. Great system if we are nice to each other

 

[emilsr]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Maybe we should turn this into a factual news site . . . But the fact is that all reporting includes bias. Has to. There's very serious bias in what we choose to lock and what we choose to leave. I am totally convinced you cannot escape it, and the only solutions are to ignore everything (stupid) or to personally investigate everything (less stupid, but seriously time consuming).

What I like about this site when things go well, is that we respectfully kick it around. Look at all angles, gather more information as available, and kind of come to a conclusion as the thread dies a natural death. Great system if we are nice to each other

I agree that the system here is a good one, and yes some personal bias is bound to creep in to what is tolerated and what is not. Overall I think you mods do a great job.

I have to respectfully disagree when it comes to media bias. I don't believe it has to be there; it has crept in and become the norm, but that doesn't make it right. If they'd simply report the news, verify their facts and not editorialize we'd all be better off....IMHO of course.

I wasn't really talking about bias in this case, it was the reporting of information that isn't factual. They called the one boat by brand and not the other....simply referred to it as a "speedboat". Did the reporter really think that it was? Either way....should have been reported as what it was, not what the reporter PERCEIVED it to be. Is that bias? Maybe....but in my little pea brain it's just lazy reporting and sensationalism.

Maybe I'm just biased against reporters.

 

[QC]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Either way....should have been reported as what it was, not what the reporter PERCEIVED it to be. Is that bias?

I think that's what I meant by not escaping it. Yes, his personal experiences in life determined what he/she called the vessels . . . Not really "bias", but you end up with a biased article despite the innocent nature.

Let's stop the hijack or I will have to lock this and it would be my fault :redface: :facepalm:

 

[trejac]

Re: Another Boating Nightmare

Put this accident in the same file as "Kids die in car while texting." As long as operators of motorized vehicles fail to be safe, these things will continue to happen. Tragic. Lives ruined needlessly.

Very very very well said