An observation on newbies.

[Minxy]

Yes but some of us did our own research and did not rely on others to spoon-feed answers.

I think i was about 3 years motorhoming before I joined a MH orum.

Ah but not everyone is as wise (and old) as you!

 

[Minxy]

I wonder how long it is before you stop being a Newbie? Maybe it’s not just time but number of postings or replies? Some people have been on here for ever..........

... yes, we can't get rid of some of the miserable b*ggers no matter how much we try!

 

[Minxy]

I would imagine it's a bit daunting for some newbies ... this is VERY well established and long standing forum so to dip a toe in the water cautiously is best to see if they like it or not ... if we can then let them see it is well worth their becoming a subscriber then we can let Jaws loose on them to snaffle not only their toes but their legs too!

 

[Daniel. M]

A newbies' view

We decided at the start of 2019 we quite fancied a Motorhome, I subscribed to both MMM and Practical Motorhome, a great source of information, although perhaps tilted towards the newer models, but interesting none the less.

Our next step was to hire a Chausson (from National Motorhomes, less said about them the better) for a week to get our wish, want and need list sorted.

Now our search really started, and I saw our lovely 'Tiggy' T-Class, and after lock down started to ease I put a deposit down, it was only at this point I started looking at forums. I joined this one and Out and About live, due to the MMM subscription.

Now my first reaction was that this was a friendly forum, but what would I get for my £15.00?

To an outsider any Club or Forum can seem to be quite cliquey, with the hierarchy being the people who contribute the most, fair enough it's how life works, but any organisation needs to attract new members, to replace the members who leave for any reason.

Just a couple of suggestions, how about reserving a percentage of places at rallyes for newbies, and actively encourage attendance, or having regional meet ups, it's all to easy to just lurk in the background gleaning information and advice, and get full access to the very good Motorhome Fun magazine

I have joined for 3 years, but it wasn't a no-brainer, I know it's only £15 per year, but that's a night away.

I think the point I'm trying to make is, it takes a reason to turn a lurker or newbie into a member, and even more reasons to keep that member, and I know lack of adverts, access to certain resources are good reasons, but a feeling of community and inclusion are even better

 

[Jaws]

I would imagine it's a bit daunting for some newbies ... this is VERY well established and long standing forum so to dip a toe in the water cautiously is best to see if they like it or not ... if we can then let them see it is well worth their becoming a subscriber then we can let Jaws loose on them to snaffle not only their toes but their legs too!

Oye !!!
Members on here are too old and gristley for me.. I prefer chewing on nubile young things !!!!!

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[steve 6644]

Yeah,much easier once the teeth have all fallen out.

 

[Nanniemate]

I was motorhoming long before the forums started. think i might have had an amstrad though.

How many beds in that and travelling seats did you have seat belts

 

[mitzimad]

What I find mildly annoying is when Funsters don’t put their rough location in their avatar
From Vipar Bexley West Kent

i think you will find that bexley is now southlondon

 

[Minxy]

i think you will find that bexley is now southlondon

Greater London?

 

[movan]

From me T, in Not Glasgow.

I'm not in Glasgow either.

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[movan]

Oye !!!
Members on here are too old and gristley for me.. I prefer chewing on nubile young things !!!!!

. Well, thanks John. That's me upset for the rest of the day.

 

[KiwiKampers]

A newbies' view

We decided at the start of 2019 we quite fancied a Motorhome, I subscribed to both MMM and Practical Motorhome, a great source of information, although perhaps tilted towards the newer models, but interesting none the less.

Our next step was to hire a Chausson (from National Motorhomes, less said about them the better) for a week to get our wish, want and need list sorted.

Now our search really started, and I saw our lovely 'Tiggy' T-Class, and after lock down started to ease I put a deposit down, it was only at this point I started looking at forums. I joined this one and Out and About live, due to the MMM subscription.

Now my first reaction was that this was a friendly forum, but what would I get for my £15.00?

To an outsider any Club or Forum can seem to be quite cliquey, with the hierarchy being the people who contribute the most, fair enough it's how life works, but any organisation needs to attract new members, to replace the members who leave for any reason.

Just a couple of suggestions, how about reserving a percentage of places at rallyes for newbies, and actively encourage attendance, or having regional meet ups, it's all to easy to just lurk in the background gleaning information and advice, and get full access to the very good Motorhome Fun magazine

I have joined for 3 years, but it wasn't a no-brainer, I know it's only £15 per year, but that's a night away.

I think the point I'm trying to make is, it takes a reason to turn a lurker or newbie into a member, and even more reasons to keep that member, and I know lack of adverts, access to certain resources are good reasons, but a feeling of community and inclusion are even better

You make some very good points, Daniel.M
I hope Jim reads your comments and that anyone who is organising a rally takes up your idea of places set aside for newbies.
You are so right about clubs being cliquey. I don't think of Motorhome Fun as being cliquey, in fact, I think I joined because it was all encompassing and the members didn't take themselves too seriously. (Except perhaps 596, who you are "too young to remember", thankfully.)
I, for one, look forward to reading more of your postings and wish I could seek you out in the "Newbies Kindergarten Corner" at a rally sometime.

 

[The Dotties]

Surely if you have a newbies corner at a meet or rally you just end up with another clique?
I feel it works better as is. Rock up, park up, brew up and wander.
The first few I met obviously didn’t know me from Adam so went out of their way to say hello.
Once you start to talk to one funster another will join in, and hey presto!
Just bear in mind nobody will knock on a closed door, but an op hab door will attract attention, and bear in mind it’s a two way trade.

