It's amazing, I've neve ronce been abused for holding a door open for a lady (female of whatever age).
I have occassionally been disappointed in the response of certain women to my offers of help in whatever situation.
At Cobb and co (gympie) earlier this year a young lass ( approx 30ish) had just pulled up and she couldn't uncouple her camper trailer which she had never set up before. She was on her way to see the owner for help and I offered my help which she accepted. I couldn't see there could be too much wrong so I took a lumphammer and a piece of wood just in case. As it turned out all I had to do was wind the jockey wheel and no problems.
She then didn't have a clue as to how to set up her camper so I spent some time sorting that out and setting it up for her. Not that easy when one considers that the person who installed said tent etc on her trailer did it all a**e about. Anyhow problem solved. Also had to help her sort out how to get her gas fridge working. Again, I was doing nothing else so no big problem for me.
Next morning when she was walking past a i invited her for breakfast which she accepted readily. Although I was somewhat taken aback when was advised that eggs had to be free range (which they were, I support our local egg farmer).
We exchanged numbers just to keep in touch on her travels. (No not what you're all thinkin).
Just before she left I tried to offer one small piece of advice (i.e make sure your jockey wheel is wound up and out ot the way: most of us have done it). Well she jumped down my throat before I could get the words out saying "I've been camping all my life and know what I'm doing". Strange words I thought from someone who arrived late afternoon and would have been sleeping in her car with her two large dogs without assistance.
A week or so later I texted her to see how whe was going and never heard another word from her.
Now I'm not some randy old devil out there preying on young girls ( I have daughters older than her for goodness sake).
In a convoluted way what I'm trying to say is that we all need help sometimes and are sometimes too proud to ask. I've been around the traps long enough that I can usually get myself out of trouble,but I'm not too proud to ask and most people are only too willing to help.
Don't take it as an offence to your masculinity or feminism (note not feminity) when people volunteer without asking. Sometimes the offerer of advice really does know more than I.
I've lived basically on my own for the past 20 years but I've still had plenty of women tell me how to cook. Just as I've had many amateur fishermen tell me how to fillet a fish ( I did it professionally for two years)
People just like to help and sometimes their ego surpasses their actual knowledge, but then, I think we can all be guilty of that at times.
Just my two bob's worth.
Just remember you never know quite who you're talking to. I remember many years ago that the head of Mensa international was a New York street sweeper. Sometimes knowledge comes from the most unlikely of places.
Take care out there,
Jack.
P.S.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit this was only about opening doors. Well there you go.
jetj said
04:46 AM Dec 5, 2012
I must admit I had a battery problem recently and some blokes were amazing in their efforts to help. Also with a shower tent I had never collapsed before.
As much as I try to be independant, sometimes I just need help and accept it with appreciation. The thought never crosses my mind that helpers intention is anything more than kindness and willingness to help someone.
I'm disappointed that a lady would treat you so badly after all your help Jack.
wendyv said
04:50 AM Dec 5, 2012
jimricho wrote:
Maybe you came across the caravan park's resident menace!
On a broader issue why is it that when husband and wife grey nomads are on the road one rarely ever sees the wife doing the driving, or backing on to the site with the husband guiding?
When we were on the road, I did do some of the driving and towing. When we took the 4WD across the Simpson Desert, The Driver insisted I do some of the driving, so I would have the experience of using the 4WD to cross dunes, etc - it seemed to quite upset some of the male drivers we met along the route. I guess their macho image may have been threatened by a female driver cresting the big dunes!
In caravan parks, I always did the backing onto sites, with The Driver outside giving the directions. It worked beautifully, because if the directions weren't right, he couldn't blame me
Jack Mac said
05:33 AM Dec 5, 2012
I hope my previous post didn't contribute to any sort of male/female debate. That was never my intention.
As a proud unionist i was happy and proud to be, if not at the forefront then certainly behind the scenes of the fight for equal pay which was for the most part achieved in 1976/77. All members of a society have an ability and responsibility to contribute.
Surely in this day and age we, who are supposed to be the enlightened ones (given the denigration of Gen X and Y on this forum) can get past our own gender perceptions and biases.
We are mostly all retired or close to and the so called glass ceiling doesn't now exist for us. Please don't let certain person's personalities cloud your judgement.
A person's personality is not necessarily indicative of being a rabid misogynist or femist.
Let's try to educate not castigate.
Cheers,
Jack
Magnarc said
07:21 PM Dec 5, 2012
The moral to this story if you are a bloke, is if you come across a woman in a wide brimmed hat driving an I30 and towing a small van, do not offer to help. Would this apply if the car was down to the axles in mud?????(vbg)
Happywanderer said
11:26 PM Dec 5, 2012
I am very thankful with the help I got from strangers in a 5th wheeler while at Greens Lake. The wind came up and was getting worse, the guys from our group had gone into Shepparton. I popped over and asked the couple in the 5th wheeler if they could help me get it rolled up as the legs wouldn't stay in the ground. I was worried it would get damaged. They held each side for me while I did the rest. I couldn't have managed without their help. On a normal still day I would have had not problems.
There are times when it is ok to help a solo female traveller.
Beth54 said
05:33 AM Dec 6, 2012
No Margnarc, the moral of the story is ask if she needs/wants help.
Some of you blokes seem to have taken my statement totally the wrong way. What's wrong with good manners? I've done it myself if I see anyone, male or female who seems to be struggling with something. 'Would you like some help with that?'
I did not say that I refused his help, or tell him off. I just felt he was being a tad overbearing.
To prove my point, when I was ready to leave yesterday morning, another gent asked if I would like him to guide me back to hitch up. I said yes, thank you, that would be wonderful. He even let the whatsee down for me. (Excuse my non-technical term.) I thanked him again and he went on his way. Then I realised he'd released it crookedly and I pulled and pushed and couldn't get it to release again so I could straighten it. So I went to another small group and asked if one of them could help me, and one did. And I thanked him.
