Let's get it on with this one!

['tiredTeacher]

Since we've started a generator thread to wile away the winter hours, I propose we rant on "sound reproduction devices" and their ubiquitous presence in otherwise wilderness settings.

I know it'll come as a shock to you, but I really don't enjoy listening to your d**n stereo 18 hours a day, especially if I'm two or three sites away. Oh, while I'm at it, why don't you race fans stay home and listen/watch that foolishness out in a mall parking lot  instead of setting up your outdoor tailgate party, complete with TV set on stun, and "Wahoo-ing" with Budweisers flying in the otherwise peaceful environs of a wooded setting?

Let the games begin.  :!

[wavery]

Since we've started a generator thread to wile away the winter hours, I propose we rant on "sound reproduction devices" and their ubiquitous presence in otherwise wilderness settings.

I know it'll come as a shock to you, but I really don't enjoy listening to your d**n stereo 18 hours a day, especially if I'm two or three sites away. Oh, while I'm at it, why don't you race fans stay home and listen/watch that foolishness out in a mall parking lot  instead of setting up your outdoor tailgate party, complete with TV set on stun, and "Wahoo-ing" with Budweisers flying in the otherwise peaceful environs of a wooded setting?

Let the games begin.  :!

HMMMMMMM!! Could this be what they call, "Trolling"?? :sombraro:

[6fordaroad]

Since we've started a generator thread to wile away the winter hours, I propose we rant on "sound reproduction devices" and their ubiquitous presence in otherwise wilderness settings.

Let the games begin.  :!

OK, I go for the quiet!  During the day, noise is tolerable, god knows with 4 kids ranging from 14 all the way down to 6, I have a camper full of noisemakers.  HOWEVER, my kids are in and quiet by 8, and typically asleep by 9:30.  My dog doesn't bark unless there is someone knocking at the door or visibly touching our camper.  We have a television, which at 8 gets turned down to 12 on a max volume of 50, yes you can hear it outside our camper, but you have to really be listening for it to disturb you, and you'd have to be in our campsite to hear it.  We don't use a generator, have yet to be dry camping, but we are debating on generator or solar, that has yet to be decided.  I would like to think that we are very courteous campers, be it tent or pup, but i could be wrong, we have yet to have anyone have to talk to us about our noise levels, so I think we succeed, I had to play with our stereo to figure out how to get the music on the inside speakers only, and we don't blast it, not even during the day.  I don't want to hear your music, so I won't make anyone suffer with mine, unless they want to come in and visit, or sit outside and visit.

It drives me nuts when people bring dogs that they know, are going to bark constantly at every little thing, or have bon fires till 3 or 4 in the morning and drinking and carrying on.  That's bad sportsman like conduct there.  Penalties should be enforced.  We have tent camped in a state park once, and I won't do it there again, it left a bad taste in my mouth.  By 7 at night, the host was drunk and driving her golf cart around, so needless to say, by the time she finally called it a night and passed out, that's when the bon fire people let go and got rowdy.  But to my defense as payback, I let my kids loose at 7:30, and let them be as loud as they wanted to be.  Because of this expierience, I am leary of state parks, not against them, just leary.

[Clarabelle]

There always is a noise element when camping.  After all, we are often just a few feet from each other with a couple of millimeters of canvas as a barrier.  It's only a problem when loud music is playing after quiet hours, or barking the dog thing is happening.  The yapping dog is the worst unless they are playing RAP music.

[Shredder]

Hey teach, these trouble makers arn't your old students by any chance are they?
Shredder

[PattieAM]

Back in my tent camping days at a state park, I used to get rattled by the jerks cruising the park roads, stereo base cranked......but I've yet to notice this at the membership campgrounds I now utilize.  

Can't really complain about the early fisher-persons and their crack of dawn motors (they probably are not campers, but locals), although it does lessen my enjoyment of dawn and the awakening of the birds.

As to dogs....I just recently discovered my ditsy little dog gets very upset and will bark at 'neighbors' moving their cars, slamming the car doors, etc.  We live in a rural area and he rarely barks, but over at my father's house we have close neighbors and what a culture shock it is to him.  Towards the end of his stay, after I'd repeatedly shown him - it's the neighbors, he settled down a little.  I too can't stand barking dogs, but, he's doing his job - or so he thinks!  He thinks he's protecting me.  Funny, but in the PUP, if someone passes by, he doesn't bark, but rather halfway growls - just to let me know someone is out there.

[austinado16]

Excellent topic!

