How social are mariners?

[Maersk Line]

Dear all,

We're working on an article for Maersk Line Social about social media and the maritime industry. And we thought this forum would be the right place to start.

The classic urban myth is of course that seafarers embrace the solitude of the sea and can't wait to get away form home. But obviously, that is just a myth or a thing of the past.

So here's a couple of questions that can hopefully spark some thoughts and comments for us top better grasp 'the social element' of mariners.

• How social are mariners compared to other groups of people?
• What has the introduction of social media, connectivity and sites such as gCaptain meant for you?

Hope to hear from as many of you as possible.

Best regards,
Maersk Line

[c.captain]

All I know is that just about every goddamned mate that graduated from one of the academies within the past 10 years is glued to their effing fecebook page every time I see them! I honestly do not know what makes it so effing important in the life of these punk kids? I am an old man who grew up in a time long before there were computers or electronic anything. Please somebody enlighten this antisocial hermit why these kids are so wrapped up in all this nonsense?

Secondly, I have never gone to Twitter and haven't the slightest idea of what it is supposed to be for? Please somebody tell me what it's supposed to do?


.

[cappy208]

1. Mariners aren't social at all to/ with shipmates. Personally I keep in touch with only 4 or 5 shipmates I have made friends with over my 32 year career. Mariners are social with family and friends at home (independent of work) and keep their work 'friends' separate.

2. Social media has made it easier to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances. Sites like GCaptain are simply a way of communicating with and sharing info among other like minded/ employed individuals.

[Steamer]

How social are mariners compared to other groups of people?

Go away, we are busy tossing insults at each other.

[c.captain]

Go away, we are busy tossing insults at each other.

I envision a bunch of crusty seamen from some dirty old steamer all stumbling into a dive bar by some typical run down docks and then bashing eachother bloody after all getting properly hammered, then all taking a long piss together in the street after being tossed out and then stumbling into the next dank wateringhole all singing!

Now there's sailors social media for you...

[Jbird]

As for the young pups. They use it to pretend they are going to get laid when they get back to land.

[water]

The classic urban myth is of course that seafarers embrace the solitude of the sea and can't wait to get away form home. But obviously, that is just a myth or a thing of the past.

So here's a couple of questions that can hopefully spark some thoughts and comments for us top better grasp 'the social element' of mariners.

• How social are mariners compared to other groups of people?
• What has the introduction of social media, connectivity and sites such as gCaptain meant for you?

I'd say we are basically sociable, but just like a different lifestyle than a 9 to 5 job, 5 days a week. Perhaps a bit more sand in our shoes that the the average Joe. And a need/desire to be at sea.

But personally, I have found on board internet a wonderful boon while working overseas, simply being able to email home, and get news on line. I don't use Facebook or tweet. But I do remember listing to the Falkland War on the SW radio. We have come a long way since then.

And gCaptain has been an essential tool for keeping up with what is going on in this industry. It was a great tool when I first headed down to the oil patch - and yes, I used the Search Function before first posting - and it has been a great resource as I upgraded my license.

And pass my regards on the Maersk Deliverer.

[tamugly]

All I know is that just about every goddamned mate that graduated from one of the academies within the past 10 years is glued to their effing fecebook page every time I see them!

.

I bet every academy grad you have had has said, "My damn captain is glued to this gcaptain page, he keeps talking about pointy sticks and cussing to himself!"

[tengineer]

Dear all,

We're working on an article for Maersk Line Social about social media and the maritime industry. And we thought this forum would be the right place to start.

The classic urban myth is of course that seafarers embrace the solitude of the sea and can't wait to get away form home. But obviously, that is just a myth or a thing of the past.

So here's a couple of questions that can hopefully spark some thoughts and comments for us top better grasp 'the social element' of mariners.

• How social are mariners compared to other groups of people?
• What has the introduction of social media, connectivity and sites such as gCaptain meant for you?

Hope to hear from as many of you as possible.

Best regards,
Maersk Line

Solitude of the sea? You're cooped up in a piece of steel with nowhere to go with a bunch of people you may or may not care for but you gotta eat with them and work with them. Not much solitude available until you got to work on the crap plant.Unless you're a crew of one solitude is pretty much nonexistent.
Of course mariners are "social". How else do they know the CFRs up and down as well as who is hiring, building, blah, blah. Think they do this on their off time back home?
Entirely too much media socializing in my not so humble opinion. Too much time gossiping on watch and off via the internet instead of getting things done and learning to deal with the morons that work with you. It's getting to where us morons can't say anything without it being blasted to everyone in the maritime industry via Facebook or some other antisocial behavior causing media. People have gotten fired over some of this BS.
Just to prove we aren't especially bright we do this right here on gCaptain while we're supposed to be working, or at least looking out the window or at a systems monitor. All the while the folks in the home offices around the world are monitoring what we say and wondering if this $20,000/month communication/spy internet connection is really worth it.
I guess they figure it is worth it. It's like a soap opera or Survivor or whatever plus they get to surf the internet while claiming they're just checking on the mariners.
I hope this helps answer your question. I got to go Twitter or diddle some more time away.

