Is It Just Me?

[SteveH]

I've only been on this forum for a less than a year, and in the beginning I found it to be very informative, and all the participants were very polite in trying to answer even some of the stupid newbie questions I had at first. Thought it was one of the best, if not THE best forum for tranferring information about building something.

However, in the last few months I've seen the forum change to the point that most threads quickly go off subject and turn into a chat room type of atmosphere where sometimes even the person with the original question is made the subject of the poster's jokes.

Personally, I liked the forum much better when I first started here when it was a stick to the subject, try to help folks, type of forum where the paticipants where also polite and friendly.

There, I've said it, it's off my chest, so those of you that must, flame away.

[february1966]

Steve,

I agree... I would love to see this forum as a more polite, civilized, and curtious environment.

However, at 40 yrs old I'm becoming used to seeing clashes of personality and opinion. I actually just accept them as part of human interaction. I would just add my prayer that people would take more care in their wording and take the time to explain their intentions with their posts. This is very important when the communication is written only.

That said, I apologize for anyone I may have ever offended but I only intend to offer my perspective and by no means mean to imply I believe that anyone would or has intentionally offended another.
Lets each just take an extra second or two to think about our posts before we hit that [submit] button.

[purplepickup]

Well said Steve. No flaming coming from this corner. I've noticed the same changes too....and I mean no offense towards anyone. I think it's the nature of the evolution of public forums. As different people come and go the personality mix changes. Being an older guy like you, I also want for the good old days when courtesy and respect were more valued.

I am a member of various internet forums and with the exception of one, they have all had similar changes. When a post like this comes up, a few people take exception and say that the off topic posts and less than polite comments are a form of camaraderie and are meant to make things fun. I'm sure that's probably true but thanks for bringing this subject up for a (hopefully) civilized discussion.

[madjack]

...Part of the problem(for me) is when a newbie comes on and DEMANDS to know all of the answers to all of the questions when they have apparently not done any research before hand...not even enough to know how to ask or phrase their questions properly.

The next problem is when someone posts an answer and someone else posts in such a manner to indicate that the original answer is from someone who doesn't know beans and that their answer is the end all and be all, I have rarely found that one answere is the ONE and ONLY answer. One persons absolute answer may be someone else's supposition(kinda like statistics). Usually that second person will brook no argument to their answer

I have been VERY GUILTY of going off topic and posting in a humorous way but never before the original question had been answered both by myself and other more knowledgeable persons on this board.

I try very hard to give answers based on my research, knowledge and expertise and if I don't know the answer, try to keep my mouth shut...if I have ever offended anyone, I do offer my appologies

Steve, you and I joined this board not far apart and not very long after this board came into existence. At that time not many members knew each other and since then many new members have joined and older members have met each other or gotten to know each other fairly well thru postings and email, this has led to at times, the chat room atmosphere you describe...that is not a bad thing but rather it is the evolution of the board as time marches forward. The old member new member thing has resulted in newbie questions being asked that have been discussed in depth previously and a lack of patience, occasionally, on the part of older members when they read some of those questions.

So, to all new members, I say do your research first, before posting and to the old members, I say...remember when you knew nothing and were a newbie yourself
madjack

[billnut]

Heck i'm 72 i got underware older than 40 . I think this
forum is the best thing i have ever had on my putter. I got this far in life by having at least one good laugh a day. I have gotten some smiles on here. And i got a whole lot of GREAT info. I love this this forum
Bill just a old goat

[AmyH]

Steve, I tend to feel very similar to you. I still believe that this is the best place on the net to find information about building teardrops, but sometimes is seems that you have to weed through all the off-topic stuff to get to the truly useful information. At the same time, I don't really mind, because I truly sense the comraderie that is present. I really love the fact that so many people from so many different backgrounds and views can come together and help eachother the way that people do on this forum.

Amy

[Chip]

Well ya right SteveH,, I too have noticed some changes in the Forum since I joined in april of 04, with few exceptions those changes are more positive than negative,, I may well be the worlds worst at getting off subject and you are very right that in some threads a more serious approach to answering a post should be used and in the future I will attempt to respect the intent of the thread, If I have offended anyone,, for this I truley appoligize,, those who know me will asure you and any others I might have offended that my intent is not to offend and I am truley concerned about people and their feelings and interest. I left another board due to the rigid lines of communication and the lack of humor allowed in making post ,, With that said: Life to me is a chain of humerous events, heck we are building a whole fleet of tiny travel trailers,, we decorate them in all kinds of ways and in short have a lot of fun with our little toys for big boys,, Humerous aint they?? Another aspect of this board is that friendships have developed between members that have and have not met in person . Due to these friendships a more casual atmosphere has in some cases come thru in the post between friends, Chat room,, well how bout post room, there is a lot of technical information to be gleaned from these post, and there is a fair amount of banter back and forth between friends about teardrops and this lifestyle of camping in a Teardrop & Tiny Travel Trailer,
For anyone who has ever put pen to paper doodling a teardrop outline and dreaming; they have my complete respect, for teardrop friends and acquaintences I have yet to meet in person, I sure look forward to the day I can shake your hand and say hey-thar in person,, to all the friends
I have met,, well all I can say is how bout a Crown and Pickle Juice



respectively submitted

chipper

[Chris C]

Steve, I agree the forum can sometimes be disappointing. I also agree that the topic is sometimes "shanghi'ed" by people just wanting "air time" and to see their names on the screen, people who intentionally force the thread off-topic. It would be nice if all that was ever talked about was straight to the subject. However, sometimes someone finds humor in a comment and the thread strays..........then someone else jumps in and in three or four postings it is way off subject. Being the humans we are, I think we tend to find a sort of comraderie, as Amy mentioned, and start having personal fun. That's okay, as long as it doesn't take a too personal or vindictive turn as you mentioned. That's when the forum becomes disappointing. That said, I still think, for the most part, this is the best forum I have ever been exposed to and can honestly say I've learned more from the people here on the subject of building teardrop trailers than any other site and subject. I hope more and more people join in with the group and revel in the joy of the learning.

