With Sea Shepard they don't know when to leave it alone and it keeps escalating.
Well we do have people to zip it for them.
We never want to close down rational, factual and fair discussions. With this subject however, we can't be tolerant like we used to anymore. Too many bad ones slipped through in the past and when presented with other people's opinions and actual facts, the supporters of this or any ecological action group(s) seem not to want to hear anything but their own propaganda and unsubstantiated claims. Which is fair enough, but then don't start a topic on a shipping related forum where people that do not like the actions of such a group, can respond to it, I would say. Thus they could better talk about their stuff on the Sea Shepard forum instead where everyone is likeminded, or something. Too many (ex) sailors and skippers here take offense by the actions of this group, it would seem.
I don't know what it is.. if it's the average age and subsequent lack of life's experience of the majority of the supporters we see 'up in arms' here, the fact that they know little about actually working at sea.. or just that they buy into the propaganda of the captain-who-isn't-a-captain too easily without fact checking and objective research... fact of the matter remains though... it always gets heated in the end.. I reckon it's bound for an 'off limits status' again, in the near future, like a few times before..
Don't get me wrong, I applaude people who are willing to take action out of principles and good intention and really do something to make the world a better place. Most of the 'fanboys' don't even really do anything, they just go on a forum and repeat what others have said and beat their chest, undeserved..... I say, as long as it's all done legally without harming anyone, go and save whatever you want to save, more power to you, but again.. legal action, not piracy, not criminal activity..
As for talking about it on the forum, well if people are not prepared to get both sides of the story in, on a public message board, then the subject isn't worthy of being allowed, in my opinion.. cause it's a matter of giving and taking on here. The supporters of this organisation should be glad we try to allow it at all, given the nature of the crimes this group commits against men and Spambot that do a tough job on the high seas that they themselves did not invent or even ask for perhaps. I don't judge their job because I eat meat and fish too and use animal products.. But having these people be put in danger is an offense to many hardworking (ex)seaman on this forum, as they have often voiced.
Anyway, I'm rambling... but wanted to give a little explaination as to why yet another one was closed down. There's also been remarks in pm that I cannot divulge but that again showed a rising tension.. maybe it's the new whaling season that's got everyone fired up.. but this forum is not the place for all that... we shall zip what needs zipping if and when the need arises.. And if anyone is unhappy about it, then there's other fora for this particular hobby too.
Regards,
Fred