Solo camping

[vespalien]

Thinking aloud again. (following post23 on this thread)

On safety issues for loners; much of that is probably about being aware and alert to possible threats.

About giving off an air of confidence (even if quaking in your boots) so that you smile and say "Thank you for offering, but I am fine." Perhaps tell a loiterer that you are waiting for a colleague or partner to come back.

Perhaps about trying to identify a genuine threat from a genuine helper. I believe that most people are helpful so tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. I have not yet been proven wrong.

The people who have actually tried to con me have always been extremely persistent and pushy, trying to take control of a given situation, even when apparently seeking my help for them.

As I said, just thinking aloud, but I think that the ones to watch out for are the pushy insistent helpers rather than the reticent ones, asking for help may be safer than waiting for it to be offered.

Just a few thoughts based on my own experience for others to comment on, if they wish.

 

[wineciccio]

May ask what you are on about???:dog::dog::dog::dog::dog::dog:

 

[grumpyengraver]

Thinking aloud again. (following post23 on this thread)

On safety issues for loners; much of that is probably about being aware and alert to possible threats.

About giving off an air of confidence (even if quaking in your boots) so that you smile and say "Thank you for offering, but I am fine." Perhaps tell a loiterer that you are waiting for a colleague or partner to come back.

Perhaps about trying to identify a genuine threat from a genuine helper. I believe that most people are helpful so tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. I have not yet been proven wrong.

The people who have actually tried to con me have always been extremely persistent and pushy, trying to take control of a given situation, even when apparently seeking my help for them.

As I said, just thinking aloud, but I think that the ones to watch out for are the pushy insistent helpers rather than the reticent ones, asking for help may be safer than waiting for it to be offered.

Just a few thoughts based on my own experience for others to comment on, if they wish.

I think always carry a loaded 12bore and not to be frightened to let both barrels go, soon sorts out security

 

[Tbear]

A rounders bat kept with a tennis ball is a child toy. Anyone that sticks there head in your van and gets jabbed in the face with it may disagree. It does not need to be swung just a flick of the wrist is enough to break the fingers of someone grabbing you. Having it with you will give you comfort and confidence.

Richard

 

[n brown]

well if we're talking weaponry,i still think a can of Pledge is great for gluing eyes shut,and little chance of accidentally ending up with an inconvenient corpse to dispose of [ cue new thread ? ]

 

[vespalien]

Weapons? Why weapons? Why would anyone need a weapon? Weapons make YOU the criminal.

The thread was a follow on to a post elsewhere were a lady newbie was expressing concern about going solo. I didn't want to exacerbate thread drift so started a fresh thread. But I forgot about the right wing macho loonies for whom force answers all questions. Never mind.

Violence simply begets more violence - Mahatma Ghandi

Fear itself is the big enemy - if you are so feeble minded that your answer has to be a threat of violence, then there is little hope for you. Most situations that people find worrying usually turn out to be utterly innocent. I was musing about how one might differentiate between apparent risk and real risk and from my own experiences feel it is people who try too hard to control the situation (perhaps bullying or threatening, but possibly just being very persistent or persuasive) that are the threat.

 

[ellisboy]

Weapons? Why weapons? Why would anyone need a weapon? Weapons make YOU the criminal.

The thread was a follow on to a post elsewhere were a lady newbie was expressing concern about going solo. I didn't want to exacerbate thread drift so started a fresh thread. But I forgot about the right wing macho loonies for whom force answers all questions. Never mind.

Violence simply begets more violence - Mahatma Ghandi

Fear itself is the big enemy - if you are so feeble minded that your answer has to be a threat of violence, then there is little hope for you. Most situations that people find worrying usually turn out to be utterly innocent. I was musing about how one might differentiate between apparent risk and real risk and from my own experiences feel it is people who try too hard to control the situation (perhaps bullying or threatening, but possibly just being very persistent or persuasive) that are the threat.

You need to get out more!
try camping :banana:

 

[Sharon the Cat]

The thread was a follow on to a post elsewhere were a lady newbie was expressing concern about going solo. I didn't want to exacerbate thread drift so started a fresh thread. But I forgot about the right wing macho loonies for whom force answers all questions. [/QUOTE ]

They are not macho loonies just bog standard loonies with a sense of humour. I am sure most of us know to take your post seriously as it was meant and theirs with a big pinch of salt and a grin.

