Guilty pleasures

When we were boating, this phenomena was referred to as the OARs - old anchorage residents. Simply means you got there earlier than anyone else. Tactic approval to critique the new arrival's technique.

We pulled into an empty cove one early afternoon and within an hour the Rye Harbor Yacht Club cruise arrived. A sorrier bunch of sailors I've never seen. One skipper threw out the anchor leaving the main sail up and cleated and proceeded to swim ashore. His boat took off in a gust and dragged directly toward the most pristine wooden boat in the group. The poor target had only a single small fender aboard and kept moving it to the expected point of impact. Talk about great fun people watching!

toedtoes wrote:
I have never been a people watcher. I have no interest in watching strangers backing in or setting up - even if it's Oprah doing it. I may watch a friend just to keep an extra eye out for them.

I will say that people watching you do something is often enough of a distraction to cause you mistakes that you wouldn't otherwise do. So for those who enjoy watching others mess up - it's most likely your fault in the first place.

I find it somewhat entertaining. As for spectators, they don't bother me a bit.

But if you want some real entertainment, go to the boat ramp in the afternoon, when the fishermen who have been out on the water all day sipping beers return and try to load their boats.

You know when people are watching. Don't let them rattle your cage. We struggled to get into a spot way too small for us in one of the Redwoods CGs. It was later in the afternoon & this was the best available.

Big family reunion or something going on in a site more or less opposite. You just know that we were the entertainment of the afternoon. Bullheaded as ever we got it into the site. Hopped out of the truck & shouted across to the group asking for my score.

They played right along. Some of them had bets that we would not make it.

I have never been a people watcher. I have no interest in watching strangers backing in or setting up - even if it's Oprah doing it. I may watch a friend just to keep an extra eye out for them.

I will say that people watching you do something is often enough of a distraction to cause you mistakes that you wouldn't otherwise do. So for those who enjoy watching others mess up - it's most likely your fault in the first place.

Sometines I look like a pro, others a nubie. If it's really a rough day and the lawn chairs are lined up I'll hop out when I finaly get her parked and pass the hat among the audience. Entertainment don't come free.

Crowe wrote:
Here we go. The "I never have a problem" crowd, the "I like to make fun of them crowd", etc., should pop up about now. This never ends well. Mod, you might want to consider closing this before it gets out of hand.

Hey, don't take away my fun. I come here to laugh at the old geezers who think they know everything and are wrong more often than they're right.

(And thanks Ralph Cramden for giving the facts on out-of-level and absorption refrigerators. But the geezeers don't want to be confused with facts.)

Ralph Cramden wrote:

MFL wrote:
What amazes me when watching others back in, is how most get everything right on the first try, and done. I don't see how everyone but me is perfectly level, just back in, shut it off, throw out a rug, couple chairs, open a beer, relax. Me backing, no problem...just don't understand how I am the only one that never gets a site that is PERFECTLY level, never need a board or device to level. :)

Jerry

The vast majority could care less if the rig is an inch or two or three out of level. Typically those who have never visited or joined and RV board.

And are the ones that complain about how short the life of the RV fridge is.

Crowe wrote:
Here we go. The "I never have a problem" crowd, the "I like to make fun of them crowd", etc., should pop up about now. This never ends well. Mod, you might want to consider closing this before it gets out of hand.

Don't like the thread? Consider not reading it rather than censoring it. They have a lovely "Hide" button on threads that guarantee you won't be bothered by it again.

Ralph Cramden wrote:

MFL wrote:
What amazes me when watching others back in, is how most get everything right on the first try, and done. I don't see how everyone but me is perfectly level, just back in, shut it off, throw out a rug, couple chairs, open a beer, relax. Me backing, no problem...just don't understand how I am the only one that never gets a site that is PERFECTLY level, never need a board or device to level. :)

Jerry

The vast majority could care less if the rig is an inch or two or three out of level. Typically those who have never visited or joined and RV board.

Some of those folks will show up here later wondering what happened to the fridge.

Have been on both sides. Years ago backing into a narrow site with trees on both sides, narrow road in front, and a drop off into the river next to the road, I made numerous back and forth moves to finally get the 5er lined up as I wanted. About 2/3 thru the process a guy in a hammock in the next site said "if you run out of diesel, yell and I will go get you some". :B Probably would have mad a lot of people mad, but I thought it was funny.

But I also enjoy watching the sometimes painful antics some go thru getting set up.