Talk:Harry Highet

Ironmonger

@LJ Holden: I noticed this "Harry's father was an ironmonger and worked at the Evans Bay Patent slip". An ironmonger sells goods made of iron. Perhaps he did that in a different period not when he was working at the patent slip? Eddaido (talk) 09:52, 10 August 2021 (UTC)

Uh, yes, that's why it says "was" as in past-tense. We know from census forms (and it's recorded in the Sailing article on the Highets) that Thomas Morton was an ironmonger, which is most likely why he was then employed by the patent slip --LJ Holden 22:04, 10 August 2021 (UTC)

"which is most likely why he was then employed by the patent slip" That, it seems to me, is the misapprehension I am pointing out. An ironmonger sells goods made of iron, like a fishmonger sells fish. The sentence as it is at the moment says he worked at the Patent Slip as if ironmongering had given him some special ability making him useful there and I very much doubt selling ironmongery would have done that. Perhaps a better result could be achieved by stating just what research has shown. I don't know that, do you have access? (you mention census forms). Eddaido (talk) 23:16, 10 August 2021 (UTC)

It's speculation either way, so the way the Wiki article as written is fine. The sailing article doesn't make the link between being an ironmonger and working at the patent slip. --LJ Holden 23:30, 10 August 2021 (UTC)

@LJ Holden: Your last comment "It's speculation either way" does not make sense. Do you know what an ironmonger is? I have made the link in Harry's article so you can re-consider your somewhat daft comment. At least anyone who takes up the new link can see your mistake. Eddaido (talk) 01:07, 11 August 2021 (UTC)

Yes, I know what an ironmonger is. My statement was speculation, as was yours... we don't actually know what he did at the patent slip. He could've been their cleaner for all we know, or maybe he procured items made of iron, or or or... either way what we think is irrelevant because Wikipedia is about verifiable information, and all we know is that he was an ironmonger, and then he worked at the Evan's Bay patent slip... --LJ Holden 02:20, 11 August 2021 (UTC)

You sound a bit lost. "all we know is that he was an ironmonger, and then he worked at the Evan's Bay patent slip". For me that is just fine (if you believe that's what your source meant). You are determined to miss the whole point of this discussion and I don't want to get into what you think speculation might be. I'll change the article. OK? Eddaido (talk) 02:59, 11 August 2021 (UTC)

The text as is is fine. I'm not sure what you're attempting to achieve... I know I'm not the one who's lost here. --LJ Holden 08:43, 11 August 2021 (UTC)

Actually, I've added the word "later" so it's crystal clear... --LJ Holden 08:48, 11 August 2021 (UTC)

Clarity is what was wanted. Thanks for fixing it. Now why was that so hard to communicate? Cheers, Eddaido (talk) 10:10, 12 August 2021 (UTC)