"I'm so glad I don't have..."

Topic: "I'm so glad I don't have..." (Read 2258 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #25 – November 18, 2017, 02:40:41 pm

I agree, we are way too PC sometimes and any info is probably worth listening to. But if you cannot move your coach because the slide is struck out, do you really think it helps anything to have someone tell you "I am smarter than you because I did not buy a coach with a slide"?
As my father used to say "No advice is better than bad advice"

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #26 – November 18, 2017, 02:53:48 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – November 18, 2017, 01:09:42 pm

OK. here is my contribution FWIW.

Slides: Happy not to have them. Just two people no need for kids play space
Tag axle: Don't need so for us just more expense
Air leveling: Have it & love it
AquaHot: Hmm, Sounds good but more to go wrong.
Powered cord reel: Have very nice to have
Hose reel: See above
Splendide: Have it but have not needed it yet
Vacuum toilet: Unnecessary complication. Mine just drops into the tank below
Satellite dish: Got one but don't use it as we watch DVD player or stream
DEF: I am an environmentalist type but earlier DEF systems were horrible.

What works for some might not for others. Vive la différence, both between genders and coach owners.

As a professional fisherman I knew who had no electrics on his boat - even hand cranked the engine - said "If you ain't got it it can't go wrong".

Keith

I think you missed the point of the thread? Read the first post again.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #27 – November 18, 2017, 02:57:52 pm

Interesting topic. When I joined the forum then bought my FT. It was my very first experience with an RV of any type. To say I was overwhelmed would be putting it lightly. Perhaps that was my fault for having waited till I was nearly 60 to buy my first RV & bought a diesel pusher.

First let me preface by saying that the advice and assistance I have received from this forum and it members has been wonderful and very helpful as well as greatly appreciated. So the following statement is "How I felt" based not on being told so in a direct manner, But indirectly based on how some folks reply in various posts.

From the very beginning I felt that there was/is a lack of understanding by some of what it's like to be a person that has little or even zero RV experience or who doesn't have a shop filled with huge amounts of tools & machinery.
It certainly doesn't help while dealing with a broken "thing" and then having someone post in the thread about how they totally rebuilt their coach while boondocking and it was 0F and knee deep in snow. Or they just pulled into their shop and used a CNC machine they just happened to have laying around to make a new widget.

On the other hand. A person posting about how they are glad they don't have that system doesn't bother me at all. It's not helpful, But it's also not a hinderance either.

Bottom line is it would be nice for folks to perhaps ask a newbie about their mechanical experience level and if they do have a place with the tools needed so they can easily work on their coach. Even if the newbie doesn't have a shop or the proper tools. Any advice on how to fix the broken widget is still helpful as it gives them info to evaluate the shop doing the fix and if the fix was done properly.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #28 – November 18, 2017, 03:34:30 pm

Bigdog, I was the same as you when I bought my first class A diesel a 93 GV ored and was not a member of this panel.
I fixed things when needed and if I did not know what to do I visited a Deisel truck shop and asked around etc. We did not have any other FT units around here nor did the local RV places know anything about this brand, so no help there.
Luckily I had the Oshkosh frame so it was more like a truck and all the other stuff is really on every other make of coach/RV so that was easy to figure out.
Moving on to the present coach was a big learning curve but luckily I had bought it from someone that made himself available for me to call/email with questions. That was a big bonus for sure.
So, I basically worked thru this leaning curve for a year before meeting Brett H at FT and he asked if we were members of this group and told me it may be worth signing up, which I did. I have had discussions with quite a few members when needed and it has helped a great deal to remedy those problems etc. I hope I have recipricated with any suggestions I have been asked for from others.
The one issue I do have is the one Bob and Sue just commented on and I agree to his wording. There seems to be a problem with some regarding hearing a negative side to things and that to me is being small minded. How can anything get discussed if all you want to hear is exactly what you want to hear?? There are 2 sides to every discussion and knowing the Negatives surely makes you a more informed person, and if you decide not to listen then that is your perogative.
I deleted my first posting because there is obviously a big problem for some people to look at things from both sides, and my words did not explain this correctly.
I have not been adding to this Forum much lately as I felt it was becoming more like a Glee Club where if something was said that may upset someone then the post was deleted or you got a smacking. I get about 2 to 3 emails every week from members so feel that I am trying to help. I have the contact info of the people I may need to talk to to offer up their comments should I need them and also to keep their friendships active. My comments will be kept to myself from today.
JohnH

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #29 – November 18, 2017, 03:48:10 pm

John,take some time and rethink,I for one will miss your comments.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #30 – November 18, 2017, 04:09:23 pm

I don't think the problem is accepting negative and positive views of a particular coach or system. I think most sensible people want to hear the plus and minuses. I read all the good and all the bad about high end coaches before I bought my first one. You may not like slides and you can post why do will not like them. When you do that, it allows a prospective buyer to make an informed decision. This is a good thing. I think what Michelle is talking about is the attitude some take when others have a problem. If you have a problem, I like to think the forum is here to enlighten people and help them fix their problems, [whether they do it themselves or pay someone to do it]. I recently had a slide issue and several members stepped up and helped me out. The point is, I ALREADY HAVE A SLIDE I NEED TO FIX, and this is not the time for you to point out, that slides can cause problems and you would not have one.
Common sense to me.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #31 – November 18, 2017, 04:46:16 pm

... the Moderators job".

