"It happens all the time and it's insanity. People relay instances of positioning tents, windbreaks or caravans in the middle of spacious campsites, pristine beaches and rolling fields only to watch dumbfounded as the next people to arrive ignore the inviting acres of space all around and quickly set themselves up cheek-by-horrified-jowl with the original homesteaders.
The phenomenon is known by psychologists as "flocking".
Don't experience it often, most annoying when it happens, camped way West of Darwin a while back, middle of nowhere, here come a couple in a whiz bang, pull up so close to our front bumper I cant drive away without reversing first, why for goodness sake, BTW, not a word of greeting was spoken.
Makes ya wunda tho . You read about it hear all the time.
I pulled up at a "free camp" near my place , as it is hardly ever used . I asked old mate,
how he come to find out about it . "Just driving past" , but added , if no one else pulled up he was going on.
Even after I Assured him he would be safe there . I lived just down the road & nothing had happened in the
25yrs I have been here & driving , as well as sleeping along same road for 46yrs , including 10wks ago , when
I was too tired to make the last 42k home . As well as next week . Have been travelling along same road for 68yrs.
And Never heard of anything happening to anybody . Went down at dark & he had gone . Reckons he Only ever "free camped".
macka17 said
01:09 PM Feb 28, 2017
One of those did similar to us a few yrs ago.
So close I couldn't pull out the rollout.
I had my genny running for AIrcond and microwave.
10min's later, a frenchman knocks on my door.
Can I turn my "noisy" generator off please.
There are other campers nearby, and about 2 or 3 in arvo
Genny's a genny to most.
Normal people accept as long as not indecent hrs.
A couple the other end of the camp had them running too.
When tenp, drops I'll turn off, ok.
Foul look and away he went.
20 min's later. Knock. Knock.
"Turn that noisy thing off." NO please.
OK.
Out with the 4 1\2 in grinder...
coupla minutes of that.
Brrm brrrm. off he drove.
Ther's asking, and then there's asking.
Grinders and belt sander\planers are a wonderful thing at times hey.
I carry a couple.
For repairs on car\caravan only. Honestly.
Goldfinger said
01:52 PM Feb 28, 2017
I reckon 'sheeple flocking behaviour' can best be shown/explained by that old Candid Camera Segment which had half dozen people waiting/seated in a Doctors Surgery, plus the hapless
victim/target of their exercise ....on quiet signal everyone in the room stood upright to attention at the same time....guess what...in every case a waiting victim stood bolt upright as well,
without the slightest idea or reason for doing so.....everyone else was doing it...so they did also.....tooooo funny....tooooo stupid/mindless......safety and comfort in all doing the same..
This little black duck and wifey get up and move....and if the 'sheeple' follows I start my stockwhip practice...never know when I need my stockwhip, so have to practice, don't I..
It's when they start using your outside loo tent that you really have to worry, Santa......
Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 01:54:03 PM
Mike Harding said
01:53 PM Feb 28, 2017
When I am camped deep in the bush and on those rare occasions I spy another 4WD drive mulling around looking for a camp spot and if I am feeling mischievous I ensure I am sitting in plain view and cleaning one of my rifles.
Goldfinger said
01:56 PM Feb 28, 2017
...sooooo do the Police drive 4WD's....?.......just sayin'....Hoo Roo
Mike Harding said
02:01 PM Feb 28, 2017
>...sooooo do the Police drive 4WD's....?
They sure do and I've met up with a couple in the bush over the years.
There is no problem having a licensed firearm in an appropriate place and firearms should be regularly cleaned.
Many of the bush coppers here in Victoria are hunters anyway.
the rocket said
03:58 PM Feb 28, 2017
We have been lucky. Only happens on rare occasion.
madaboutled said
04:14 PM Feb 28, 2017
the rocket wrote:
We have been lucky. Only happens on rare occasion.
That would have to make you a very "lucky flocker". Having had a few more than wanted flocking experiences, we've found is it's the overseas backpackers in wizz bangs that are the most offending fockers.