 

[scotzsue]

How many beds in that and travelling seats did you have seat belts

First one would sleep 8 (if you were very good friends) 2 huge beds only 2 seatbelts looked like a garden shed transposed onto a cut off panel van, on hind site it probably was. Sold it for more than double what I had paid for it.
in fact until we got the 686 only ever had 2 seatbelts but then I was on my own most of the time. All bedfords apart from the romahome.

 

[Jaws]

. Well, thanks John. That's me upset for the rest of the day.

Of course, I only refer to the male of the species !

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[SuperMike]

I contribute nothing as my sole purpose on this forum, is to take the urine out of the Very old-mo TypeFella Person.

 

[The Lobster]

Perhaps rather than 'introduce yourself', which is a bit of a challenge that some may not feel comfortable with, it should be changed to something more welcoming like 'what's your biggest hope or fear?'.

 

[Daniel. M]

To quote "The Dotties"
"Surely if you have a newbies corner at a meet or rally you just end up with another clique?"

I never advocated this, just perhaps give up 5-10% of spots on any rally, there always seem to be a reserve list anyway, so if they don't get filled by a predefined deadline they can be released.

It can be quite a daunting thing to join your first club Rallye, a bit like starting a new job, where you kind of hope you will be accepted, but your never 100% certain, and there's always that little doubt. By the time a new member has decided to take the plunge, the places are often filled, and it's just a suggestion

Over and out from Bromsgrove

 

[movan]

The single ladies at meets always try to extend a welcome to new people (nicely) with coffee, etc..

However, at one meet we... Special thanks to Cal and her hard work .. made cakes, coffee, had a welcome glass of wine, etc., at our own expense.and were chastised as it was cliquish. . We havn't done it since..

 

[TerryL]

We're not particularly gregarious but are always ready to chat to other motorhomers, Funsters or not, whenever we're out and about. I've lost count of the number of introduction cards we hand out - it never fails to amaze me how many folk say they've never heard of MotorhomeFun, although we also have had a few state that they've had a look but it isn't for them. I have a pet theory that motorhomers tend to be very independant because that's why motorhoming appeals to them, it's a way of life - certainly is for us. So I'm not at all surprised that Jims statistics show only a very small percentage of members actually post anything, but a huge number can be on-line at any one time or visit at least once daily. Personally I spend far too much time on here...............................

Given that, I think Jim has got it about right; yes I sometimes think folk who come on with a question, get their answer and disappear are a bit rude, but who of us doesn't Google for info, not thinking of thanking whoever provided it? Sadly, it's now a way of life but realistically it's only a tiny minority so I don't let it worry me and take it as a compliment that someone finds our offerings to be of use. Obviously enough people join anyway that it doesn't matter in reality; I think putting more restrictions would be counter-productive.

As for newbies, I'd happily go looking for them if it's what they want, but would never think to impose myself on others. (For example at the recent Stratford meet a newbie was delighted that a number of members actually took the trouble to look him up - he did ask after all). They are probably self-conscious enough not to want to attract attention so I'm not sure a "newbies corner" is such a good thing. But if we all made a conscious effort to talk to others - alright it's not exactly a British trait - then maybe they would feel more at home. I'd guess it would be easier for rally marshalls to identify newbies (their membership number should be a big clue) and perhaps pay a little more attention to them. Maybe even a newbies "meet and greet" coffee/bacon roll session? (Just read Joy's post above - how could that be considered cliquey?)

Whatever, on the whole MotorhomeFun works as it was designed - to be as interesting, informative and open-minded as possible. C'mon newbies, let's hear from some more of you - but we don't really need your postcode/bank account details/t-shirt size. to you all.

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[TheMachMan]

We’re still here!
Looked at other forums but this is the best.
Helpful advice and welcoming members. Spent a fortune on things I didn’t know I needed too!

 

[Hirsch]

I found the web site 2 or 3 weeks ago. Had a look, paid my £15 and nearly got thrown off for being too political with a post that I linked to something I thought was funny (as in 'fun') .

As I become an 'experienced' member (if I'm not banned by then ) I will willingly offer help and advice where I am able.

Hull City la la la Hull City la la la.

That is for Minxy Girl.

 

[peterc10]

Reading some of the comments on this thread I am not surprised that some newbies do not stick around. I suspect if I had read a thread like this when I first joined I would have left.

Let's all try to remember we all used to be newbies.

 

[Hirsch]

Reading some of the comments on this thread I am not surprised that some newbies do not stick around. I suspect if I had read a thread like this when I first joined I would have left.

Let's all try to remember we all used to be newbies.

The thought did cross my mind, 'what was it like for you when you were new'? There's the makings of a song in there somewhere (I think).

 

[Janine]

I seem to have been here a very long time! Funsters come and go for various reasons but there are always newbies to fill their shoes.
Just don't take it too seriously when you have the pee taken and you will be ok

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[Hirsch]

I seem to have been here a very long time! Funsters come and go for various reasons but there are always newbies to fill their shoes.
Just don't take it too seriously when you have the pee taken and you will be ok

If the last message was for my consumption, I am a Hull City supporter, nothing and no one can hurt me more than what has happened this season

 

[Sapper520]

If the last message was for my consumption, I am a Hull City supporter, nothing and no one can hurt me more than what has happened this season

Wrong shape ball for my liking.......then again, maybe that was the problem for your team?

 

[Hirsch]

Wrong shape ball for my liking.......then again, maybe that was the problem for your team?

Many many problems, mainly off the pitch but hey, it's good fun in league one (I keep telling myself that to make me feel better ).

 

[Hirsch]

Newbies who use the "Introduce Yourself" category rarely tell us anything about themselves.

What would you like to know?

 

[Christy]

I think there are far too many people with too much time on their hands and trying to find fault with others. Everyone joins for their own reason. There are no rules about what contribution needs to be made. It is very sad in these trying times that we cannot be more tolerant and understanding.

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