1st time I've seen only 1 page of new topics...

Guess what? Complaints about this thread. Go figger!!!

CLOSED

From Uncle Bob's post above: "I cannot count how many times a newbie asks a simple question, one that some members call stupid. But it isn't stupid to the newbie, it's a genuine issue they need resolved! Who cares if 99% of us all know the answer? He doesn't! So I always try to answer factually, even though I've answered the same question countless times before."

Amen. There's one chap that always responds with do a search and even lists the results of his search instead of just answering the question. Guess he's hasn't thought that a newbie might not know the terminology to do a search.

Wonder if those folks are that rude in person or only when they are in their jammies in the basement?

i think that not only have the number new topics decreased but activity in the Beginning RV'ing forum has dropped dramatically, in the past year.
i agree about the rudeness, snarkiness and arguments have done damage to the forum, especially with new members. and i agree that there are a larger number of regulars that are just mean or overly sarcastic, without being funny(even though they think they are).
i've been on the forum for quite awhile now and i've seen the changes over the past 2-3 years, for the worse.
it's not just political stuff either. it's an absence of camaraderie and community that exists now.

I must be addicted to this forum!
I am in here nearly every day, and most days multiple times.

I wasn't an RV newbie when I joined, as I had been RVing for many years, but I had a simple question that I had no idea the answer to. I was trying to get the toilet flange off the floor and no matter what I did it wasn't going anywhere.

So I got online and searched out my problem and while looking for the answer, I stumbled across RV.Net!

I posted my question and somebody answered me, it is threaded into the black tank. Eureka!!! As I ran out the the old 81 Citation and gave the flange a whack with a drift punch, and sure enough, it threaded out if the tank.

I cannot count how many times a newbie asks a simple question, one that some members call stupid. But it isn't stupid to the newbie, it's a genuine issue they need resolved! Who cares if 99% of us all know the answer? He doesn't! So I always try to answer factually, even though I've answered the same question countless times before.

But anyways, I really hope this forum keeps on trucking. It's a great place.

I have actually met a number of members in person over the years. I've done RV inspections for free for a few people, I've given away extra parts, both locally and by shipping them. One person I met here has actually gone on to become a very good friend. We communicate almost daily. Nice!

There are a few here that must have been weaned on a pickle and baptized in lemon juice, but that's ok. Not everyone wants to be happy! Happiness is a choice, and I love living that way. :)

BarneyS wrote:

blofgren wrote:
I think a lot of people have either quit posting or left the site altogether because of the attacks, personal insults, and just plain rudeness of some people. I have seen way too many posts where someone simply asks a question or posts their experience to be beat up repeatedly by the same people.
And I'm not talking about anyone that has posted in this thread! :B

I have been here for 18+ years and do not see the attacks, personal insults, and rudeness that you speak of. If/when it occasionally happens the mods, including me, are quick to remove the offending post - often from being alerted via a PM or e-mail.

I think part of the problem is that some members think that any discussion that does not agree with their line of thinking is a slam at them or is rude. This is not the case. When the remarks become personal is when we have to step in. You just have to remember that we have a life also and need some sleep now and then! :W

This is the largest and most helpful RV forum on the internet and I hope that you and the rest of the members continue to post and enjoy the help, information, and camaraderie that is to be obtained here.
Barney

^^^^^^^^^ and I couldn't agree more. There's some occasionally but no more than the past. Personally ( and my personal view) I think the younger generations don't handle communication that isn't presented in a tone that is acceptable to them.

I've been around here for a few year's myself and as "BOB" noted, yesterday I thought it seemed odd that there was less than a page of new topics. I happen to still check this Forum daily when possible just to see what's going on.

Like many others, I have seen this decline for year's now...I'm sure our moderators could comment on the actual numbers as to members active/members signed up and actual participation over the years.

While having senior members who "know their stuff" is Great, having other senior members whose only contribution is making comments such as, "use the search function stupid" to our new members doesn't help much in promoting Good Will!! By the way, we were all new once upon a time. I can't speak for everyone, but I can almost predict with certainty who will make such comments. Oh well, that's just my Pet Peeves...all in all, I still consider this my favorite Forum for RV related info...(IRV2, Forum Community, Escapee's, Facebook) are a few others I frequent.


OK, carry on all and have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season and Merry Christmas to boot!!!

ScottG wrote:

blofgren wrote:
I think a lot of people have either quit posting or left the site altogether because of the attacks, personal insults, and just plain rudeness of some people. I have seen way too many posts where someone simply asks a question or posts their experience to be beat up repeatedly by the same people.

And I'm not talking about anyone that has posted in this thread! :B

Bingo, we have a winner.

I quit another forum a couple of years ago for the same stuff.
Recently the owners contacted me and asked me why I left. I basically told them what you wrote and mentioned a few of the worst offenders. They told me they had banned some of them and put others on probation.
I went back but the forum is 99% dead.

If forum owners let the destruction go too far, there's no coming back.

BOOM! There you go! This is exactly why the third rule listed under Forum Rules is hardly enforced. If they started deleting all the condescending, snarky, flaming posts, there would be much less content - which is not good for the advertiser dollars..

I read Barney's comment above, and I just guess our definition of how bad it gets on here differs significantly.

Forum Rules wrote:
"Flaming" of other participants is strictly forbidden. Professional conduct and respectful behavior towards other members and moderators is a primary requirement for participation on the Open Roads Forum.

Morbid obsession with death, and the psychology thereof, is worth looking into. And, I always start here....:B

I just returned after a few years without an RV and the FIRST thing I noticed was how slow it was.

I was all excited to get back to posting and reading, but there is nothing to read...

Times change I guess.

blofgren wrote:
I think a lot of people have either quit posting or left the site altogether because of the attacks, personal insults, and just plain rudeness of some people. I have seen way too many posts where someone simply asks a question or posts their experience to be beat up repeatedly by the same people.

And I'm not talking about anyone that has posted in this thread! :B

I believe there is a lot of truth to this statement. I belong to a lot of forums, some I knew going in they were "rough" and fully expect it. What I didn't expect is what I've found on sites like this one where one would think it would be full of like minded individuals who just enjoy the hobby and others in it. Some are treated like Gods, others will do a "search" for you while passive aggressively making you feel stupid for not doing it yourself, while others just want any thread closed that they think is stupid (think the "rebuild" thread). Social media brings out the best and worst of people, too bad it's bringing the worst more than the best. Anonymity is like beer muscles. Anyway, heard any good camping stories lately ? LOL