Am I arrogant?

Not arrogant at all - many retirees, particularly those relying on the pension do have a sense of entitlement. My 85yo mum who is on the old age pension says the same - many of her acquaintances believe they should get everything for nothing - by all means respect retirees (I am one too) and assist as much as possible with discounts etc but they should not expect everything for nothing.

Garry

G'day
I always say, nothing is free. It means that you want someone else to pay for it!
Cheers
Stu

Just a comment on dump points.
A very high proportion of ALL dump points in Australia have been supplied free of charge by The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, sponsored by KEA Motorhomes and Queensland Transport. Local authorities have covered the cost of installation.
A condition of that supply is that these dump points are available for use by the public free of charge.

As to the carparks in town, it really boils down to a business decision as to whether the town wants to encourage the many potential RVers into their shops, or not.
Walmart in the US go one step further and invite RVers to "camp" in their carparks over night.
It is good for security and it makes good business sense.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
CMCA member S30276

Gordon,

I don't really see it that much with grey nomads my friend, perhaps a little intolerance at times but not real selfishness. Mind you I don't travel amongst them often so perhaps my perceptions may be different with a bit more exposure, I don't know but.....have you noticed the behaviour of many teenagers and young persons (Generation X) these days. My goodness how times have changed in my 50 odd years. The arrogance, selfishness and self absorbtion I witness on a daily basis often defies belief.

Cheers Mick

No you're not arrogant.Our council doesn't give us what we pay for in our rates. Old age pensioners earned their way & should receive discounts but can't expect everything for free.
This, though , is what they're seeing a lot of eg. Kids free?
It's unfortunately the sign of the times but it's not all of the pensioners who are at fault.
Take care, safe travels. Ma.

A lot of the grey nomads of my vintage (Prewar and wartime babies)were too old to benefit from the so-called compulsory superannuation once they retired.

If they grew up in the country towns on low wages, and lots did, there was nothing left after paying all the bills to put away for a rainy day or retirement. Just ask me.

Now they see what is happening with all the so called refugees with the generous payments paid by our ever helpful government to help these people.........................

Is it any wonder they feel that they have a sense of entitlement for what they contributed to this country before the Great Mineral Boom and the Great Refugee Intake.

Disco
(who's a grumpy grey nomad.................. and proud of it!!)

Seems the problem is that basic services which nomads (of all ages) would like at low/no costs are not being provided to anywhere near the extent they are needed right across this huge country so some of the complaining is undoubtedly justified. That should be where pensioner and other advocacy groups get cracking. Governments have plenty of money to splash about subsidising big business, superannuation etc and personally I think the neglect of road traveller facilities is just ignorance and laziness on behalf of state and territory, and to a lesser extent local government, authorities. I can't see any reason why there shouldn't be a matrix of properly maintained public toilets and shower facilities, picnic spots, lay-bys and public camping areas in a country of this size and wealth.

Are you arrogant for your attitude? I don't know but I would say that some of us are very well off compared to others so we should try and put ourselves in their shoes occasionally. "Open your wallet or move on" is something many people are only able to do every now and again.

I think you may be a little tough on grey nomads, who most likely have worked & paid taxes their whole lives without complain, many of whom are still more than happy to pay their own way.
What about the tens of thousands that sit on their backsides all day waiting for the Government "pay"? Many of them have never paid tax in their lives. Now they do have a sense of entitlement!

Hi gordon_adel

Camping is a great Australian tradition. Getting out the there with the family was a healthy holiday. Head out with the tent, a Tilley lantern and a spade. We camped this way as did our parents and our grandparents. There were holiday resorts along the coast.

Then came the easy life - people wanting electricity, hot showers and all the comforts of home. Caravan parks were expected.

Now we have self sufficient rigs that to buy would cost more that touring in Motels with far more comfort and privacy than caravan parks in towns. That is not what we want. We are not asking for more than day travellers or local residents can expect, and are willing to pay National Park fees or honesty box fees for community run campgrounds.

As a public health service toilets are provided in towns for everyone. With a move to caravans and motorhomes with their own on board toilets, providing dump points is part of this service and what's more as Peter has pointed out they can get them well subsidised. Rubbish bins are provided for residents and travellers alike. Why are some travellers being told by some that they are costing the ratepayers any more than any other traveller or resident?

