Hi guys and gals, I am another newby to the vanning world and to this forum. I have been hovering around watching whats going on for several months just trying to get myself up to speed on everything caravanning. I have a new van on order and have sent a couple PM's to Ma tyring to get a few tips - thanks Ma for writing back. Anyway the new toy will be here next week so I hope I can catch up with you on the track somewhere sometime.

I am still a tad concerned about a few dodgee characters that linger around this forum. I don't want to pre-judge but that Wombat and a couple of his mates are a bit sus. I think I'll have to keep a close eye on them.

Doug

Welcome Doug,

Nice van, met a very nice couple in Queensland this year with one.

You got the "there are a couple of shady characters lurkingon this forum," correct.

Watch out for "Gubby" he can be very tricky, "Wombat" just does what wombats are suppossed to do, and "Vic" tries to keep those others under control.

There you have it!

Dusty

Welcome aboard Doug.... I think....

surely I'm not a shady Character like Landfall says...

I'm a happy little fella that tries to steer clear of Wombats, aint that right Vic... 

gubby wrote:

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Welcome aboard Doug.... I think....

surely I'm not a shady Character like Landfall says...

I'm a happy little fella that tries to steer clear of Wombats, aint that right Vic... 

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 Yes, welcome Doug, don't believe everything you hear, about anyone except Wombat of course, he's always digging holes hoping we'll fall into them

Ahhh Vic, I think your Avatar has fell off... 

Hi Doug I too am sort of a newvie to here as well... as for wombats.. the last one I met I shoved up my jumper to keep warm.. mind you it was only a few hours old... but he was soooooo sweet!

before ya fall off ya chair... I was a wildlife carer for many years roflololololol

Welcome Douglas

gubby wrote:

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Ahhh Vic, I think your Avatar has fell off... 

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 Might be my next RV, springs are a bit rough though.....funny farm hey?.......yes, I think we could qualify for that and I think Doug will fit right in with us ALL !!!  

G'day and welcome Douglas

Welcome Doug.  Sounds like you're going to fit in no trouble.

Cheers,

Sheba.

From one newby to another. Welcome, as mentioned they are a great bunch. You can learn heaps from them all.

Brownie

This forum has improved in recent times. Make welcome those who want to communicate info or experiences and encourage usage, but to make judgements of other members is damaging, banter is fine but what disturbs me a little is the member profiles available on those so called dodgy members is inadequate. We all would like to meet occassionally a member on the road as recently I did here in Kalgoorlie. Should not the moderator insist on more profile info before the forum is available. We have seen a subject hi- jacked in the past and when a subject raised has hit a second page, it is lost in most cases. Ruined by changing the subject.

Douglas

I am sure you will fit in here if you stay away from gubby and Vic, wombat's are friendly, don't take any notice of what those two say, you sound intelligent and can make up your own mind, you will also learn a lot from other members here.

AJ I also like to keep warm tucked up a jumper

RnR well said

Rip and Rosie...

My sentiments exactly.

Technomad wrote:

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This forum has improved in recent times. Make welcome those who want to communicate info or experiences and encourage usage, but to make judgements of other members is damaging, banter is fine but what disturbs me a little is the member profiles available on those so called dodgy members is inadequate. We all would like to meet occassionally a member on the road as recently I did here in Kalgoorlie. Should not the moderator insist on more profile info before the forum is available. We have seen a subject hi- jacked in the past and when a subject raised has hit a second page, it is lost in most cases. Ruined by changing the subject.

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 Graham,

Your post here could be considered OT too, not once does it mention "Welcome Doug" perhaps you should have made it a separate thread.

I think the profiles are up to the individual, many change theirs after joining to protect themselves from identity and other theft etc (ie; I am going away for 6 months etc).  If we might meet up with a fellow nomad we can always pm them for more info and then it is up to them whether they want to provide that or not. 

The only judgement I see on here are from those who consent to bagging each other and it is done with good humour, all good mates really. 

I do take your point about hijacked threads, sometimes we do get carried away and I think I know the one you are referring too, I thought the same thing although I was just as guilty a contributor as anyone else.  Apart from minor digression (with apologies to the thread topic originator) I do think we (I include myself in this) need to keep an eye on where the topic is headed. 

Apologies to Doug for contributing to this none welcome post. 

here's a first, I agree with Vic, oh bugga did I really say that

in regards to the post from Technomad I thought I would say very little about it.

Just thought I’d better chip in here.  First of all though, welcome Douglas and all of the other newcomers to the forum.  As most of you know we prefer to moderate these pages with a very light hand. We are very lucky to have a fantastic, friendly and welcoming membership with a wonderful and much appreciated ability to self-moderate. Of course, threads sometimes go a little (or a lot) off topic but that can be part of the forum’s charm … as long as members  remember when to pull back … and they almost always do. By their very nature, forums such as this attract a wide range of opinions, and debates and lively discussions are very much part of it. Of course it is crucial however that an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation pervades and again, by and large, I think it does.  We have a wide range of people with a wide range of expertise and experience here but I really hope it’s a forum that can be enjoyed by veteran grey nomads, as well as those dreaming of taking their very first big trip.
Technomad makes a good point about security and shared information. I have absolutely no reason to doubt that the vast, vast majority of people in this forum are nothing other than exactly who and what they claim to be … but I have no way of knowing that for sure.  As with all things internet, it is best to be cautious and careful, but I hope that doesn’t mean we can’t help each other and have a little fun along the way!    

Doug was welcomed by me privatelly and no one was meant to be chastised. But still believe the situation I raised was warrented.

Douglas wrote:

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Hi Vic, no apology necessary. Originally I thought I was being chastised by technomad for the light banter about Wombat and others in my original post.

Now I'm in trouble with Mr Wombat because I didn't address him as "Mr" Wombat. Heavens forbid, he's even changed his avatar to reflect his new title. Looks like I'll just have to go back to just chasing road runners and leave these sensitive creatures alone. There just has to be an acronym out there for 'Mr" that suits this wombat.
Doug

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 Douglas, if you don't like Mr then Sir will do

_wombat_ wrote:

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Douglas wrote:

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Now I'm in trouble with Mr Wombat because I didn't address him as "Mr" Wombat. Heavens forbid, he's even changed his avatar to reflect his new title. Looks like I'll just have to go back to just chasing road runners and leave these sensitive creatures alone. There just has to be an acronym out there for 'Mr" that suits this wombat.
Doug

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 Douglas, if you don't like Mr then Sir will do

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 That's spelt Cur Doug, not Sir  

my spelling was correct at the time of going to press