Christmas bile

I see the Christmas break has given all the whingeing holiday boaters time to email Narrowboat World to complain about any boater who is not like them.
This collection of Daily Mail readers are upset because they can't moor exactly outside the pub or shop of their choice when on their two week break.
The people to blame are, of course, boaters they like to label 'continuous moorers' and choose to hate with a passion only available to the ignorant.
The boaters who are not like them are those of us out on the system for long periods, whether or not they are technically continuous cruisers.
Holiday boaters see these people moored in the spaces where they expect to be able to tie when they arrive at 7.00pm after a long day.
They may see them in the same area on the way back a few days later and without any thought they decide they are breaking the mooring rules.
The real picture is not ever going to be seen by those that pass in the night.
Boaters who live on their boats and cruise tend to travel two or three hours a day so they get to prime moorings before holiday boats.
Boaters continuously on the system also tend to stay on morings the full time allowed and will be more inclined to opt for longer stays (7/14 days) if they are available nearby. They need to run their everyday lives whilst cruising - shopping, doctors, post etc. That's why you tend to see them twice in a holiday.
Continuous cruisers also tend to explore whole areas so they will pass through certain areas several times. We spent the early part of this year visiting Chester, Manchester and the Peak Forest. That meant we pased through hotspots like Middlewich, Nantwich, Chester etc  a number of times and could easily be labeled 'continuous moorers' by passing holiday boaters.
Bigotry founded in ignorance from holiday boaters sows poison in the boating community. Of course there are boats around London and on the K&A that don't obey the rules but there are many more continuous cruisers who move a lot and don't overstay.
Bigots will not be persuaded as long as they can't moor by the pub, but a little more logical thought might reduce the bile levels.