Parking is provided for everyone. Why does it suddenly become naughty to park overnight just because you have an on board bed?

Some towns which have been disadvantaged by the changes in agriculture and the ravages of drought are sad with al shops boarded up, and many houses derelict because they were unsaleable. Some towns are thriving because they have been innovative and invested in the new wave of travellers. It is a win-win situation.

I actively promote towns like these and will drive out of my way to visit and patronise them, and talk to the locals. It is a very rewarding experience which enriches our touring and holidays.

We purchased an expensive independent outfit so we could get out in the bush. We do sometimes patronise caravan parks in towns so they too gain custom from travellers like us, but our preference is to get away from it all. The cost to the community is no more than for any other travellers.

I hope this makes the reality clearer for you.

Motherhen

You have to pay to go to the toilet at most service stations all through Europe. We have it pretty good I reckon. :-)

No one should expect something for nothing. But when we get it most of us are thankful.
But, the poor so called grey nomads have been copping a bit of flack this past year. As we get older maybe we do say what we think a bit more and maybe our patience is not what it used to be, but maybe after working all your life since you left school, not going to schoolies week etc, time takes its toll.
Last week the news was about how the older folk, the over 65’s, were basically flagrantly using their private health insurance to maintain their quality of life. Mongrels, how dare they! The article said over 65s comprises 15 percent of membership but receive 48 percent of the benefits. One point I read form an over 65er was that they have been paying into a private health fund since they were 18, they don’t recall any complaint about the fees they have paid for more than 45 years. Good point.
Remember, there are now generations of people who have received unemployment benefits all of their life, they are use to getting something for nothing, (and I am not talking about the genuine unemployed, hell of a thing not to have a job) you don’t get to meet too many of these grey nomads in your travels. All of the grey nomads we have meet in our travels have stories about their hard working life and I admire them.
Just my little say. Kevin

Arogant...having or displaying an exagerated sence of a persons own importance or abilities.

Its interesting that most people who acuse others of being "arogant" do not understand the meaning of the word.

These people will very frequently acuse others who know their business and are doing their job properly of being "arogant".

People who are ignorant of the matters, willfully doing what they know to be wrong or illegal, or are simply selfish ingrates.

So look to the top of my post and tell me which one is "arogant", the person who knows their business or is doing their job or the ignorant one who simply does not want to be told they are doing the wrong thing?

By extrapolation an "arogant" person will have a sence of entitlement beyond that which is reasonable.

Isn't this all "ironic"...check that one up in the dictionary....lots of people use that word with not a clue of its meaning too.

cheers

If I may and I do mean this in a friendly way. It is not considerred good "netiquette" to bring a topic of conversation to a forum from another forum. So yes, some people might see you as 'provocative'. The way they look at it, is that you didn't get the response you wanted from the other forum so you go to a different forum looking for support.

To answer the specific questions, I think is beyond the scope of this forum. Not to mention the members will be bias. The members here (or most of them) are the very people you are asking whether they are selfish. You would be better off and would get a clearer answer if you were to ask younger people the same questions.

These are such big questions that you can only answer on an age group basis. I am sure that there are many individuals that have done very good things over the years.

For example. If you were to ask younger people if we should have "user pays" water. The answer would probably be yes. Now ask the same question and qualify it by asking...In view of the older age group (the age group that includes the grey nomads) allowing a foreign company to come to Australia and take trillions upon trillions of liters of OUR water and affectively turn it into rubbish, should we have user pays water? The answer might very well be No.

One report I read a while ago suggeted that Coca Cola uses upto 50% of Sydneys water supply each year!! The younger age groups did not cause this but now have to live with it and pay for it.

Or another example. Should the older age group be given free services and conssesions? Yes. Or...In view of the damage caused by the older age group in it's relentless rush to generate enough wealth to be able to afford a 1/4 million dollar motorhome. Leaving global wide damage such as greenhouse gases and wide spread use of asbestos, should they be given free services and conssesions or be forced to pay for the clean-up and repair?

That is just two example questions. I could spend all day listing dozens or maybe hundreds of such questions.

The old adage - be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.

Please note: I did say above that the members (and readers) here will be bias. So no need for the onslaught of posts telling me that I am wrong. Lets just take it for granted that you have told me.