Are we pretentious?

[Doug33]

pre·ten·tious

pri-ten-chus / Adjective

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.


Synonyms:

showy



I was talking to a co-worker of mine who mentioned that she owns a nice boat. Since I've known her a long time, I asked why she never told me this before. She said that she doesn't advertise it because it makes her look pretentious, as if she was bragging or showing off.

And then recently I was reading a thread here and someone mentioned that before they bought an RV, they thought RVers were pretentious. So my question is, are we? Does our zeal and our excitement for our hobby come off as looking like we are snobs or above others? When I mentioned to some people that I was buying a new TT recently, I got one reaction to the tune of "well, you must be doing well these days".

Are TT owners less snooty than owners of more expensive 5'ers and motorhomes? How about boats? On my last trip, a gigantic MH pulled up in the site next to us, and my immediate reaction was that whoever owned this RV had the big bucks (this MH had to cost > $200K). But to my surprise a normal, average looking and friendly guy got out of the MH, along with his normal, average looking and friendly kids. It's hard to think of someone as pretentious when they are hooking up a sewer line!

The irony is that while RVing, I spend 1/3 to 1/2 what non-RV owners spend on hotels and resorts. And I get to sit in my own chairs, use my own appliances, and sleep in my own bed all the time!

What say you on this topic?

[Doug33]

tnscoutr wrote:
Another is into traveling the country for the kids competive soccer team. .

My boss spends thousands per year for their daughter on a travel sports team that goes all over the country.

[profdant139]

It is impossible to be pretentious when engaged in any activity requiring large quantities of duct tape.

"Pretentious trailering" is an oxymoron, like "jumbo shrimp" or "military intelligence" or "legal ethics."

[dclaarjr]

If I'm pretentious because of my TT, then so be it.

I bought it because I want to see the country when I take my vacation. If I go to a popular area, a condo or motel room would cost around $1500 for a week.

Next week I'm going to Traverse City, MI. I found a campground for $165 for the week. Even with the cost of fuel towing my TT there, I'm still way ahead, and that's not counting I would have still had to pay for gas or air fare to get there.

As was stated earlier, we eat anyhow. However, I love cooking over the fire. That's fewer restaurant meals. More money saved. I'm beginning to think I can afford a longer vacation. LOL.

If this is pretentious, then call me Mr. Oretentious. I don't mind. I'm having a great time.

[JayWalker2009]

Mvander wrote:
My wife and I are the type of people who dont really discuss money (troubles or other-wise) with family. However we are in the minority in our families. Most get togethers wind up with conversations about how so and so has it so hard and can't afford this or that. We are not wealthy but we don't complain to others when things are tight.
So when the odd new (normally used)vehicle or TT graces the drive way we always get to hear my favorite 3 words. "Must Be Nice"
We have develoved an answer to that statement that always shuts em up.

"It is nice"

I say the same thing. Because it is nice, and that isn't being pretentious, it's just agreeing that I enjoy my rig and glad to have it. Just like other people are glad to have their car, boat or whatever it is that floats their boat as it were.

I think some people i've seen at the CG's are pretentious. I have seen both pretentious and non pretentious people at the CG's. Truth is some people do buy their RV for a status symbol. But hey, it's there money and they are free to buy it for whatever reason they choose. I bought mine simply because I like to camp much more than I like to stay in a hotel.

[cbconway]

wrvond wrote:
...First, how sad that your self worth is determined by people you may not even know...
Second, no matter how hard you work to impress, there's always somebody with more money/stuff/free time/women/cars/etc. than you. He who dies with the most toys really doesn't win...

You're right on target!

[DavinD]

I call that funny!

[wrvond]

I think the key concept in the original post is "affectation" - that is, pretending to be something you are not to garner the envy of others.

First, how sad that your self worth is determined by people you may not even know...
Second, no matter how hard you work to impress, there's always somebody with more money/stuff/free time/women/cars/etc. than you. He who dies with the most toys really doesn't win.

I am reminded of an occurrence I witnessed many years ago. In the late 70's, when car phones were becoming popular, a middle aged man came through a McDonald's drive through. In an attempt to impress the teen aged girl at the window, he was holding a desk telephone handset up to his ear and "talking important stuff". Suddenly, the curly cord tucked under his leg came free and was dangling loose in the air. Apparently, he embarrassed himself so much he sped away from the window without his order!

That's what I call pretentious!

[aclay]

There are people who have envy issues and/or don't understand the hobby. We have a lot of RV'ers in our family with a variety of types (TT's, 5vers, motorhome). It's funny that when someone get's a new one most of us are happy for them, but there are a few who say "why do they need that?" "why is it so big" "what was wrong with their old one".