Our trip to the Grand Canyon was nicely shat upon by HUGE group across the camping area loop road from us.  I had specifically picked a spot where we'd be in with tent campers thinking that up at the GC there'd be a caliber of people camping.  I couldn't have been more ignorant.  So across from us was a tent city, repleat with huge generator, large TV playing XBox or similar games day and night, generator running, group of idiots standing around cheering.

That was night #1.  Night #2 was spent down on the Colorado River in a tent.  Wonderfully quiet, but at 95*F....way to hot for anything even remotely related to sleep.  Night #3 was back in campground hell and to suppliment the crew across the road, a couple of guys with heavy Saudi/Iraqi/Iranian type accents pulled in at about 2am and after loudly setting up there tent decided it was time to sit out at the picnic table and yak it up.  I finally had to yell out the window that it was 3am....knock it off.

Fortunately out trip to Kings Canyon was in better company, but just over the hill about 200yds was a huge group playing inmate football and just past them was the RV with generator and A/C running full tilt, dogs outside barking away, and owners who would simply slide open the window a little and yell repeatedly at the dogs.  We dodged the bullet on that one!

But like 6fordaroad, I'm the first one up in the morning if someone next to me wants to stay up late partying it up and keeping me up.  One time tent camping I was up at about 6am, backed my Rabbit Diesel up as close as possible to party central and fired it up.  Nothing like the smell of diesel, a heavy layer of exhaust smoke, and knock of 23:1 compression to really rattle a hung-over camper out of a sleeping bag!!!

Here at home, when the college kids in the rental next door kept us up, I call the landlord (at 2am or whatever time it happens to be, "Did I wake you? Funny, we're up because of your tenants, so I figured you'd want to be because of them too.  No?") and then I'm up at 6 or 7am, fire the lawn mower up, strap the safety handle down, push it over by their bedroom windows and leave it run for a half hour.  I got a kick one such morning when a window slid open and a girl squawked, "Shut it off.....It's Saturday morning!!!!"

I just have a real short fuse when it comes to inconsiderate people who think their personal freedoms extend beyond the tip of their nose.

[CajunCamper]

Excellent topic!

Our trip to the Grand Canyon was nicely shat upon by HUGE group across the camping area loop road from us.  I had specifically picked a spot where we'd be in with tent campers thinking that up at the GC there'd be a caliber of people camping.  I couldn't have been more ignorant.  So across from us was a tent city, repleat with huge generator, large TV playing XBox or similar games day and night, generator running, group of idiots standing around cheering.

That was night #1.  Night #2 was spent down on the Colorado River in a tent.  Wonderfully quiet, but at 95*F....way to hot for anything even remotely related to sleep.  Night #3 was back in campground hell and to suppliment the crew across the road, a couple of guys with heavy Saudi/Iraqi/Iranian type accents pulled in at about 2am and after loudly setting up there tent decided it was time to sit out at the picnic table and yak it up.  I finally had to yell out the window that it was 3am....knock it off.

Fortunately out trip to Kings Canyon was in better company, but just over the hill about 200yds was a huge group playing inmate football and just past them was the RV with generator and A/C running full tilt, dogs outside barking away, and owners who would simply slide open the window a little and yell repeatedly at the dogs.  We dodged the bullet on that one!

But like 6fordaroad, I'm the first one up in the morning if someone next to me wants to stay up late partying it up and keeping me up.  One time tent camping I was up at about 6am, backed my Rabbit Diesel up as close as possible to party central and fired it up.  Nothing like the smell of diesel, a heavy layer of exhaust smoke, and knock of 23:1 compression to really rattle a hung-over camper out of a sleeping bag!!!

Here at home, when the college kids in the rental next door kept us up, I call the landlord (at 2am or whatever time it happens to be, "Did I wake you? Funny, we're up because of your tenants, so I figured you'd want to be because of them too.  No?") and then I'm up at 6 or 7am, fire the lawn mower up, strap the safety handle down, push it over by their bedroom windows and leave it run for a half hour.  I got a kick one such morning when a window slid open and a girl squawked, "Shut it off.....It's Saturday morning!!!!"

I just have a real short fuse when it comes to inconsiderate people who think their personal freedoms extend beyond the tip of their nose.

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

[wavery]

:-() Isn't camping fun!!!!!!! :-()

 :sombraro:

[Dray]

:-() Isn't camping fun!!!!!!! :-()

 :sombraro:

It is fun!  Cause it puts people together to co-exist that may otherwise not.  

As far as noise goes.  Noise can be defined as unwanted sound.  Key word is unwanted.  Some people hate the sound of an airplane while it's music to another.

[Shredder]

It is fun!  Cause it puts people together to co-exist that may otherwise not.  

