Is It Just Me?

[ralaco]

I agree, I would like to hear more technical matter and tips to do it better.



Some times a tread looks interesting but suddenly everything change to an off topic issue.



Raul

[Guy]

This board is much better now than when I joined in 2004.

1. Given our near exponential growth (1341 members as of today) the fact that Mike and his fellow site administrators have had to pull, for inappropriate behavior, fewer threads recently than at anytime in the past. Those of us who have been here for a while know exactly what I mean.
2. There is no real orthodoxy on this board.
3. The level of innovation and information regarding innovation has grown tremendously and remains unequalled on the web or elsewhere..
4. Yes, there is a growing chat aspect which is perfectly natural and great, especially since many us have become good friends with people from all over North America, and the world, through this board and not just our fascination with teardrops.
5. I, for one, feel it would be tremendously impolite for me not to joke with another member. However, joking is not derision. It is precisely that type of camaraderie that keeps me coming back. And I must say, when I was a newbie in 2004 there was just as much joking and chatting as there is now, the only difference is that I was not part of it. If I wanted some of it I better start learning and sharing.

[Jimbo]

I know some of us are more chatty than others. Should we set up a chat night a couple of times a week where we can all get together and chat?

[s4son]

I don’t go to other forums or chat rooms so I can’t say how the TD&TTT forum compares. I have this forum book marked and read it at least three times a day. I have posted a few messages and I’ll be the first to admit not all of them were relevant to the topic at hand. I hope nothing I have said offended anyone, that wasn’t my intent. I agree that Mike and the other moderators do a good job of keeping the forum in line.

I have a lot to learn about camping, teardrops and woodworking. Yet I am completely comfortable starting my build. Why, the information and the people on this forum. I have learned that not all trailers are welded; biscuits don’t always come with gravy, what a pocket hole is and a 1000 other things. I would have passed reading many of these posts if they were all dry and technical, textbook.

The friendly chats make some of the topics more enjoyable and I feel builds camaraderie. When I went to my first teardrop gathering this summer at Minden I felt like I was already part of the teardrop community and I don’t even have a trailer. I met people from all over the country and Mexico and was made to feel welcome by all. Best of all I have met several people from my area that I would otherwise never have met.

So what to do? This might be a good topic for a poll. I would hate to see all the friendly banter stop but if the majority thinks we should stay more on topic I would respect that.

Scott F.

[JunkMan]

Although this forum may be going through some changes, I still think it is one of the best forums I have ever belonged to

One of the other forums I am on is in the middle of a major disagreement right now, and the kicker is that the disagreement is not even directly related to that forum, but about another group!

As the forum matures, there are bound to be changes, but as many of you have said, it is because many of us have gotten to know each other. Many of us have met in person, and many more have build friendships online. I think that is great

[Laredo]

I think the growth comes, like all young things finding their way in the world, with certain changes. And like adolescence in kids, not all the changes are likely to be entirely pretty. But the nifty thing is, like adolescents, the far end of the process often gives you something far more interesting and attractive than you could have imagined during the frustrating, often messy, middle.

Much like each of us has an individual teardrop at the end of our build process -- or an individual at the end of our child-raising process.

[bledsoe3]

I am fairly new to this forum (less than two months). I too feel like I somewhat know some of the people on this board. I've read hundreds of posts from several members. Almost all have been on topic. Some get off a little (some alot). We have to remember that after a year plus, some have seen most topics and responded to many. The love of TD's doesn't stop, but the response's run out. People want to be involved in their passion. They want to respond. But they have seen or responded to the same topic over and over again. To the new members, try to search topics first. To the older members, remember newbies haven't seen what you've seen and don't always have the computer skills or knowledge to search for previous topics. I have learned so much from this forum. I have no previous building experience, but I just finished skining one interior wall and stared the other. All from what I learned here. Asianflava, Madjack. Chris, Mike, Dean, Andrew, I've got so much info from you and others that I felt I could start my build. I'll be putting roof spars up soon and I thought I'd never get there. To those of you who were offended by the hijacks, remember that we want to have fun with this too. That's what building and camping is all about. So, get what you can out of this forum, but have fun too

[Larwyn]

Guess I'm one of the "old timers" here. I aint no youngun and I've been a member of the group since near the begining.

I have gotten lots of useful information here. And lots of good laughs.

Both have been of value to me, I like it the way it is.

I have not met anyone on this group in person but feel that I know several just from reading their posts. And if when I finally do finish my trailer I hope to meet many.

Keep it fun. That goes for both the build and the forum!

[Chip]

Mike; as has been said before ya put one heck of a board together here, thank you for the insight and work you have put into it,, a wealth of information is logged into the many threads contained here,
this forum like many other open forums takes on a personality of its own that is a combination of its members and participants, this forum is friendly, informative, casual and down right fun, I think part of the shift to more interaction betwen members is a result of the trailers that have been built , used and friendships developed over the past year,,, a lot of us pulled information from this forum, met other teardroppers, went camping together and quite frankly had a ball. If someone is looking for purely technical information,, I suggest ya buy a book or two, download plans and specs, and build a teardrop and enjoy it, but if ya really think about it this forum is not just about trailers , its about all the people who have a similar interest and enjoy associating with like people, the trailer is the common thread that binds a lot of us together,, I'll trade ya 2 Camp-Inns, a widget, a weekender, a slumber coach, a couple benroys and a Pickle Palace for one good friend I have made here, yall think about it,,
steping off soap box and getting back to putting my d#@% cabnets together,,


chipper

[catrinka]

I personally love this forum. I've been through some tramatic changes in my life the last couple of months and this forum has helped me to hang on to my sanity. It has helped me to stay focused on my goal of having a small trailer that I can pull with my car and manage on my own. I have found members to be very helpful and supportive with my building process. I love the comraderie on here and I look forward to meeting members in person at teardrop meets.