I've explained to non-RVers about the quality family time, control over our food, and using our own stuff as well as some cost savings. Once explained people seem to get it. I just say the RV is our vacation budget for the next several years.

[tnscoutr]

We all spend money on something that other people thinks is strange. I know a guy with a dozen computers in his house. Another is into ham and cb radios. Another is into traveling the country for the kids competive soccer team. We are into RV'ing. I don't lose any sleep worrying if that makes me pretentious. I usually do not talk about our TT unless asked.

[fil564]

pappcam wrote:
The pretentious people stay in 5-star hotels with attached spas. Normal people go camping.

I fully agree with pappcam on this, how many nights can you get camping with what one person pays for a night in a 5 star resort? Campers just like to enjoy their hobby and their rigs.

[F1bNorm]

Reader1 wrote:
Pretentious people are pretentions whether they own a boat, rv, tent, vacation in hotels & resorts, own a million dollar home or live in very inexpensive housing. It is not what they own...it is who they are. The rest of us own rv's because we love the outdoors, hiking, biking, picnics, etc. and never think about "we have an RV and you don't." I would not spend time worrying about this, I'd just plan for the next great trip.

I vote for this post!

- Norm

[dadmomh]

I would hope folks don't think of us as pretentions. Granted, the neighbors were pretty excited for us when we got our ROO in '06 and downright thrilled when Rocky came home with us a few weeks ago. We could have paid cash for it, but it would have put a hole in our retirement and we're getting a better return right now than the low interest on Rocky.

So, if we went to a movie every weekend, we most likely would spend more money on that than our small trailer payment. We're gonna eat anyway. Gas is going to be higher than my little PT, but some weeks it rarely leaves the driveway. We get the TN Senior Discount, so most of our camping is about $16 a night. Find a hotel/motel you'd even think about for that price. If you look in the cabinets, you're mostly going to find Great Value on the labels. The Dollar Tree is now my fav store since they started carrying the Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade or Orangeade.....same exact stuff we paid $4 for at the ballpark, is $1 at Dollar Tree.

I don't think we're pretentions, but this is our "get away" at a reasonable price. We take 1 and maybe 2 "big trips" a year....one to FL for spring training and this one coming up for our 50th Anniversary is all the way to......Nashville - 100 miles. If either of us ever come across as being snooty or pretentions, I hope a dear friend will give me/us a Gibbs Slap and tell us to knock it off.

[Kittykath]

EldIr wrote:
I think there is a strange perception by people who don't have "recreational" toys about those of us that do. It's not just rv's. If you own a boat, a motorcycle, snowmobile, anything perceived as an expensive hobby, they look at you a bit funny. I am certainly not pretentious. I do own a TT, an atv, two snowmobiles (with enclosed trailer) and a motorcycle. Every one of these is older. Every one was carefully shopped for to get the most value for my dollar. And I bust my ass maintaining and repairing these things myself. It's the only way I can afford to have them.

I know far too many people who seem to have forgotten to have any fun in their lives. These seem to be the ones who always look funny at those of us who are trying to have some fun in the crazy life. Their loss!

Funny thing is, I know people who have spent more money on a bicycle than I did on my TT. Yet you know they would consider me more pretentious than they simply because of my use of fossil fuel to have fun.

We're a toy family too. We've obtained our inventory because we can smell a good deal a mile away, and we can see through the dirt. Most importantly, we're young now and want to get off our duffs and enjoy it all before we can't anymore.

[Drum]

blangen wrote:
Doesn't pretentious, by definition, have to be perceived by someone? Wouldn't that someone have to be envious before their perception of pretentious can come into play? Just as an example... I could have a very old, run down, wheels falling off motorhome that I was very proud of and wanted to show everyone how special I was to have it. Could I ever be perceived as pretentious? I'm thinking not. So... pretentious can only be perceived by the envious... and that's their problem, not mine. 🙂

This ^^^.

My wife and I were told by one of our friends about another of our friends, "She looks so pretentious driving that Jaguar". We happen to know that the Jag driver bought it used and probably paid less than our other friend did for her Volkswagen. At any rate, the people we've met in campgrounds whether in popups or Prevost castles on wheels have been some of the most down-to-earth and fun people we've ever met.

[dodge_guy]

Anytime you own something that most people don`t you are pretentious. I think if you went out of your way to be able to afford it there is nothing wrong with showing off.
I wash my truck and trailer before every trip, 1, because I like my stuff to look nice and 2, I want other people to see how nice the stuff I have is.