As far as noise goes.  Noise can be defined as unwanted sound.  Key word is unwanted.  Some people hate the sound of an airplane while it's music to another.

I keep ear plugs in the camper for those unexpected times. They really do work pretty well. Our hunting camp (in the boonies, not campground)has older types who go to bed early and youngins who play pocker and drink half the night. I use the earplugs and sleep like a baby..........Shredder

[ScouterMom]

I keep ear plugs in the camper for those unexpected times. They really do work pretty well. Our hunting camp (in the boonies, not campground)has older types who go to bed early and youngins who play pocker and drink half the night. I use the earplugs and sleep like a baby..........Shredder

LOL! I started taking ear plugs along on SCOUT campouts when Jon was in grade school.  I distinctly remember a very crowded scout campsite overloaded with tents (mostly 1 tent per cub/dad pair, a very few shared) and I was probably the only female parent there.  The chorus of SNORING had Jon and I giggling - alot!  Good thing we were REALLY tired, and fell asleep even with the noise, but after that, I always took earplugs along on campouts.  

They came along really handy on a campout in a commercial cave in Wisconsin - again overcrowded - our 'site' for 20 boys and parents was about 15 square feet on a rock cave floor, wet, not level and cut across the center by the main path into and out of the cave - there was a parade of people going by my sleeping bag ALL NIGHT.  But once those earplugs were in, and the covers pulled over my head - I was way too tired to care!

However, Those are situations where you expect noise - where the whole idea of the trip isn't peaceful communion with nature, but instead lots of activity for overstimulated boys!  

When I 'camp' - when the intention is to relax and get AWAY from the noise and bustle of civilization - I do NOT want to hear electronic devices.  No TV's, sports on TV, video games, telephone ringers, or stereos. I don't want to hear thrumming bass stereo, RAP, or loud motors.  If you want to pull out a REAL guitar and strum it, or sing around the campfire - GREAT!  if your kids are squealing & shreiking because they are having a water-gun fight with dad (in the daytime ) great - happy kid noise is fine. But I am out there in the wilderness to get AWAY from it all - not bring it all WITH ME.  I want to hear nature, and family - not electronic noise. But if you MUST entertain your kids (or yourselves!) with electronics, please keep them to yourselves - and don't let them spill over to my corner of the campground.


Now my son is older - he was taught to entertain himself without electronics.  He loves nature and isn't 'bored' without plugging in 24/7.  I will admit that he has one electronic vice - his digital camera.  He's become a darn good nature photgrapher!
 
I started him tent camping as a toddler, without electricity- we played board games, explored, swam, fished, learned to cook, played with the dog, learned camp skills, flew kites, rode bikes, etc.  But he was only ONE child.  I might have found it harder if I had to manage more than one on my own all the time. But it's not that hard - most of Jon's grade school years it was me, Jon, and one of Jon's friends. In keeping with Scout policy, we never took along electronics, except for cameras.

Some electronics I don't consider intrusive -

Cell phones - used for  communication as necessary - keeping track of the older kids, making arrangements to meet up with someone - but not ringing all night and day.

Walkies - keeping track of family within the campground.

GPS - I'd love to have one of these - would like to try geocaching sometime!

Digital cameras - show your kids how to use your camera - don't let dad or mom be the only photographer - or you will one day have an album of everyone BUT that person. (one of my families regrets is that my dad was the only one who ever operated the 8mm movie camera or 35 mm film camera - as they were too 'technical' for mom or expensive to let the kids 'play' with them - so now we have loads of movies and photos that daddy TOOK - and almost none of HIM on our family campouts. I lost my dad in 2001, and treasure every rare photo of him.)

Digital cameras are getting SO CHEAP now - why not get one for your KIDS?  they can take photos, even make their own movies of their adventures!  There are waterproof cases for them, even cameras MADE tough for small kids by fischer-Price, etc. So what if they take alot of pictures of their thumbs? They'll learn quickly how o operate the camera, and it's digital, so you are not 'wasting film', and the memories they record may be priceless to you one day!

We do almost always bring along our dog.  Fizzy, and before her, Tristan, Tara and Toby were all 'camping' dogs - very friendly, (mostly) obedient, always leashed, always cleaned up after and ALWAYS taught not to bark unless they had GOOD reason (intruders). Since they were all golden retreivers - their breed personality is such that they aren't 'nervous' or territorial types, anyway.  When Toby and Tara became elderly, or when our activities were such that we could not stay with the dogs all the time, we left them home - if they can't be WITH us, they are actually much happier at home.