[Fraqrat]

I'm not very social my two best friends are my wife and my son. I spend all day every day off with them. I have many good friends from work I have/would visit if the opportunity was there. I don't do Facebook. I only use twitter for about four months a year to help feed my incurable football addiction.

[SLUGWRENCH]

Hey now, this forum IS basically Facebook for mariners!! And you are on here all the time!!

All I know is that just about every goddamned mate that graduated from one of the academies within the past 10 years is glued to their effing fecebook page every time I see them! I honestly do not know what makes it so effing important in the life of these punk kids? I am an old man who grew up in a time long before there were computers or electronic anything. Please somebody enlighten this antisocial hermit why these kids are so wrapped up in all this nonsense?

Secondly, I have never gone to Twitter and haven't the slightest idea of what it is supposed to be for? Please somebody tell me what it's supposed to do?


.

[rshrew]

Twitter is useless, Facebook is nice in the fact that I can follow all my favorite breweries and keep in touch with friends from college and such.

[cmakin]

1. Mariners aren't social at all to/ with shipmates. Personally I keep in touch with only 4 or 5 shipmates I have made friends with over my 32 year career. Mariners are social with family and friends at home (independent of work) and keep their work 'friends' separate.

2. Social media has made it easier to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances. Sites like GCaptain are simply a way of communicating with and sharing info among other like minded/ employed individuals.

Agreed. I have only been to the homes of three old shipmates through the years. I exchange Christmas cards with about 6. As noted elsewhere in this thread, when you go to sea, you are thrown together with folks you don't know and more than likely wouldn't even socialize with. Yet you are expected (and more often than not) manage to not only live together in at least a steady truce if not harmony, but get a difficult job done and done well. I find that the skill comes in very handy when I have to work offshore on small dive boats and older construction barges and platforms. Often times the accommodations are less than optimal for the poor surveyor/insurance guy.

That is probably why I don't watch the show "Big Brother" My daughter does, and I just tell her that it sounds like working on a tug, only you can't push anyone overboard. Uh, well, you know what I mean.

[rjbpilot]

Hey now, this forum IS basically Facebook for mariners!! And you are on here all the time!!

C. Captain =

[c.captain]

Hey now, this forum IS basically Facebook for mariners!! And you are on here all the time!!

ah maybe but think how boring things would be here without the infamous "pointy stick"?

"Peace or...UTTER DESTRUCTION...it's up to you." -- Kirk, A Taste Of Armageddon

d'ya hear that TMAcadet1?...I'm talkin to you!


.

[BMCSRetired]

Social with Mariners depends on the level of the Mariner.

Newer are a little more social and less opinionated. I am not going to speak for Engineers but the more senior bridge guys are separated a little more as Cappy said and just a LITTLE more opinionated (C. Captain and myself) than younger members. After doing the job for 33 years you know what works and what doesn't so when you see somebody advocating something you tried years ago and know fails, you tend to poo-poo their opinions and insight. I am not saying that is right or wrong, it is just part of being a Captain/Master.

We all have our little quirks.

For the younger/newer members it is FB. For us older/elderly members it is a "pointy stick".

[+A465B]

Suggest just give reasonable access to emails and occaisional internet browse.
Everyone knows how social they want to be.
Or not.

[seadog6608]

I think we used to be much more socialble on board years ago. With computers nowadays, we lock ourselves up in our rooms and talk to people far away via the internet. years ago, we played cards in the mess, watched movies together in the mess or lounge and generally interacted with our shipmates much more than we do now.

[Bayrunner]

I think we used to be much more socialble on board years ago. With computers nowadays, we lock ourselves up in our rooms and talk to people far away via the internet. years ago, we played cards in the mess, watched movies together in the mess or lounge and generally interacted with our shipmates much more than we do now.

Speaking for myself, on past boats thats what I normally did. I didnt really like any of my shipmates, I would only socialize with the engineer on 1 boat because we both hated everyone else on board. The boat im on now is better but I still dissapear very soon after my watch is over.


Having the internet aboard is a life saver!

[hawsepipe]

My crew knows more about me than my wife. I keep a picture of my DOG in the wheelhouse. Crew Meeting wife = social disaster and they feel the same way. To many stories and boat talk and land life DO NOT MIX. I've worked with this crew for about 5 years we do not socialize outside of work, we are all scared of what might be said or how it's said outside of work.