Michelle, first and formost, thank you VERY MUCH for your efforts, dedication and hard work to help keep this forum together.
As a newbie, perhaps I have a different vision, or perception, of whats going on in this forum. Being a member of other boards, I can tell you that the brotherhood demonstrated here is worlds above other forums - forums that are rife with personal and political insults, arguments between one faction or another. I don't visit that forum much anymore. I didn't make a big deal of it, I just slowly became less active.
But here, well here I feel a big difference. A feeling of people honestly attempting to help others. A feeling of people willing to put up with stupid questions from newcomers who don't use the search function as much as they should perhaps. A feeling of people who take your idea and build upon it, offering suggestions on how to make it better, more useful, simpler or less expensive.
For crying out loud, when I was brand new, and stranded on the side of Killington Mountain, I had people CALLING ME OFFERING HELP! Who the heck does that any more?

We do, dammit.

With my barrage of very newbie questions, I got perhaps one "Search is your Friend" response. I read it and moved on.
Do I post smart ass answers sometimes? Yes, yes I do. Not to be mean, but I'm a smart ass person. If I hurt ANYBODIES feelings, I truly and sincerely apologize. But, if you post smart ass answers, you gotta expect smart ass answers. I do and I have.
There's an old saying that you cant legislate morality. You cant make rules up to make people civil all the time - for reasons other people on this thread have mentioned.
I'll make you a deal, though. You come off too strong to me and I'll message you.
As long as you do the same for me.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #32 – November 19, 2017, 02:36:17 am

John Haygarth. Well other than getting myself into trouble sometime back because of my penchant for debating about a not to be named here contentious subject. The forum has been very helpful.

If I have a snappy comment on a non-tech issue. I have learned to type out a post then NOT post it, Walk away and look at it later, Edit and then post it. It has kept me from getting into hot water again.

The number of unhelpful posts to me and what I have seen on others threads is a minor percentage of what actually takes place here. My main point was that sometimes folks just don't think or realize that not everyone is a mechanical whiz or doesn't own a well equipped shop dedicated to their FT when they post a response. And so the effect on a newbie is one of perhaps the newbie coming to think that FT owners are bit elitist. (and that might be to harsh a word) Even if it was not the intent of the person that replied to come across as such.

When I suffered my Aqua Hot failure. I did see the "I'm glad I don't have an Aqua Hot" remark. But it didn't bother me. Because I could have replied as to why I'm glad I don't have ductwork. However, I simply thought that and didn't post it as a rebuttal.

Yet all is fair when a newbie or otherwise asks for "opinions" about various aspects of FT equipment.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #33 – November 19, 2017, 09:32:44 am

JohnH,
I am glad to be able to call you friend and Tys and I are fortunate to have gotten a chance to get to know you and Ruth a little. If not for this forum, we would never have gotten that privilege. Since I do know you, I have a better sense of where you are coming from when you post. I know how much you enjoy being of help and sharing your knowledge and experience. That said, for every post of yours which someone who doesn't know you from Adam could take some kind offense at, or they find lowers the signal to noise ratio of the information exchange of the forum, you have made ten posts which provide valuable insight or information and become a part of the knowledge base for which this forum is justly famous. But Foreforums, is not just a database for Foretravel owners, it is also a place for social interaction and a place to meet new friends. It has a personality which is generally greater than the sum of all of its parts. For me, that sum will be significantly diminished if you refrain form posting, so please reconsider...
Overall, this forum has the best signal to noise ratio of any internet entity of which I am familiar. I take Michell's post on this topic as simply a nudge to try and maintain that level of utility, and simply a reminder from which the forum as a whole can benefit. However, it is a difficult balancing act to try and keep the environment one that encourages the free flow of discussion that facilitates information exchange without taking the personality (or soul...) out of it. I appreciate the people who take on this task and think they do a commendable job of it, but I think that this forum belongs to all of us and hope that it survives for the long term, so I as single individual will attempt to not make the moderators' job any more difficult than it needs to be.
Peace out...
Don

Quote from: John Haygarth – November 18, 2017, 03:34:30 pm

I have not been adding to this Forum much lately as I felt it was becoming more like a Glee Club where if something was said that may upset someone then the post was deleted or you got a smacking. I get about 2 to 3 emails every week from members so feel that I am trying to help. I have the contact info of the people I may need to talk to to offer up their comments should I need them and also to keep their friendships active. My comments will be kept to myself from today.
JohnH

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #34 – November 19, 2017, 10:58:34 am

I agree with what Don just posted. Except, when a member ask a question in the Technical Section, I think that personality, opinions, BFF, community, camaraderie, etc. should be left out of the response.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #35 – November 19, 2017, 11:49:28 am

I can't think of a time that any of John's comments have been in any way out of line with the intent of this forum. I think anytime you have a strong opinion, you may be a target for others. I've even received a couple of barely coherent phone calls late at night that were later apologized for. Remembering back when the bulkhead issue was first posted about, many were in denial about the issue and wanted to sweep it all under the carpet as it could hurt the value of their coaches.