Happywanderer said
05:12 PM Feb 28, 2017
Parked at Kumbia last night. Only one there. A while later in came 2 backpacker vans. Not known to each other by the way. I had one park either side of me even though the other side of the camping area was completely empty.
Go figure!!
Santa said
05:29 PM Feb 28, 2017
madaboutled wrote:
the rocket wrote: we've found is it's the overseas backpackers in wizz bangs that are the most offending fockers.
Yep, as have we.
And if that's politically incorrect, bad luck.
hako said
05:43 PM Feb 28, 2017
We've noted similar happenings and whilst it can sometimes be a bit too friendly, it's to be expected - we flock together basically for safety and if in olden days we didn't flock together then we would probably not exist as a race today. Loners don't last too long as they are easy pickings.
Good Luck.
madaboutled said
06:13 PM Feb 28, 2017
Santa wrote: Yep, as have we.
And if that's politically incorrect, bad luck.
I'm sure your opening comment "The phenomenon is known by psychologists as "flocking" is correct, so, how can it be politically incorrect? IMHO as I'm sure is yours on this topic, flocking would be politically correct. Therefore, a person found flocking could logically be called a flocker. I think it's good to have a finally name for those that encroach on our space.
We try to educate these flockers in our travels, but it seems for every one that leaves, 10 more flockers arrive to take their place. Now that there's a name for it I somehow feel justified in the language I used with the last flocker I encountered.
Gaylehere said
07:00 PM Feb 28, 2017
I read somewhere on this forum recently that overseas backpackers/whizzbangers are advised to camp close to Grey Nomads for their own safety. Now if I see a guy with a whip or cleaning his gun I know there's flockers around and I will keep my distance so not to be confused with one. LOL.
Desert Dweller said
10:38 AM Mar 1, 2017
We were camped next to the Lachlan River on the Kidman Way above Hillston. The camp is a large paddock (Travelling Stock Reserve). There were a few vans strung out along the river, quite far apart. We had gathered some wood to have a fire & Judy was sitting reading in front of the yet to be lit fireplace when a big rig pulled up & a bloke got out. He came over & said that we were camped in his ''usual spot'', how long were we going to stay for. After telling him that we'd be staying for 3 nights he grunted & stomped off. He then parked his rig almost on top of us & yelled out that when we get OUR fire started he'd be over for a drink. Judy yelled back ''we don't drink'' (we do ). He then proceeded to take his aggression out on his wife for the rest of the night & pulled out next morning. WHAT A LOVELY MAN!
Santa said
10:40 AM Mar 1, 2017
Desert Dweller wrote:
We were camped next to the Lachlan River on the Kidman Way above Hillston. The camp is a large paddock (Travelling Stock Reserve). There were a few vans strung out along the river, quite far apart. We had gathered some wood to have a fire & Judy was sitting reading in front of the yet to be lit fireplace when a big rig pulled up & a bloke got out. He came over & said that we were camped in his ''usual spot'', how long were we going to stay for. After telling him that we'd be staying for 3 nights he grunted & stomped off. He then parked his rig almost on top of us & yelled out that when we get OUR fire started he'd be over for a drink. Judy yelled back ''we don't drink'' (we do ). He then proceeded to take his aggression out on his wife for the rest of the night & pulled out next morning. WHAT A LOVELY MAN!
Fortunately these types are few and far between DD.
Aus-Kiwi said
10:47 PM Mar 1, 2017
Its the smelly noises grey nomads make at night !! There is some grump old pharts out there too.. We tend to like level ground .. Staying overnight I don't find it too much of a problem !! The Nullarbor was strange .. We'd ull up all by ourselves.. Next morning there could easy be 40 campers nearby..
msg said
10:58 AM Mar 2, 2017
Got blocked in by backpackers at Rifle Creek at about midnight. They then proceeded to drink and make a lot of noise. One even got out of their van, not six feet away and peed. Right old barney followed.
"It happens all the time and it's insanity. People relay instances of positioning tents, windbreaks or caravans in the middle of spacious campsites, pristine beaches and rolling fields only to watch dumbfounded as the next people to arrive ignore the inviting acres of space all around and quickly set themselves up cheek-by-horrified-jowl with the original homesteaders.
