Group Etiquette

[Coolharts]

We are in Watkins Glen State Park, NY in the Surveyor. Yesterday a group arrived in Alto's https://safaricondo.com/en/caravanes-alto/ for their rally taking up the campground loop, only us, a small Airstream and a Solitude are left.

While walking my dog the leader of the group asked me when we are leaving, I told her tomorrow. She said others were coming and needed spots.

That was such a rude thing to say, I posted because I feel Forest River campers would or should not say such a thing. We rightfully reserved and paid for a site and can remain there until we leave. If the State Park wanted us to move they could have reassigned our site after contacting me.

[NMWildcat]

Seems like an innocuous question to me.
If they had made small talk and then slipped in the question they really wanted to ask, would you have been less offended?

[5picker]

I understand your concern but did she give you any indication other than asking when you might be leaving, that she wanted you out of there?

Her job as the leader is to probably serve as many attendees as possible and it may have been more polite to ask the office when others in the loop might be leaving instead of asking you personally.

My point... in reading what you wrote that she asked you, I would not have taken that personally and it sounded (to me) that she was validating her asking by telling you why she was asking. Being there in person may have had other body language/tone that meant otherwise.

[latner]

I wasn't there and don't know what tone was used in asking the question, but I don't see the harm in them trying to figure out what spots are going to be available for the rest of their group. If they asked you to move, then that would be rude.

[NavyLCDR]

I know it is hard to believe isn't it? We were at an Oregon State Park last year. We could not get a reservation for a single spot to cover the entire weekend and we had to move campsites in the middle of the stay. I kept an eye on the new campsite we were supposed to move and saw no activity regarding the current "residents" to leave. When checkout time came close, I went took our trailer to the check-in booth and just happened to catch a real, state employed park ranger there.

I started walking toward him and he said, "I'll bet you're John?!" He said, "Because you are going into spot XYZ and the people in that spot just left a few hours ago for the lake and they said they were not moving to put whomever was coming in into a different spot and just drove off! I would kick them out, but they are not here. We are booked 100% full, but here is a list of emergency reserves we keep for this situation, please look at all the spots on this list and pick the one you want." I said, no problem, it happens.

So, instead of getting my reserved spot with no grass and no shade (high desert campground), I got a spot that had grass around it, with a sprinkler system, and a shade tree! Gotta love Karma! Later that day the park ranger stopped by my new spot and said the other people showed up, he gave them a ticket with a fine and kicked them out of the park. I could either move into the spot I reserved or stay right were I was, my choice. I looked at the grass and the shade tree, and said, "I think we will stay right here, thank you so much!" He grinned and said, "That's what I thought you would say!"

[timfromma]

It was a innocent question. No need to get huffy about it.

[NavyLCDR]

I would have taken it as rude and expecting me to leave early as well. I guess I'm just too used to people being that way nowadays.

[Nick Danger]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

...the people in that spot just left a few hours ago for the lake and they said they were not moving to put whomever was coming in into a different spot and just drove off! I would kick them out, but they are not here.
Later that day the park ranger stopped by my new spot and said the other people showed up, he gave them a ticket with a fine and kicked them out of the park.

What happens if they refuse to leave? I am not surprised at the "make me" mentality that has taken over in recent years; but, is this truly an "arrest-able offense"? Can they "move" your camper to an impound lot?

Rules or laws that are not or can not be enforced are just merely suggestions.

[NoviBill]

Asking is fine, expecting you to move is not. If they were smart, the would’ve offered a site in another loop and an invite to a meal or some “compensation” if you were willing.

[Coolharts]

I don't believe she was trying to be rude but the way the question was phrased struck a cord. She immediately asked as soon as she saw me, she could have easily looked at my hang tag or as mentioned before, asked at the check in area. There are other sites open, like the one next to us.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Coolharts

While walking my dog the leader of the group asked me when we are leaving, I told her tomorrow. She said others were coming and needed spots.
.

Sounds like she was a bit put out because the group didn't reserve enough spots for their 'group.'

If she hadn't added that 'others were coming and needed spots', I'd think she was just being curious about your plans. I've asked people how long they are staying and exchanged travel information.
It does sound like she wanted you to leave and that was rude. Even if you'd left, someone else might have already reserved your spot and it still wouldn't be available.

Rude people exist everywhere. I try to ignore them.

[Semperfi24]

I actually agree with the OP. I think the question is useless to ask, and regardless of how it was intended it would annoy me. I'm leaving when my paid reservation ends. If that is an inconvenience to your group, tough sh*t. What is gained by asking that question? Being asked would make me feel like "if I was going to be there longer than they would like, that it would create an issue". Certainly length of stay, where are you coming from, where are you headed next, etc are normal friendly conversation topics with neighbors in the campground, but "when are you leaving because my group needs that spot" would rub me the wrong the way.

[Briorick]

Originally Posted by latner

I wasn't there and don't know what tone was used in asking the question, but I don't see the harm in them trying to figure out what spots are going to be available for the rest of their group. If they asked you to move, then that would be rude.

I totally agree. Its all about the interpretation of the tone. And without knowing, or personally hearing the tone, has surely rendered many negative tones here. Sometimes we read more into what doesnt need to be. JMO.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

What happens if they refuse to leave? I am not surprised at the "make me" mentality that has taken over in recent years; but, is this truly an "arrest-able offense"? Can they "move" your camper to an impound lot?

Rules or laws that are not or can not be enforced are just merely suggestions.

It is treated as criminal trespassing so I assume the individuals would be arrested and all their stuff impounded:

(13) The following situations are criminal trespass in the second degree, a Class C misdemeanor, per ORS 164.245:

(a) A person ordered to leave a park property that remains present as a visitor;

I suspect that is probably what the ticket was for, trespassing.

[NoviBill]

1) Learn to not get angry when asked questions you don’t want asked. Seems like anger management issues. *the only one who knows the tone of the question is the OP, the question itself was nothing to rage about.
2) Learn to say NO without feeling bad.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

1) Learn to not get angry when asked questions you don’t want asked. Seems like anger management issues. *the only one who knows the tone of the question is the OP, the question itself was nothing to rage about.
2) Learn to say NO without feeling bad.

Then the answer of "on the day that my reservation ends, sometime before the designated checkout time" would have been a perfect answer. Maybe even toss in a suggestion, "Maybe you should look on the campground's reservation site for more information regarding the future availability of the campsite I am ocuupying."

Of course, I only think of these answers hours after the question was asked.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Coolharts

I don't believe she was trying to be rude but the way the question was phrased struck a cord. ...

Depending how it was phrased, I might have your same reaction. There's nothing to be done about it, though. As my wiser older brother sometimes counsels me, let it go.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

Depending how it was phrased, I might have your same reaction. There's nothing to be done about it, though. As my wiser older brother sometimes counsels me, let it go.

But, dang....that is just so hard to do sometimes!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

What happens if they refuse to leave? I am not surprised at the "make me" mentality that has taken over in recent years; but, is this truly an "arrest-able offense"? Can they "move" your camper to an impound lot?

Rules or laws that are not or can not be enforced are just merely suggestions.

The "make me" mentality has been around for a LONG time and isn't just a recent phenomena.

I've seen it for decades of travel in hotels as I traveled for business and pleasure. For some reason there are those who feel that once they've established themselves in a room or RV spot the hotel or park will just have to deal with it and put any future "reservations" in another room/spot.

Maybe parking a large tow truck at the park entrance with a sign saying "If you overstay your reservation you will be towed" might get the message across to the bone-heads.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

But, dang....that is just so hard to do sometimes!

I didn't say I was successful in heeding his advice.