[Frank]

From someone that doesn't say much, let me say that there are lots of opionions of how to do things, build tears, run boards, etc. Most of them are ok as long as they are safe and don't offend people. This board is great in it's information on building T & TTT's and Friends. I have built both (THANK YOU MIKE) using, reading, and posting on this board.

Frank

[SteveH]

It seems I have been misqouted or misunderstood. I've never suggested the site should be changed in any way. I also love this site, also enjoy the humor, and although I'm not involved in much of it, I also enjoy reading about the comaraderie. I'm on this site several times a day and could not have built my teardrop without all the information that is available here. I think Mike has done a great job creating and maintaining the site and I am very appreciative of his labor.

But, it does seem I have upset some of y'all. That was not my intention, and I was NOT trying to single out ANYONE.

What I said was, "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." AND, yes I have done some of it too.

The most important point here is "sometimes even the person with the original question is made the subject of the poster's jokes."

That seems sort of rude and belittleing to me, and especially so to a brand new person on the board asking a question to which they do not know the answer. It seems sometimes we get so involved in the jokes and comeradery that we have become insensitive to the brand new participants on the forum. Yes, they could very easily, in most cases, find the answer by doing a search, but maybe they are so new they are not aware of the search function or don't know how to use it. Believe me when I say, not everyone has great computer skills.

The thing I believe we should all remember is we all were new at this and we all had questions in the beginning. Everyone that comes on this forum has experinces in life and probably has knowledge, experience, and capabilites different that some of us that have been here a while, and as long as we encourage them to participate here, maybe WE can learn something.

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to make myself clear.

[Dee Bee]

I would not have even attempted to build a TD without this forum. It has been great fun and a real help. I do think some folks have gotten off the subject. But it seems generally OK You can still find the answers to your questions.

Would it help to have a section just for chat, or is it possible to move some of the posts that get off- subject to a side chat area?

Glad I found the forum, glad I used it, glad I posted to it. Now that I have finished my build I admit I am on the site less and less.

Hope it stays possitive for everyone!

DEE BEE

[TomS]

I've been following this thread for a couple of days now. I'm about 2/3 of the way through my first teardrop project. There is no way I would have gotten this far without the the folks on this forum.

I've made more than my share of off-topic comments and "chatty" posts. I do it because really enjoy the diverse and wonderful people who hang out here. I also enjoy the humor which leads me to this statement.

The most important point here is "sometimes even the person with the original question is made the subject of the poster's jokes."

Maybe I missed something here. But, I have not seen anyone ridiculed for asking a question, especially newcommers. In fact, I frequently see members posting introductions and being greeted warmly by several members.

[Gage]

The most important point here is "sometimes even the person with the original question is made the subject of the poster's jokes."

Maybe I missed something here. But, I have not seen anyone ridiculed for asking a question, especially newcommers. In fact, I frequently see members posting introductions and being greeted warmly by several members.

Like Tom, I've been just sitting back listening to everyone rant & rave, and not everyone knowing what they are talking about.
For one thing I don't see were anyone is getting upset, just voicing thier opinion, THIS IS GOOD.
Now I've been a member of this forum sense the beginning. You have to remember that back then not very many on the board had Teardrops or Tiny Travel Trailers, most everyone was building. So there were a lot of questins being asked and answered by those that had already finished there tear or those that had already been at that point. Not to much side tracking because nobody really knew one another. I have never (for the most part) seen a question go unanswered. I have seen some try and tell the Newbe to do something else without answering his question. But on the other hand there will be someone who answers the question as asked. Remember, when a question is asked, several answers will come back, some good and some bad. Some by people who know and some people who think they know (those people should stand back and also learn).

When Mike started this board, my guess is, it was for those who were building a NON-Traditional Teardrop/Tiny Travel Trailer would have a place to go, because the other board was for traditional/classic Teardrops ONLY which some on this board still don't understand (And by the way, that board is still active, just in stealth mode and invite only). I'll also bet that Mike had no idea this board would become this large. He has originazed this board quite well. My hat is off to Mike for this. Areas titled GENERAL DISCUSSION, TERADROP CONSTRUCTION and OFF TOPIC to name a few. And by the way, I feel this thread should have been in the General Discussion grouping, just my view.

I don't really know where I'm going with this except to point out that even though a problem may pop up between two, this is still the most informative and friendly board on the web. And where else can you have a disscusion like this without anyone throwing rocks (well big ones anyways). Maybe the young pups should slow down a little and not be in such a hurry to get something done and enjoy life more. Remember, Teardrop Time. Like Grant says "Life moves a little slower when your on Teardrop Time."

Well that's my 5 minutes on the soap box and that being said,
Have a good day,
Gage