The phenomenon is known by psychologists as "flocking".
Don't experience it often, most annoying when it happens, camped way West of Darwin a while back, middle of nowhere, here come a couple in a whiz bang, pull up so close to our front bumper I cant drive away without reversing first, why for goodness sake, BTW, not a word of greeting was spoken.
The article is worth a read http://www.smh.com.au/comment/shared-cafe-tables-are-my-idea-of-hell-20170226-guluj6.html
Makes ya wunda tho . You read about it hear all the time.
I pulled up at a "free camp" near my place , as it is hardly ever used . I asked old mate,
how he come to find out about it . "Just driving past" , but added , if no one else pulled up he was going on.
Even after I Assured him he would be safe there . I lived just down the road & nothing had happened in the
25yrs I have been here & driving , as well as sleeping along same road for 46yrs , including 10wks ago , when
I was too tired to make the last 42k home . As well as next week . Have been travelling along same road for 68yrs.
And Never heard of anything happening to anybody . Went down at dark & he had gone . Reckons he Only ever "free camped".
So close I couldn't pull out the rollout.
I had my genny running for AIrcond and microwave.
10min's later, a frenchman knocks on my door.
Can I turn my "noisy" generator off please.
There are other campers nearby, and about 2 or 3 in arvo
Genny's a genny to most.
Normal people accept as long as not indecent hrs.
A couple the other end of the camp had them running too.
When tenp, drops I'll turn off, ok.
Foul look and away he went.
20 min's later. Knock. Knock.
"Turn that noisy thing off." NO please.
OK.
Out with the 4 1\2 in grinder...
coupla minutes of that.
Brrm brrrm. off he drove.
Ther's asking, and then there's asking.
Grinders and belt sander\planers are a wonderful thing at times hey.
I carry a couple.
For repairs on car\caravan only. Honestly.
I reckon 'sheeple flocking behaviour' can best be shown/explained by that old Candid Camera Segment which had half dozen people waiting/seated in a Doctors Surgery, plus the hapless
victim/target of their exercise ....on quiet signal everyone in the room stood upright to attention at the same time....guess what...in every case a waiting victim stood bolt upright as well,
without the slightest idea or reason for doing so.....everyone else was doing it...so they did also.....tooooo funny....tooooo stupid/mindless......safety and comfort in all doing the same..
This little black duck and wifey get up and move....and if the 'sheeple' follows I start my stockwhip practice...never know when I need my stockwhip, so have to practice, don't I..
It's when they start using your outside loo tent that you really have to worry, Santa......
Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 01:54:03 PM
When I am camped deep in the bush and on those rare occasions I spy another 4WD drive mulling around looking for a camp spot and if I am feeling mischievous I ensure I am sitting in plain view and cleaning one of my rifles.
>...sooooo do the Police drive 4WD's....?
They sure do and I've met up with a couple in the bush over the years.
There is no problem having a licensed firearm in an appropriate place and firearms should be regularly cleaned.
Many of the bush coppers here in Victoria are hunters anyway.
We have been lucky. Only happens on rare occasion.
That would have to make you a very "lucky flocker". Having had a few more than wanted flocking experiences, we've found is it's the overseas backpackers in wizz bangs that are the most offending fockers.
Go figure!!
Yep, as have we.
And if that's politically incorrect, bad luck.
Good Luck.
I'm sure your opening comment "The phenomenon is known by psychologists as "flocking" is correct, so, how can it be politically incorrect? IMHO as I'm sure is yours on this topic, flocking would be politically correct. Therefore, a person found flocking could logically be called a flocker. I think it's good to have a finally name for those that encroach on our space.
We try to educate these flockers in our travels, but it seems for every one that leaves, 10 more flockers arrive to take their place. Now that there's a name for it I somehow feel justified in the language I used with the last flocker I encountered.
Fortunately these types are few and far between DD.
>I think a lot of people feel safer in a huddle
Depends if her husband's overseas or not :)