I can understand worrying about visiting certain places and I have always wanted to believe this was a result of media misinformation rather than racism. Since my grandmother was from a small town in the mountains behind Acapulco, I've been a bit sensitive to certain comments and have responded in what I thought was a non-confrontational manner.

I think anytime posts are censored other than removing certain offensive words, it can be a slippery slope. I would hate to think that "Lady Chatterley's Lover" could no longer be found on library shelves.

John's "Glee Club" comment was not out of line. While we all own excellent coaches, there are plenty more SOBs out there that do a fine job of providing an excellent RV experience for their owners. No need to be smug about ours.

Pierce

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #36 – November 19, 2017, 11:52:43 am

This forum is thankfully, incredibly well managed with a firm focus on our coaches.

It seems like some posters treat it more like a social media site like Facebook. IMO that is when the issues MichelIe mentioned in the first post seem to come up.

It always amazes me how generous member here are with their experience and time. Without this place I wouldn't have a FT and that would be unthinkable. :+)

Just my opinion....

I wanted to add, my post isn't directed at John or anyone in particular. John, i hope you stay....hate to lose your experience and knowledge here.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #37 – November 19, 2017, 12:07:24 pm

Well, just add this thread to a long line of other threads that have been hijacked.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #38 – November 19, 2017, 12:14:12 pm

I have been a member of many forums and boards over the years, and quite a few RV specific forums and boards.

This one is the best one thus far for balance, fairness, tone, board organization/software, and moderation, in my experiences and opinion.

Not everyone will like everything and or everyone on this board or any other venue out there for RVs. It's impossible to please everyone all the time. Egos and personalities will cause some conflict in everything we experience in life, not just on one board or on the internet.

Overall, I just want to say well done to the moderators and to all members. Thank you all for keeping the tone upbeat and the information flow and knowledge sharing outstanding. I salute ALL the members for what you have accomplished here.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #39 – November 19, 2017, 12:39:42 pm

Itg,agree with your post but sometimes an opinion is what they ask for.I for one ask for opinions all the time but usually use a PM.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #40 – November 19, 2017, 01:49:31 pm

I like what the late President Harry Truman would say: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen !! Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #41 – November 19, 2017, 01:56:26 pm

In all humor there is a little truth. Remember that at the bottom of all sarcasm someone is the butt of the joke. I am put off by someone being inconsiderate. That being said, I'll take the little bad with the awe sum good this forum provides. Thank you to the moderator that has to put up with us and keep us on track. Thank you to some of the "weird" members (I consider myself "weird") please, please, continue to contribute, as this forum would not be as beneficial without your knowledge.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #42 – November 19, 2017, 02:10:56 pm

"I would hate to think that "Lady Chatterley's Lover""

What section would that he be in Pierce ??

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #43 – November 19, 2017, 02:14:51 pm

I am so glad I dont have.... the thin skin that seems to prevail around here.

I do try to be nice to others, but occasionally will call someone out on something, and have been called out numerous times. If that upsets you so much that you need a moderator to calm you down, you may need a checkup from the neck up.

I enjoy learning about things here and several times have read about someone elses problems and ended up using that knowledge further down the line. For example, my propane solenoid failed in the middle of a winter trip, and I remembered reading about others who have removed it. ten minutes sitting in snow while removing the valve guts and reassembling it and I had heat again. love it! This has happened to me so many times. Its a great forum, but it seems like kindergarden playground sometimes. "Johnny took my ball! waaaaaah!" lol.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #44 – November 19, 2017, 03:20:18 pm

Quote from: RvTrvlr – November 19, 2017, 02:14:51 pm

I am so glad I dont have.... the thin skin that seems to prevail around here.

I do try to be nice to others, but occasionally will call someone out on something, and have been called out numerous times. If that upsets you so much that you need a moderator to calm you down, you may need a checkup from the neck up.

I enjoy learning about things here and several times have read about someone elses problems and ended up using that knowledge further down the line. For example, my propane solenoid failed in the middle of a winter trip, and I remembered reading about others who have removed it. ten minutes sitting in snow while removing the valve guts and reassembling it and I had heat again. love it! This has happened to me so many times. Its a great forum, but it seems like kindergarden playground sometimes. "Johnny took my ball! waaaaaah!" lol.

That's funny. One of the things I liked about Foreforums was that I did not need a heat shield and thick skin to read the post.

Re: "I'm so glad I don't have..."

Reply #45 – November 19, 2017, 08:05:08 pm

Moderator, Please "Lock" this thread, The "Horse" has been beat enough !

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