[vinoscooter]

I think this forum is great..This post is an example of why it is...Just because of the post..Being able to talk about what were thinking...Tells me anyway, that it's Happy, Healthy, & Wise...Place to find info on something we all have in common...Something I allways tryed to do while teaching,music,cooking,or working w/kids....is teach or show...by example...The older folks...Or more knowlegeable folks regardless of age,set the example for all that are new to the forum...Turning on so to speak..new people to something exciting,EVEN i CAN BUILD A T& OR TTT...Many of you folks were & are my teachers....So from my point of view..This forum Did it's job...The laughter,& family feel i get from it..well it's kind of like the iceing on the cake...So bring on the NEWBIE'S...theres much to learn,skills you never new you had, & A laugh or two or 3 or 4 or 5..10 20 30...etc etc... 1339 members & growing..vinoscooter

[ALAN GEDDES]

What Chip said. The previous forum that shall remain nameless was overly controlled and Mike has done a fantastic job on this one. Sometimes we joke a little and wander from the subject and I have been guilty as any but there is no reason for someone to get upset about it. Conversations do that. I can only remember a couple of times that someone has been really upset about something here and they were resolved. This is a great group of people and my only complaint if you want to call it that is new folks not searching for answers first. I just got into another forum for GMC trucks (I have a new 81) and spent 6 or 7 hours just reading previous posts. I would suggest this to any one just joining a forum. And please post at least what State/Prov you live in so those of us who put together gatherings can figure out where we need to go.

[mikeschn]

I too have noticed the change.

Back when we first started there was not really a good source of teardrop information, so we all diligently chipped in and built our teardrop database for what it was worth.

Then people completed their builds, and went camping. Since this is mostly a build forum, those people dropped off.

Then the newbies came, and did a lot of reading, and were able to build their teardrop without contributing any posts at all. And admit it, teardrops are really not THAT difficult.

So what are we going to talk about now? The various design iterations? That's good, but we've got a bunch of designs out there, and too often new designs takes us out of teardrop or tiny travel trailer range.

I've seen it happen on other forums too... for example I belong to the CNCZone forum. When I first joined we had lots of great ideas for CNC machines. Now everything has already been hashed out. If you ask a question, it's already been answered. A quick search will prove that.

I don't belong to any car forums, but seeing how cars change every year, it would seem that they always have lots to talk about.

So how do we keep this group alive? More trailer designs? More help for new comers? More gossip?

We've been a fairly active forum for the last year and a half... tossing around new ideas. Are we now to the point where we should be focusing on build journals?

Your thoughts?

Mike...

[milo]

Hi, I have been hanging around for about two months now. I am in the middle of my TTT build. I have noticed some answers to questions are sometimes a little hard on the poster of the question. But that is to be expected when so many people with such high levels of building skill are involved. I have been putting off posting pics of my build because it quite frankly is not built at that high level. But i'm doing the best I can and am thankful that I found this great group of builders to learn from. Well, thats my 1.98 worth. Milo

[ALAN GEDDES]

Look ! I'm getting off the subject. Milo, Don't ever be embarased about your woodworking skills. No one here will be critical unless we see something unsafe. If you are not an experienced builder you are gaining experience now. Finish it up show us your photos and go camping. Then build your next one with the skills you have learned.

[Jimbo]

What Chip said. The previous forum that shall remain nameless was overly controlled and Mike has done a fantastic job on this one. Sometimes we joke a little and wander from the subject and I have been guilty as any but there is no reason for someone to get upset about it. Conversations do that. I can only remember a couple of times that someone has been really upset about something here and they were resolved. This is a great group of people and my only complaint if you want to call it that is new folks not searching for answers first. I just got into another forum for GMC trucks (I have a new 81) and spent 6 or 7 hours just reading previous posts. I would suggest this to any one just joining a forum. And please post at least what State/Prov you live in so those of us who put together gatherings can figure out where we need to go.

I agree with both you and Chip. I still love the forum. I enjoy the off-topic rambling. I mean, if all you want is facts, hit the library, right? I watched people get smacked down on the old forum for mentioning something off-topic and I hated it. The whole Tiny Travel Trailer concept was off-topic. Teardrops and only teardrops. Shoot, I don't even mind the new folks not searching for answers. It shows enthusiasm that they are so excited that they want to jump in both feet. If we ever get tired of answering the newbie questions, we will become exactly what the old board did.

After all, if we didn't get off-topic, we wouldn't become friends and want to meet for the gatherings and such.

[madjack]

...Mike, first let me thank you for putting this wonderful site together. I think you should just let it go as it has been I would hate to see us focus on just one thing but rather take in the whole TD world which includes design, build and use of our wonderful little trailers and everything that is included in that use....the list is almost endless, just look at the topic headings you have set up and the fact that something is posted in all of them on a regular basis
madjack

p.s. afterall where else would I have learned about chupacabras, roots and the mating habits of plastic lawn ornaments