This is my first forum post, so please excuse me if someone has suggested/requested it in the past.
Under.........
Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations
section
Can a sticky area headed "Pros & Cons tent features" be put in where we can look for and post opinions of various tent options..
At the moment there's a sticky at the top there now titled..
"Sewn in groundsheets or not.......?"
These seems to be others and I can think of loads..
Clear PVC windows or not?
Pump-up tents or not?
Tunnel tents or not?
Breathable ground sheets or not?
Carpets or not?
etc....
It would be a great place to start / look for topic in.
Also, I'd like a topic section sticky for -
"Post Your Ideal Tent Spec. here"....
Given that we all have our own preferences, we could post our ideals... for our tent .. e.g. 4-man standing room, UK 3-season.
That way we could put in suggestions and maybe then tent manufacturers could do a bit if lurking and possibly we might even end up getting better tents than we have now.
Similarly, all the questions about specific tents/brands could be posted under a single sticky. (there are still such posts even though there is are tent reviews). Or what about a "HELP - I need advice" sticky?
The trouble is there are always new models coming on to the market and this would tend to go out of date quite quickly plus tents are a very personal item what suits one family wouldnt suit another
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
"The trouble is there are always new models coming on to the market and this would tend to go out of date quite quickly plus tents are a very personal item what suits one family wouldnt suit another."
My first suggestion, to have a "Pros & Cons tent features" sticky, would not go out of date... its pretty much a collection of tent features, peoples pro & con ideas and will stand the test of time. Of, course there will always be new features, that what makes it a "future proof" site feature, so when new feature come along people can add the new feature and start attracting our pros or cons. Best of all though the experiences are cumulative and not lost over time, hence my request for a sticky. If the thread for each feature gets too long then the management could always incorporate the pros and cons into a single post and delete the older posts. That way the site become a database for us all to glean from and contribute to.
Now my second suggestion, a "Post Your Ideal Tent Spec. here" sticky, is also future proof, in that people can always post an updated my "Ideal Tent Spec.". And as posts are all dated, and in date order, then lurking manufacturers design folk would be able to make their own mind up from there. Simple really. Of course, that's the beauty of [my/your] "Ideal Tent Spec.", its personal and depending on the response they get from onlookers I am sure those lurkers could make up their own mind. Obvious really.
As far as putting in all comments about specific tent brands in a specific area, that will always be an ongoing thing, but its neat and tidy to put all such post in a single area, so a single sticky thread could keep them in check.
So ..mmmmm.. I'm not sure what you mean Des, I see no problems, but lots of benefits. Just look at how people who keep on posting questions, opinions etc, same topics over and over again.
As a newbie or even when I came to see what features I should get in my new tent, I found it difficult to find out what I needed to know quickly. And there were features I wanted but could not find ( e.g. 1. zip out alternative groundsheets to have breathable/waterproof/no g/sheet depending on the campsite. 2. modular tent designs allowing a sort of mix and match).
So I made these suggestions. I think they would greatly help this site and tented campers everywhere.
The biggest drawback is many don't read the posts or stickies before posting, for example use search and look for any name of tent, you will see the same question asked over and over. I see your point and in theory I think it's a good one but when you've been here a while you will see that when someone has a question about anything they tend to just post without looking
------------- Steven
If the answer may offend you then dont ask the question in the first place !!
"when someone has a question about anything they tend to just post without looking"
Well, I am not so certain, my immediate reaction was to wonder where to find the stuff I wanted and I suppose that's what many of us do.
Then having found no obvious location for the info we needed, we only had a choice of,
1. post a message (10%)
2. go else where (60%)
3. search (30%)
Obviously some will choose option 1, which is the ONLY activity you could possibly see evidence of here now, because the other 2 groups do not show any posting activity, at all. So its a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy to predict they do this. Obvious really.
Now if there was already an obvious location to browse then I would think most of us would look/browse there before we did anything else. And you could then direct the few brave but slothful, time consumed or inexperienced among us to these stickys.
Most of all, browsing is a much better experience than searching (very time consuming - just where do you start?) or asking questions, and so most people would browse.
As I am sure you are well aware, asking questions is not an "easy" option, as replies can often be time wasting, troublesome, offensive, etc.
So with these stickys I suggested, the options for us users would then be,
New members usually get here by looking for an answer, and most questions on a google search will bring up UKCS. By asking now they will get the latest information.
As for stickies have my page set on "Since you last visited" and haven't seen a sticky in years
Also by reading the forums, they can open minds to new possibilities which had not been previously considered
A one hit answer, would not lead others into our wonderful world
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
I agree with Oldham, I understand your points but stick around and you will see that people don't look past their nose sometimes when asking questions. Take this section for example I wish I had a pound for everytime in the last 5 year someone has asked how to post pictures yet it's plainly explained in a thread on the top of the page how to do it lol
It may seem 'easy' or 'obvious' to you but it isn't to many and I would also add many good friendships have been made and experience learnt by asking questions
Never mind I'm sure you meant well, keep thinking of new ideas as sometimes it's the simple ones that work well ;)
------------- Steven
If the answer may offend you then dont ask the question in the first place !!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Newbie suggestion/request