I freely admit that I am very outspoken and highly opinionated about responsible pet ownership. I love animals - especially dogs of any kind.  It isn't the dog's fault if it doesn't have manners or isn't controlled - it's the owner's fault.  They aren't doing the dog any favors to let it be a nusance to others, and I don't blame the dog, I blame the owner. If my pet can't handle a situation, and disturbs others, then I remove myself and the pet from that situation or make arrangements for her (or us) to stay home.  If I can't be responsible for my pet, then I don't deserve to have one. That is true at home, or anywhere!

[austinado16]

Well said....all of it!

I gave our daughter Kate my Olympus 35mm camera about 3 years ago, when she was 5 or so.  It's one of their old automatics with a power zoom and handful of flash settings, and even a remote control for self portraits.  Back in the day, they were $300 at Costco and $500+ at camera stores.  Now, they are $30 for a perfect one on ebay.  She loves it, has become quite the photographer, and the fun/funny pictures she takes of herself and her friends, and her and her dog, etc., are just precious.  Cracks me up what is in the eye and mind of a kid!  She now uses my compact digital as well and during a trip to Disneyland & California Adventure 2 weekends ago, she fired off about 60 photos of the light parade.  All of them turned out great!

Couldn't agree more about teaching kids the basics of REAL life.  It's the core values like our parents passed to us that are going to make kids better people.....not sitting on a computer in the privacy of their room, having a myspace page, mastering a Wii, or commanding a blackberry.

[MotherNature]

Hi All!

While I respect others' rights to bring and enjoy their electric stuff, I personally don't feel a need to have electricity while camping!

We choose our campgrounds for the natural features, not the utility situation (even though I insist on some type of shower facility).  One of the parks we love (for its beach, NOT hookups!) has full hookups for all sites.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I certainly enjoy using my electric coffeemaker, microwave, and mini electric foreman grill while there!  We haven't encountered any more loud rowdies (loudies?) there than elsewhere.

Generator noise drives me nuts, but I respect people's right to use when/where allowed even though I personally can't stand it.  Excluded from criticism in this area are those who need electricity for medical reasons (such as running a respiratory nebulizer for breathing treatments, those who cannot be exposed to extreme heat, etc. - I'll gladly put up with the noise for those reasons)  I think that the people who bring the loud superpowered industrial-grade ones (or even poorly functioning small ones that belch excessive fumes) to a campground are just plain inconsiderate and rude.  

Loud stereos (vehicle or site-based) are ALWAYS unacceptable!  If you need to listen to the radio, stay within a polite noise radius of it (i.e. within your site).  MP3 players with headphones are another alternative (my boys always have theirs along - everyone can listen to their own music during the ride down and they are also useful for weather updates).  It's a little harder to control the volume on a guitar if that's your thing, but try and respect others by using a quiet-type playing technique (like strumming with fingers instead of a pick!)  Your idea of 'good' music may be repulsive to your neighbors!  People always seem to love guitars while camping, but what if someone started jamming on another type of non-electrical instrument like a trumpet or started playing baroque classical on a violin?  

Singing around the campfire - hmmmm.  Whether you enjoy it or it is getting on your nerves, I find that people get and tired give it up after a reasonable amount of time (I've never heard a group go for longer than an hour).  I can also use that time to take a walk, visit the restroom, borrow the boys' MP3 for a while, etc.  If I heard offensive lyrics I wouldn't hesitate to complain!

Besides the boys' MP3's (which I do NOT allow them to listen to during campfire time, meals, off the campsite, or while riding bikes) I think cell phones are a must-have provided they (phones and talkers!) are kept at an appropriate volume.  Walkie-talkies are wonderful for family communication as well.  I also love our digital camera!  Other than that, I can't think of anything our family NEEDS to have!

[fallsrider]

...People always seem to love guitars while camping, but what if someone started jamming on another type of non-electrical instrument like a trumpet or started playing baroque classical on a violin?  

It's funny how our own personal tastes affect what we enjoy or are willing to tolerate. I hate rap, hard rock, heavy metal, etc., and it grates on my nerves. Country music and soft rock I can listen to easily.

On a camping trip last Labor Day weekend to a state park in Virginia, I heard a most unique sound coming through the trees from a neighboring site. It was pleasant to hear, and out of curiosity, I ambled over to see what it was. Turns out it was a retired couple, and the husband was playing an instrument I had never seen before. It was a bowed psaltery. He played some for me, and I really enjoyed it. Had I not enjoyed it initially, I would have been annoyed and wouldn't have gone over to their site.

He didn't play it long and it wasn't very loud, so it would have been difficult for anyone to complain. It's all in what our tastes are.