For the record

[Headache]

Life is all about learning and knowing your limitations.

And learning about your limitations means making mistakes. 

Hopefully BW will learn from his but if he doesn't it's on him.  I came here because to me a lot of the knowledge I understood from certain posters as well as camaraderie came here.  The atmosphere is better for me when I can be myself but I don't begrudge anyone their decisions on how they want to manage their personal property if it doesn't affect me personally. 

When I was managing another board I always told the people who accused me of being a nazi moderator that if they didn't like how I ran things to go off and start their own boards then run them how they wanted.  I respected the one person that did.  Gary did a great thing.  So did SternWake as I'd have gone nuts reading dangerous "advice".

[Putts]

As a surfer, the most dreaded thing one can see, when one is out in the water, is more surfers crossing the dune,  even if they are friends.  Fucking Crowds fucking suck the joy out of riding a wave, and there are already too fucking  many of us.

I feel the same way about van dwelling.  When there are too many in any one  urban or semi urban spot/area, what was good becomes bad. What has the potential to be joyful, becomes something/somplace to avoid entirely as it could be dangerous or just anger inducing.  

Sternwake makes a good point (no surprise). Been looking for a place to put this and his lead-in is close enough.
I've been a participant of about 4-5 splinter forums...it can go terribly wrong. Twice I've seen them implode. For the most part the cause was too many un-vetted people showing up; I'd highly recommend a "by invite only" forum.

Things that worked:

• Private, invite only. 
  
• First rule about fight club, you don't talk about it elsewhere.
  
• A fast, firm banhammer; quick to be permanent if you're a dick.
  
• Mutual respect.
  
• Real life meatspace interaction.
  
• Banworthy rules: Don't threaten the president; don't insult family; trolling for negative reaction responses; no posting of PMs; no posting of someone else's personal information; not safe for work pictures; no fake n00bs.
  
• Mods decisions are final.
  

Things that caused implosions:

• Lack of respect for each other.
  
• An open door will eventually have dicks showing up. 
  
• Censorship and/or too many rules.
  
• Us vs. Them mentality regarding other forums.
  
• Not banning the bad apple soon enough.
  
• Arguments about what the vision of the website should be.
  

I'd like this place to be "invite only", and I'd like to hear what Gary wants to make of this place.

[Blacktank]

well,it is basically invite only now but no private forum,new people=well new people to meet,fresh conversation,the pay off for me is helping people so you need noobs,remember it wasnt that long ago on another forum that this new guy putts started posting...

not on youtube,have to search to find us on google so i dont see anything close to bobs forum happening

i have had to look grown men with children to feed in the eye and tell them they dont have a job anymore,interweb stuff is a breeze

censorship? whats that?

basic common sense forum rules,no personal attacks,dont be a jerk and




it's a forum about vandwelling/rving information,how to and connecting with like minded people of all makes and means,from comfortably retired to a lust for adventure or simple survival like myself,full timer,part timer or just like talking about it,all are welcome 

same basic mission as the other forum but with polar opposite management styles and an priority on accurate information,you will not be talked down to and treated like a child here,i have no interest in being van messiah know it all guy

[IanC]

Sweet Baby Jebus. How long until we find their frozen bodies in a van somewhere in the Dakotas?

It was Bob's YT channel and then his forum that gave me the impetus to try road life, and I am grateful for that.  I think most of us living the life of quiet desperation would love to find an escape route.  The problem is that for folks already living on the edge financially, it could be the next step on the path to 'under the bridge' homelessness. What happens when your 25 year old van bites the dust and you have no means to repair it or replace it? But, fairly elderly folks (women especially) who have never even checked their own oil are being encouraged to throw caution to the wind and cut their lifelines.  The "You CAN do it" attitude doesn't create the ability to do it.

I felt a real sadness for one such person featured in one of his videos - a noobie older woman living in her old car with a pop-up screen room for her living set-up. What happens when the wind hits and she has to load all that gear back in the car, leaving no place to sleep, or worse if all that stuff just blows away?  Or her vehicle dies somewhere out in the desert and there's no cell service? Yet, her lifestyle was presented as an uplifting alternative.  No doubt there were people who saw that video who saw that as a viable option, because none of the pitfalls were presented.  Actually, it was after I commented about that video on his forum that I found my posts being rapidly deleted (or maybe it's just because I run my mouth too much sometimes?)