Jack, no problems, you are a good man and that woman didn't deserve your help. She seemed a bit weird anyway.
Turbopete, those puters can be a nightmare sometimes.
It's amazing, I've neve ronce been abused for holding a door open for a lady (female of whatever age).
I have occassionally been disappointed in the response of certain women to my offers of help in whatever situation.
At Cobb and co (gympie) earlier this year a young lass ( approx 30ish) had just pulled up and she couldn't uncouple her camper trailer which she had never set up before. She was on her way to see the owner for help and I offered my help which she accepted. I couldn't see there could be too much wrong so I took a lumphammer and a piece of wood just in case. As it turned out all I had to do was wind the jockey wheel and no problems.
She then didn't have a clue as to how to set up her camper so I spent some time sorting that out and setting it up for her. Not that easy when one considers that the person who installed said tent etc on her trailer did it all a**e about. Anyhow problem solved. Also had to help her sort out how to get her gas fridge working. Again, I was doing nothing else so no big problem for me.
Next morning when she was walking past a i invited her for breakfast which she accepted readily. Although I was somewhat taken aback when was advised that eggs had to be free range (which they were, I support our local egg farmer).
We exchanged numbers just to keep in touch on her travels. (No not what you're all thinkin).
Just before she left I tried to offer one small piece of advice (i.e make sure your jockey wheel is wound up and out ot the way: most of us have done it). Well she jumped down my throat before I could get the words out saying "I've been camping all my life and know what I'm doing". Strange words I thought from someone who arrived late afternoon and would have been sleeping in her car with her two large dogs without assistance.
A week or so later I texted her to see how whe was going and never heard another word from her.
Now I'm not some randy old devil out there preying on young girls ( I have daughters older than her for goodness sake).
In a convoluted way what I'm trying to say is that we all need help sometimes and are sometimes too proud to ask. I've been around the traps long enough that I can usually get myself out of trouble,but I'm not too proud to ask and most people are only too willing to help.
Don't take it as an offence to your masculinity or feminism (note not feminity) when people volunteer without asking. Sometimes the offerer of advice really does know more than I.
I've lived basically on my own for the past 20 years but I've still had plenty of women tell me how to cook. Just as I've had many amateur fishermen tell me how to fillet a fish ( I did it professionally for two years)
People just like to help and sometimes their ego surpasses their actual knowledge, but then, I think we can all be guilty of that at times.
Just my two bob's worth.
Just remember you never know quite who you're talking to. I remember many years ago that the head of Mensa international was a New York street sweeper. Sometimes knowledge comes from the most unlikely of places.
Take care out there,
Jack.
P.S.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit this was only about opening doors. Well there you go.
I must admit I had a battery problem recently and some blokes were amazing in their efforts to help. Also with a shower tent I had never collapsed before.
As much as I try to be independant, sometimes I just need help and accept it with appreciation. The thought never crosses my mind that helpers intention is anything more than kindness and willingness to help someone.
I'm disappointed that a lady would treat you so badly after all your help Jack.
When we were on the road, I did do some of the driving and towing. When we took the 4WD across the Simpson Desert, The Driver insisted I do some of the driving, so I would have the experience of using the 4WD to cross dunes, etc - it seemed to quite upset some of the male drivers we met along the route. I guess their macho image may have been threatened by a female driver cresting the big dunes!
In caravan parks, I always did the backing onto sites, with The Driver outside giving the directions. It worked beautifully, because if the directions weren't right, he couldn't blame me
I hope my previous post didn't contribute to any sort of male/female debate. That was never my intention.
As a proud unionist i was happy and proud to be, if not at the forefront then certainly behind the scenes of the fight for equal pay which was for the most part achieved in 1976/77. All members of a society have an ability and responsibility to contribute.
Surely in this day and age we, who are supposed to be the enlightened ones (given the denigration of Gen X and Y on this forum) can get past our own gender perceptions and biases.
We are mostly all retired or close to and the so called glass ceiling doesn't now exist for us. Please don't let certain person's personalities cloud your judgement.
A person's personality is not necessarily indicative of being a rabid misogynist or femist.
Let's try to educate not castigate.
Cheers,
Jack
The moral to this story if you are a bloke, is if you come across a woman in a wide brimmed hat driving an I30 and towing a small van, do not offer to help. Would this apply if the car was down to the axles in mud?????(vbg)
The wind came up and was getting worse, the guys from our group had gone into Shepparton. I popped over and asked the couple in the 5th wheeler if they could help me get it rolled up as the legs wouldn't stay in the ground. I was worried it would get damaged.
They held each side for me while I did the rest. I couldn't have managed without their help.
On a normal still day I would have had not problems.
There are times when it is ok to help a solo female traveller.
No Margnarc, the moral of the story is ask if she needs/wants help.
Some of you blokes seem to have taken my statement totally the wrong way. What's wrong with good manners? I've done it myself if I see anyone, male or female who seems to be struggling with something. 'Would you like some help with that?'
I did not say that I refused his help, or tell him off. I just felt he was being a tad overbearing.
To prove my point, when I was ready to leave yesterday morning, another gent asked if I would like him to guide me back to hitch up. I said yes, thank you, that would be wonderful. He even let the whatsee down for me. (Excuse my non-technical term.) I thanked him again and he went on his way. Then I realised he'd released it crookedly and I pulled and pushed and couldn't get it to release again so I could straighten it. So I went to another small group and asked if one of them could help me, and one did. And I thanked him.
Jack, no problems, you are a good man and that woman didn't deserve your help. She seemed a bit weird anyway.
Turbopete, those puters can be a nightmare sometimes.