What is happening with our members?

[larry_cad]

I've been a member here since 2004, and have learned a lot from this forum, and I still monitor it for new info, and to help newbies when I can.

Lately, I have been astounded by the number of members who have been on here for many years, have many posts, are labeled as SENIOR MEMBERS, and are asking genuine newbie questions.

Had one today where the OP is a "senior member", with almost 500 posts, has been a member since 2015, and his question was how do you fuel a gas truck with a trailer connected?

I'm like, how have you been doing it for the last 10 years? I mean, really? And this is not an isolated issue. Of course we are deluged with newbies due to the Covid rush to RVs, but did our senior members take a break during the pandemic, and while off, forget everything they had already learned? I could understand if the post was a tech problem that just occurred but fueling a truck pulling a trailer?
:h:?

[fj12ryder]

^^^^^^^^^^^^True dat!!

As far as no stupid questions, how about the one someone posted on another forum: "Where do I put my dog bowls?" Or "Where do I hang the toilet paper?" They may not be totally stupid, but they are silly.

[Fizz]

What is happening with our members?

Reading the replies more or less answers that question.
Snide remarks
Accusations
Denials
Topic derailed halfway through

[Walaby]

I agree with Chum Lee. I think some of you took his comments totally out of context. He never said that tech manuals answered all the questions, he simply said people post questions without even flipping a dang page on the manuals.

Let's be honest, in today's "internet has all the answers" people have quite frankly gotten lazy. I can't count the number of times someone has posted a question and starts with "I know the answer has probably been provided a hundred times, but rather than spend time searching, I figured it's easier to ask it again".

When I first started contemplating getting into RVing, I joined this forum and others, and all I did was read. Didn't respond, didn't post new threads, just read, for like six months. Same thing when I bought my first tractor for property I had purchased. I joined two tractor forums, and just read. I learned a lot before I even asked a question. Not saying everyone has to be that way, but dang man, at least make an ATTEMPT to do some level of research, ESPECIALLY at least thumb through your owners manuals. They certainly aren't perfect, but no one, or nothing, is.

Mike

[ferndaleflyer]

I have had a diesel full size blazer since 1994 of which they made very few yet I myself put 5gal of gas in it once by mistake. My mech said to fill it with diesel and it would be ok as it holds 40 gal. It sits up on the farm and still runs fine. I sometimes offer my thoughts on things on here that are from experience not from books, rules, regulations, etc and here come the "experts" that have never done whatever I am commenting on giving me grief because their opinion is different from my experience. Oh well, I have owned a RV for about 60 or so years and I am 81 years old and I still have questions that I find good advice about on here.....lighten up you may live to my age.

[Cummins12V98]

BCSnob wrote:
“Is it okay to put gasoline into a diesel vehicle?”:)
Remember there are no dumb questions……

YES it is!!!

[Reisender]

BCSnob wrote:
“Is it okay to put gasoline into a diesel vehicle?”:)
Remember there are no dumb questions……

As long as its not in the tank, for sure. :). I put propane in my Tesla just last week. Of course it was for my boondock generator. :).

[deltafiredog55s]

I've seen it done a few years ago. MH at flying J, realized right after he started engine. Had to have 100+ gals of mix drained and then filled with diesel. Local Fire Dept got plenty of fuel for drip torches.

[BCSnob]

“Is it okay to put gasoline into a diesel vehicle?”:)
Remember there are no dumb questions……

[deltafiredog55s]

People complaining about dumb questions must have forgotten that there are no dumb questions just dumb answers.

[bikendan]

JIMNLIN wrote:

As long as the forum has all these sad, nasty old men who also happen to know everything and think others are stupid for having a different opinion, younger, more open minded people are going to continue to stay away.

From what I see its not all sad nasty old men who are all the problems.
Tough websites rules against this type of behavior we've seen the last several years and mods willing to enforce those rules can make better forums for those who ask newb questions that seem silly to some. Now days The newb gets bashed just for asking....and the mods did nothing to stop the bashers.......and isn't heard from again.

And that's probably the biggest reason that the Beginning RVing section is dead, even during record RV sales throughout the pandemic.

[way2roll]

In reference to the OP's original question of why seasoned members ask newbie questions, the answer is pretty simple. Things change. People change, technology changes, and Rv habits change. We've been Rv'ing over 2 decades in MH's until 2 years ago when we bought a FW. It's like being a newbie all over again. Sure the box is similar, but newer RV's have different technology and the whole process from start to finish for travelling is completely different. Everything from hooking up, driving, finding fuel, parking in a spot - is different. And who cares? Isn't that what this forum is for - to ask questions? The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked. But to ask why you don't know something or criticize why you are asking in the first place, in response to a question, is a problem on this forum. If you think a question is dumb, don't answer and scroll on by. Or bless us with your infinite wisdom since you obviously have learned all there is to know.

[JIMNLIN]

As long as the forum has all these sad, nasty old men who also happen to know everything and think others are stupid for having a different opinion, younger, more open minded people are going to continue to stay away.

From what I see its not all sad nasty old men who are all the problems.
Tough websites rules against this type of behavior we've seen the last several years and mods willing to enforce those rules can make better forums for those who ask newb questions that seem silly to some. Now days The newb gets bashed just for asking....and the mods did nothing to stop the bashers.......and isn't heard from again.

[Acampingwewillg]

Wow....I guess I can be considered in both camps...a member here since 2002 and an old man but I claim to know little. I will, on occassion, offer up my experience as it pertains to my ownership of a diesel motor home and RV'ing in general. I could care less how many times a question has been asked, if I can answer it, I will!

As to looking at an owners manual, in the words of your President, " Come on man" not everyone gets an owners manual with their used RV or what's in the manual is confusing to them. Finally, I guess I'm glad I'm not that "grouchy" yet as to not respond to simple questions. 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

TechWriter wrote:

Chum lee wrote:
. . . as I get older, I'm increasingly bored with RV'ers, who simply won't read their owners manuals. (many common questions are answered there) In their initial posts they provide so little information that it is literally impossible to help them in any meaningful helpful way without extensive further questioning. I'm not going to do your homework for you (for free)

Yikes! A tad bit harsh. As someone who used to write manuals, I’ll be the first to admit sometimes they’re of little value and they do get lost.

RV manuals??? HA, too funny!!!

[frankwp]

As long as the forum has all these sad, nasty old men who also happen to know everything and think others are stupid for having a different opinion, younger, more open minded people are going to continue to stay away.

And I agree with others who have said the forum is undermined. I can think of a handful of long standing members who should have been banned before they past the New Member status.