But having said that, I get the feeling that many of the people posting on Bob's board are simply exploring and may never actually follow through. Perhaps reality strikes them before they make an irreversible decision.  If there would ever be a forum section for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', I'd have to chime in with the feeling of being parked on the outskirts of town as tornado sirens are going off and trees are coming down, or being in a State Forest in Florida with wildfires encroaching.  It sure isn't all sunny days on crystal clear lakes as it's sometimes portrayed.

[Ballenxj]

<-------->

It's why I think spoonfeeding new posters is potentially harmful.  Those who are paying attention will pick up the trail and start running.  Those who can't follow the trail don't need to be wandering around on their own anyhow. 
<-------->
Sweet Baby Jebus. How long until we find their frozen bodies in a van somewhere in the Dakotas?

This is what a lot of newbies need to understand, it "can" be dangerous out there, and you need to understand your own personal limitations.
The more confident you become in your skill set, the farther from friends and family you can wander.
IMO, survivalist/prepper skills lend themselves well to van dwelling.

[bLEEp]

LOTS of excellent points in the past 4 (and all) posts. I have spent many man years on internet forums. From silk road to mental health forums, to running one of the first and what turned out to be the largest medical marijuana/guerrilla grow forums on the web, lone gone. Putts makes valid points, but I tend to agree with Gary on the easiness, lack of censorship as everyone can be snarky and everyone has bad fucking days.
That's all i have to say about that.
I think my boss is coming

[Justacarsofar]

OK, I'll admit.. I am one of those 'female non mechanical, older with some health problems, poor as dirt...
and I did get a bit toooo ansy after watching those* videos.  ONE of the videos mentions..in passing:
"you really should have 2-3ooo $ in saving before hitting the road."

Crikey!  Not only am I not prepared with the right vehicle, not enough savings and frankly have several
dr. appts to get under the belt before I can head out..... it may take years to be ready but I'm thankful
I was given the wise info on holding back the reins til' I'm much more ready.

I think each of those videos should begin with warnings for dumb newbies like me. 

[bLEEp]

We had and i emphasize had, 3000 when we left. We broke our last 100 fixing the starter solenoid, so i say phooooey to the money thing. The rest are all valid concerns, one of the reasons i went with a newer ford gas engine....
I am just some sorta smart, sorta handicapped hippy, but i got spirit and i learn quickly
tally ho!

[Blacktank]

OK, I'll admit.. I am one of those 'female non mechanical, older with some health problems, poor as dirt...
and I did get a bit toooo ansy after watching those* videos.  ONE of the videos mentions..in passing:
"you really should have 2-3ooo $ in saving before hitting the road."

Crikey!  Not only am I not prepared with the right vehicle, not enough savings and frankly have several
dr. appts to get under the belt before I can head out..... it may take years to be ready but I'm thankful
I was given the wise info on holding back the reins til' I'm much more ready.

I think each of those videos should begin with warnings for dumb newbies like me. 

well then you are on the exact right forum,we already have enough experienced people here in different areas that you will not have to trial and error and waste money,they can tell you the exact solar setup for what you want to do,the exact way to insulate 

save,save,save your money,keep researching and asking questions and in time it will all fall inline

[heron]

frater secessus

Thank you, Bob. I was completely lost. ...  It's exactly this [emotive thread], combined with the encouraging welcome I received, as well as your and others' videos on your channel, that gave me the courage to throw caution to the wind, grab my ailing husband, and get going...

Sweet Baby Jebus. How long until we find their frozen bodies in a van somewhere in the Dakotas?


Hey, just a darn minute, there! I have to admit that it was Bob and the forum that finally got me off my... chair, and going. AND with an ailing husband in tow! I do know better than to go to the Dakotas in the middle of damn winter, though, so that's a plus. In all seriousness, though, we'd talked about this off and on, and sitting around waiting to die is rather less unpleasant than a snowdrift in the Dakotas. (Where I'm still not going.)