Pity about EO

And a thread later ???????????
What happened, did you read what Willem said?

G'Day all,
I second that.
A lot of forums from various interest groups have died because it became too political, and because their followers became disinterested.
Not a good out-come for the forum supporters or business wise.
Regards,
Bazza.

Michelle and David,

"Willem - you've already gone off half baked with the other email I received from you off-forum earlier, simply because you didn't think 2 email responses from me in 2 weeks was fast enough for you. You are simply complaining about anything and everything today."

If you want to have a go at me for voicing an opinion...fine...but to mention a private matter in public is not acceptable. If you think that I am moaning or whinging about something then that is your perception of the matter. I state things like the way I see it and I am not afraid to say so. I try to keep my posts within the boundaries of fair play and decorum.

I respect your endeavour to create a business from your labours as we all must earn money to live. This FORUM is an excellent concept with reference to recreational activities. The FORUM however,must not become a vehicle for political debate and diverse bigotry. I am sure that many of us who use this forum to advance our knowledge of our recreational needs are not interested in reading the extreme views of either side of the equation. And YES I did vote in the Poll. And YES I voiced some concerns as the debate has grown. In hindsight however, it would have been better for this forum not to have gone down this path.

By all means use your numbers to drum up business to keep this great website in the black but keep the FORUM free from political bias.

This is my opinion and I am sticking to it. Now let us all return to talking about our trucks and what we eat when we are out camping. :-)

Cheers,

Willem,

I must admit I am still a little perplexed. We run a poll talking directly about 4WD issues. This was all started by the deaths of some children in a river crossing. If the driver had done the proper checks and been correctly trained would the result be different - maybe. I think when I watch some of those ad on the box that a large percentage of poeple think the vehicle should be able to just go through anything. This is the problem. It is not meant to be a political statement more just a way of collecting a result of what people think (the purpose of the site), we are going to pass on the poll results to the main advertising trade journal that has been in contact with us about this poll. Can you please explain the ploitical motivation behind this, I want to hear your point so that we can make sure we understand?

As for the camping ground question - I thought this was an excellent undertaking from the member in Tas that requested the information. We all moan about the bollards and the lack of facilites at the camp grounds so when we have been asked to provide feedback for the forward planning of camping facilites somewhere, I cannot understand why this should be seen as anything less than a chance to have an say in what should be considered. Even if they don't take it on-board. What if they did - wouldn't we all be happy. Can you please let me know your view point on this also.

As you know we build and work on the site purely based on feedback. At this stage I cannot understand the political debate because I cannot see what is political that has been done to the site. other than the posts that say it is political. Please help me understand.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

I post on this forum, I post on car racing forums (my other hobbie) and I post on a local issues forum. I do this because I enjoy the interaction, I do this because I learn heaps from others experiences, I do this because in my 46 years I have picked up some experiences and I am really happy to share them to those who might not have had the same experiences as I have had.

I know that Race Car Drivers/Owners and Race Car Managments read the racing forums, and in some cases resond on the forums.

I know with the local issues forum that at least one local councillor will post the facts ( and sometimes his opinions). The fact that he reads what people are thinking is a real bonus for him. He will have my vote next time.

I am sure that Government representatives, manufacturers and suppliers of 4X4 equipment read this forum, because it is the best one in Australia. So your say (and the way you behave) it most certainly read by one (or more) of those people listed above.

I am fairly new to this forum, and found the topics that are of interest to me to be very benificial to me. I have picked up a huge amount of good information, even though I have owned a 4X4 since 1989.

I laugh at some of the info, not because its funny, but because of some peoples perception, and how what is a written statement can be construed by so many in so many ways.

Keep up the Great Work ExplorOz Team, it is a bloody sensational website.

Thanks Big Trev,

We will keep up the work as WE LOVE IT - well most of the time.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

Hi David,

It must be a generational thing. Two different trains of thought and all I have done is to express my opinion on what I think matters on this forum. I AM NOT UPSET.

I am not going to go down the path that we have been taking recently as stated in my original post suffice to say that my feeling is that the more you activate discussion on the politics of 4wdriving the more people with different vested interests will get on the bandwagon and before long politicians will take the ball and run with it to further their own narrow agendas.

I love the Australian bush. I go camping because it gives me great pleasure to get out there with my 4x4, to smell the flowers, to study the footprints, to photograph the scenery, to enjoy the bush cooking, to search for fossils and rock art and to luxuriate in the creeks and springs.

I stay away from commercialised camping, places with facilities, caravan parks, places with pine forests(bollards). When going on an extended bush trip I do a lot of research into the history of the area and pore over maps to organise my trek. I am well prepared and kitted out for my recreation. I steer clear from cluster camping with groups but will make an exception from time to time. This is what I am on about.

I would like to learn more of places I have not been to and would like to help those with whatever knowledge I have on the chosen subject. This is why Exploroz attracted me in the first place and eventually I was given membership by yourself and have since renewed that membership. I wish to continue along that vein but I will make comments and give my opinion on this forum which from time to time may disagree with the general concensus. Love me or hate me,, I do not care as long as we keep things nice. :-)

Cheers,

Willem

Always going somewhere

John,
Well put.ne cede malis

If you are referring to politics then the answers is NO as there is never an outcome. In the past, when we were a lot younger, sitting around the camp fire, drinking copious amounts of liquid, we used to get into all kinds of arguments. That is one of the reasons I quit the club scene and for that matter travelling with other vehicles. If meeting and conversing with strangers at camp fires then the discussions are more reserved and we generally steer clear of highly contentious issues.
Cheers,Willem

Always going somewhere

Tony,

I think these points are things that are discussed around the camp fire.

We always moan about the location of the bollards in camp grounds, or the smelly toliets, or how far we have to walk to get to one. We have given people a chance to discuss this and provide feedback to a tourism guys in Tas. Maybe we needed to title the topic - Camp ground feedback sought. Because the only part that is political about this post is the word Polie (BTW: This can be spelt either way Pollie or Polie according to the Theasuras).

As for the advertising poll - again this has been done with NO political motivation at all. We are gathering results and raising awareness of the thoughts of many 4WD operators and associations. I have been around a camp fire and heard comments about advertising campaigns and ripping up the beach on TV etc.

We like Willem do not travel in groups and usually travel solo. I think for almost exactly the same reasons, I am still perplexed at why some poeple think this issue has gone political.

Anyway hope to meet you and Willem around a camp fire one day.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

Peter,

He had a donkey or camel. Both are 4 Hoof Drives. lol

Mal T.