 

[maingate]

Weapons? Why weapons? Why would anyone need a weapon? Weapons make YOU the criminal.

The thread was a follow on to a post elsewhere were a lady newbie was expressing concern about going solo. I didn't want to exacerbate thread drift so started a fresh thread. But I forgot about the right wing macho loonies for whom force answers all questions. Never mind.

Violence simply begets more violence - Mahatma Ghandi

Fear itself is the big enemy - if you are so feeble minded that your answer has to be a threat of violence, then there is little hope for you. Most situations that people find worrying usually turn out to be utterly innocent. I was musing about how one might differentiate between apparent risk and real risk and from my own experiences feel it is people who try too hard to control the situation (perhaps bullying or threatening, but possibly just being very persistent or persuasive) that are the threat.

On the subject of being feeble minded. The solo lady who was asking for information has probably been put off wilding for life after your post. She was looking for reassurance and you listed every terrible possibility short of being Nuked. I think she has probably given up the idea due to the nightmares she is now having.

That's what happens when you try to let us all know what a great fund of knowledge you have and how we can all benefit from it. We all know the potential perils but were not prepared to unnecessarily scare a newbie to wilding. That is why she was offered the opportunity to attend WC Meets, to ease her into it.

Oh yes, members possibly don't like being classed as feeble minded (see above). If I come across a motorhome forum for the gifted, I will give you a link.

 

[scampa]

On the subject of being feeble minded. The solo lady who was asking for information has probably been put off wilding for life after your post. She was looking for reassurance and you listed every terrible possibility short of being Nuked. I think she has probably given up the idea due to the nightmares she is now having.

That's what happens when you try to let us all know what a great fund of knowledge you have and how we can all benefit from it. We all know the potential perils but were not prepared to unnecessarily scare a newbie to wilding. That is why she was offered the opportunity to attend WC Meets, to ease her into it.

Oh yes, members possibly don't like being classed as feeble minded (see above). If I come across a motorhome forum for the gifted, I will give you a link.

I agree with your comments maingate, but I'd just like to point out that we have no vacancies on that forum at the moment, sorry.

 

[yorkieowl]

When is the threat meant to be? when you are out of the van on your own? if I was solo wilding, and was approach by a stranger, in the van or out, whom I felt uncomfortable with I would make out my other half was asleep in the van, how are they to know who's with you.

 

[maingate]

When is the threat meant to be? when you are out of the van on your own? if I was solo wilding, and was approach by a stranger, in the van or out, whom I felt uncomfortable with I would make out my other half was asleep in the van, how are they to know who's with you.

Some people put a very large dog bowl outside to signify a big dog is on board.

You could hang a huge pair of Y-fronts from the door handle for the same effect.

perhaps you could ask scampa, he's a clever bu .... chap.

 

[scampa]

I always found it useful to carry a small folding shovel....

Not to use as a weapon, but to bury any left-over evidence after my dog had dealt with any dodgy characters! :tongue:

 

[shawbags]

I've never had any problems , a simple poke in the eye is very effective if anyone gets too close.

 

[Luckheart]

I had some "boisterous" darlings circling my wagon on in their little hot car and ignored them. When one climbed on my ladder on the back a quick flash of my extreme torch made him fall off and run back to the herd. I calmly got in the saddle and headed off out of their territory. Brown trousers inside but they didn't know that. Just once in many many wilding nights though.

 

[vespalien]

When is the threat meant to be? when you are out of the van on your own? if I was solo wilding, and was approach by a stranger, in the van or out, whom I felt uncomfortable with I would make out my other half was asleep in the van, how are they to know who's with you.

That was my point, there is no threat. Sorry the post has been misconstrued as frightening. I was trying to point out that fears are almost always unfounded and often self-generated - as in any aspect of our lives. Sadly some feed such fears to sell their wares.

"Cowards die many times before their deaths" as Shakespeare's Caesar said. It's about realistically assessing risk - especially the likelihood of an event happening, rather than just winding oneself up over the consequences.