A Stroll down Memory Lane: 10+ years on this Forum

can't post a photo??? This topic comes up ALL the time. The Photo Posting link works so well I use it on other sites.

Me, too.
Storing thousands of photos can be costly for free forums. Even Photobucket gave up on it and many photos were lost. After that event an RV.net member created a really reliable and easy tool: Photoposting
Just drag a photo file to its box or click Select to choose a photo on a phone or tablet. The site automatically reduces size to 640x480 to avoid display troubles, then displays a standard IMG link that you just copy and paste into the post you are typing. The photo is stored at IMGUR and if you keep that link handy, it can be used in any forum or email. Thanks very much to Imgur and the creator of that Photoposting is fun site.

I’m at an age when I find changes troublesome. Thank goodness this forum is staying as it was - I know how to use it and am very comfortable here. Over the years I’ve suffered from very few rude comments. Facebook is scary - once you join your phone number and email are advertising tools. YouTube explanations zoom by my eyes too fast so I miss critical parts. And most important, the forum is the only tool where the learner can ask questions and receive answers from those who have done it. Long Live RV.net and it’s portals without the % character bug.

I cannot imagine how long the learning curve would have been without Rv.net 10 years ago for me. Like all others, one needs to weed out and withstand misinformation and misdeeds, but overall, I find most of the info still relevant. I just dont have a huge need to post anymore. I mostly hang around for the next Superlube hub arguments, LOL! I still check in a few times a week.

qtla9111 wrote:
Rv.Net needs a facelift of some kind. It's worn out. A great place to get info but I find it is faster and more reliable to use YouTube videos for DIY, towing issues, and boondocking.

I used to look forward, every evening, checking the Mexico forum. Now there are only a few of the same old hangers on that have offended Mexican rvers and it doesn't attract anyone new to rving in Mexico. No one posts new rv parks, camping spots, national and state parks. Today it is mostly bitter comments about how Mexico has changed or how it used to be and non-factual information.

Groups on Facebook make it easy to do searches and are more specific to area, rv type, and rving lifestyle.

Nothing is forever.

I have been on the forum for more than 4 years (not same screen name due to email change for security purposes)

I have to agree completely with this sentiment and add that while the Mexico forum is a good example of self immolation, It is not just the Mexico forum that gets dominated at times by those that, while here for a long time and have a reputation for knowing a lot, but sometimes are expounding out of date or just wrong information and some of those "Old Timers" are just biased in one direction or another often shouting down opposing views.

The all but complete death of the Workcamping forum is a good example. NO discussion, no dissention and no opinion is allowed there on what could and really should be one of the more useful and active forums on this site.

Rather than look at other RV sites for comparison I urge you to go to the Rick Steves Travel Forums to see how a really diverse, opinionated group of posters can be handled truly effectively and with empathy by a team of truly great Moderators. Also the site is easy to use and responsive. A real template for how this can work better.

As for the idea that the forum is less friendly and cooperative than it used to be. In reality the forum is just reflecting our society at large in it's divisions, hatreds and incivility. There should be no surprise in that. And if you doubt that just look at any discussion of trailer tires. A discussion that often breaks down over political lines and becomes an analogy for political views. IE China vs the US played out on the field of tire manufacturing.

This website is my only “social media”. I check “Parks/Campgrounds” & “Roads/Routes” every day and the rest of my favorite subjects about 1x/wk...this is that day.

RV.Net has been invaluable to me. I know the State of Washington like the back of my hand, but this blog + my Road Atlas have always been the go-to information source for our trips to the Black Hills, Glacier NP, N. Calif, Yellowstone, etc., even before I have begun researching locales on the internet. Of our small group of friends my DW and I were the first to stow the camping tents and buy a TT nearly 20 years ago so we were pretty much on our own. This blog + experience have been an excellent teacher. Now that we all are retired, those old friends now own RV’s of one sort or another, and I have encouraged them to sign up here...most haven’t. In my opinion RV’ing without using a resource like this is pretty much “seat of the pants” camping, but that is their choice. I’m just not a “seat of the pants” kind of guy.

Thanks to all of you old timers who have stuck it out here with me. We are reaping the benefits.

FunnyCamper wrote:
only 7 yrs on this forum and it is kinda boring now for me :)
but I check in, see what is doing.

I like iRV2 forum. It has more postings and jumps faster than this one. This one is kinda stagnant now.

I still think this forum has value and will continue to use it, I have been using iRV2 more lately as I have noticed more movement their. I also like RVparkreviews.com, as it has a very good easy going forum. :C

Mike

Seems like ive been on here forever. Like others I do not do Facebook...just a waste of time and far too much drama. Here I get to learn and share my experience. Theres always some new RV'er needing help and I hope they join and get value from our experience. This site has guided me through 6v batt installs, inverters, solar, EMS and water filter choices, wheel chocks, X chocks and too many handy repair/maintenance tips to even count. I love reading the "blogs" and seeing photos of others journeys. Does it get petty sometimes...sure but no different than at work around the water cooler. Its a great lifestyle and I appreciate everything I have gleaned from the rv.net crowd.

Daryll

Been here since shortly becoming a new RV owner in 2000. Still have the same RV! I have changed some as I no longer have the questions that I initially had. Now I checking every few days and see if there is a topic that sounds interesting to me. If so, I follow it. I don’t post as much as I once did, but feel the forum is still very helpful to many and still sometimes to me. I like it because it is a general site and not specific to a brand or type so I learn a little about things I wouldn’t otherwise. Swing by every once in awhile Lizzie!

16 years here for me. Usually check in a few times a day. I find it no different here than any other forum.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Other sites have easier formats and I can actually post photos."

You have been here 10 years and can't post a photo??? This topic comes up ALL the time. The Photo Posting link works so well I use it on other sites.

Doesn't that kinda prove that it's more difficult than it should be?

I don't do any social media, and am very proud of that fact. It's a huge waste of time. I visit this site every day. For the most part there are some very talented and smart folks here. RV'ers are 9% of the population, and the part of that 9% that come here I think are the cream of the crop. Sure, there's some bickering now and then, but sometimes I think if they met face to face most misunderstandings would fade away. So I hope you'll stay around. As far as Facebook, I saw in the news their trying to be able to access our banking data. Can you believe it? Inherently evil!!!