Community Forums

Riverdreamer · 09-01-2008, 06:38 AM

I noticed a new trend while on our annual 3 week camping trip this year: kids and adults walking through our campsite and inquisitive dogs not restrained.
The worst instance was when we had a large group camped next to us at a popular USFS campground in Idaho that had about 7 kids in their group. They also had a busy Jack Russell terrier that was never on a restraint. The kids walked and rode their bikes through our campsite until I asked them to stop. Our large dog who was on her rope did not like the bike riders either and would bark and chase the kids until the rope brought her up short or we grabbed her before that occured.
Their dog would approach our campsite but would back off when our dog who was on her rope would run toward it. It made for lively time as our dog would bark and leap toward the intruder.
The best part was when the host came to counsel us about our aggressive dog. Go figure.
I was very glad to see these people leave.
I have been camping for 40+ years but it seems to me that people do not have camping manners anymore.

Frankie · 09-01-2008, 07:14 AM

People cutting thru my site irks me , also.I try to be patient,realizing that maybe they are unfamiliar with the rules.I show no compassion for repeat offenders!!!

jim hutch · 09-01-2008, 07:55 AM

Just had a similiar situation, on the back side of my motohome when camped in SC. The folks behind me used the backside of MH as a quick dog walk....when I left early in the am on departure date and wasn't quite watching I did the SLIDE in POOP dance more than once.They also rode bikes and walked thru at their pleasure.

mainlander · 01-07-2009, 10:56 AM

We have only been on our first trip, but I did notice many of the older campers are very territorial and sort of mark their territory with little lawn decorations. I wish that they could contain their cigarette smoke, it blows into our site.

This one man had taken a led light rope like you can buy at Home depot and placed it 20 ft or so all around his camper. His bus looked like a large spaceship at night.

My son (always lived in Hawaii, a little like ET on his first RV voyage) actually opened the door to the wrong RV....he he (sorry, he is just a kid)

Izzyblueye · 01-07-2009, 02:42 PM

I have been camping and RV'g for many years and have also noticed a general demise of manners and respect for other peoples space. This is also true of many dogs allowed to just roam. If you want to stop in and chat or just be friendly we more than welcome you. If you want to use my space as a cut through or a dog run, I will be in your face shortly. Good manners are never out of style, but must be taught or learned from observing.

TXiceman · 01-07-2009, 03:31 PM

I do not hesitate to inform the trespassers that I rented this site and it is considered poor manners to walk through someone else's camp site.

Ken

Bob O · 01-08-2009, 08:02 AM

A lot of todays generation have this entitlement issue. They think they can do whatever they want,whenever and wherever and they challenge you to do something about it. Todays generation is all about me and what can you do for me. They have no respect for the law or for anybody else including themselves, because it's all about me!
Tell them something and they will most likely tell you what you can do about it.It may not be like that everywhere but I can tell you that is the attitude in South Florida. My two cents

Bob O

LindaH · 01-08-2009, 09:45 AM

I would have been at the host's site long before they ever appeared at my site, complaining, in particular, about the off-lead dog. Why do some people think the rules don't apply to THEM???

And if the hosts said something about my *aggressive* dog who was PROPERLY leashed, they'd get an earful and I would point out the dog who WASN'T leashed. I'm sorry, but we have a dog who is ALWAYS on a leash if he's outside and I expect others to obey the rules about leashing their dogs, too.

Izzyblueye · 01-08-2009, 11:47 AM

BOB O: You sure packaged the whole problem up very nicely. It is exactly what is wrong. It is not just in South Florida. I find this any where I go. I have noticed along the same lines people are not as openly friendly as they used to be, when I first started with an RV. I have had neighbors that will not speak even when spoken to first,or maybe just a grunt. They will leave their RV for long periods of time and leave dogs inside. Very shortly the dogs start barking, whining and howling. It often is hours before they return. one could go on ad infitem, but we all experience it at sometime. .

tom wilson · 01-08-2009, 12:19 PM

the other side of the story; some rv parks do not leave a space for people to walk from one row to the next. disabled campers cannot walk the full length of the row just to get to the next one. what to do then? please allow the old grey haired man to walk whereever he wants??

rjf7g · 01-08-2009, 03:28 PM

I was raised by tent camping parents who are very conscious of other people's space and happiness. I was taught not to walk through other people's campsites, to yield to the bowler to my right, to open doors for and say hello to strangers, and a ton of other things many folks don't seem to have been taught.

TXiceman · 01-08-2009, 03:44 PM

The biggest offenders about cutting through a camp site are the young and perfectly healthy ones. They have not been taught any better.

And Tommy, no problem with cutting through my site for anyone disabled...just be sure to speak and be friendly...last I heard, laziness is not a disability.

Ken

Izzyblueye · 01-08-2009, 04:09 PM

rjf7g: You are my kind of neighbor. Hope we meet you on the road some time.

Barbara S. · 01-10-2009, 07:55 AM

Yes Homer, Ken and his wife Susan are wonderful people.
Last week I camped with a group of people and we were spread out over four rows. I had to cut through to get to where the group gathered. For someone just looking they would have seen me walking in another's campsite. Fortunately the people in that campsite were also with our group, but if they hadn't been I would have needed to find a shortcut somewhere. Some campgrounds have very long rows and it is difficult for me to walk around 10 rigs to get to someone across from me but a few rows over. What would be a good solution for this problem?