Camping Etiquette question

[BarbarianQueen]

Camping Etiquette question here -
I'm not sure how to feel about this, so I thought I would ask.  Really, it's asked mostly in fun, but was truly curious. Here's the set-up! -

We arrived Early Friday to set up Camp NK&DD, and planned to go to the faire the second half of the day.  We set up in a lovely location with out backs against the forest (we thought!), surrounded by lots of forested open area.  We set up a covered and walled in Pop-up, our converted van right up behind it (it's where we sleep), then a small area in front of the pop up with tapestries and netting strung to trees to create a semi-private "front yard" area for our fire pit, chairs, big blankets, etc.  It's not a big space, maybe 20 by 20 triangle in front of our 10x10 pop-up. Here's a visual!


We then went to the fair, and had a blast as usual!  When we got back a little before the fireworks, we were surprised that the campground area where we were had NOT filled up as much as we had thought it would - big football field sized open areas.  However, a "clan" of young campers had literally surrounded our our little one family campground with about 8 tents, accompanying vehicles, tables, chairs, etc!

We had their tents both in front and in back of our van, which we thought was as far back against the access road as we could get, and had their tents also right up to our front yard area, with tent ropes anchored right under our little "privacy" tapestries. Here's another visual


This, with almost that ENTIRE area empty in front of us, for over a hundred yards.

Fortunately, they seemed a very nice bunch of young folks, didn't play music loud, were friendly and respectful, etc. but DID chop firewood, keep a big fire and sit up talking an laughing till about 3am (we go to bed about midnight). And, it felt a little weird - we crawled into our windowed van to go to sleep (the one we put as far back against a road or border treeline as possible, 30 feet from treeline), and their fire and conversation circle was about 10 feet from our windows

We don't own heaters, and had planned to just crank the van occasionally through the night to heat it up, but couldn't because we were afraid we would asphyxiate someone by blowing Carbon Monoxide into the tent that was right there (or burn a hole in it!).  We FROZE that night!  We cracked upon a bunch of pepper hand warmers and put them under the blankets with us in an attempt to stay warm

Looking from a distance, you would have sworn we were one clan, all set up in an empty quiet corner. I guess we just kept trying to puzzle out - why would you want to come in and set up right next to (and AROUND, and almost IN) an existing campsite like that, when there was so much empty space to choose from?

I feel completely anti-social for even writing this. And, we didn't really have an opportunity to go over and introduce ourselves or spend time with them.  I think Lord Scott said hello a few times to folks as they walked past our tent, but didn't get much of a response.  They WERE about 25 years our junior

Should I take it as a complement that saw our site and said, "THAT'S where we want to camp!! RIGHT NEXT to those two!"
Or chalk it up to ignorance? Or, are we just totally anti-social??

I can tell you one thing- with a group of impressionable 20 year olds sharing our front living area, Camp NK&DD did NOT live up to it's name   (well, because of that and the frigid weather Friday Night).

Thoughts?

[prothos]

to be honest the entitlement generation has no manners or respect for others. we had  the Sam issue pirate weekend. i pulled in and friend backed in so doors would face each other. we left enough gap to us to extended our awnings. we went to the fair Saturday morning  came back around 3pm for a break and rest as it was hot that weekend.
we had a tent set up between us and  others surrounding us. there was about 10 feet gap between us that moved in to this space.

[Tink]

Barbarian Queen, I would have felt EXACTLY the same way!  That's pretty invasive, and for no real good reason.  The only thing I can think of is maybe they thought you were someone else when they set up camp?  Otherwise, they're just clueless and rude IMHO.  I hope y'all were able to enjoy your weekend anyway.

[SirRichardBear]

Barbarian Queen I would have felt the same way its would have been understandable years ago when the camp grounds were much smaller and the big three weekend saw the grounds totally packed.  but with all the new ground opened up there is no longer a reason for that type of behavior other that being clueless and having an entitlement mentality.   I had something similar also happen this weekend and thought the kids were friend and didn't play loud music ( that was the techno camp across the road who were very loud and screaming into a mic about jello shots and hooters Thank to security for closing them down around 12:30)  they were up talking all night and were still up when I got up at 7:30 this morning.   Its gotten so I'm thinking of moving into quiet camping just not so much for the quiet but to have a little breathing room.

[BarbarianQueen]

Well, now I'm waiting for someone from that group to chime in and say, "well, we recognized you guys from the forum and decided to camp next to you, but you hardly even said hello to us! How rude!"

It was no big deal and we thought that the place may get packed, so better to have a nice, well behaved group next to us than a bunch of rude or inconsiderate folks.

Felt a little weird though when it stayed empty and we were sleeping next to their firepit.

Anyone else have any weird camping stories from this year?

[SirRichardBear]

By the way it was nice to finale get a chance to say hello to you.  Maybe next season we can visit each other camp.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

I would chalk to up to newbies not knowing the "Unwritten Rules of How Not to Be a Putz At TRF "... it may take a season or two for word to spread...

[KiltedPrivateer]

Two possibilities come to mind.

1) You camped in an area that they camp in every year.  Which is probably impossible since I believe you said you were in the new cleared area.  But they felt that it was their right to camp in "their" spot whether you were there first or not.  Probably hoping that their closeness would push you out.

2) They were hiding. We've seen in the past where the under aged find a group of older folk to setup next to.  They make it look like they are part of that camp.  Then the under age drinking and alternate substance consumption begins.  This was very bad before they segregated the campground from the main parking lot.

Staying on topic of camp etiquette, we had someone pull their trailer in behind our camp on Saturday, again, while everyone was away at faire, and promplty setup their chinese rackety, clackety generator directly behind my tent.  Our camp had been set up since Wednesday.  I truly hate these people.  And if they are this forum, You are an weed puller Monkey, an inconsiderate Human Being and I dislike you greatly.

I swear, it was like sleeping in the middle of a power generation plant this weekend.  And yes, I do speak from experience.  We were surrounded by generators, light tubes and blow up lawn ornaments. Ok, I've never seen blow up lawn ornaments in a power plant (o:  But it was just as noisy.

I'm now completely fed up with the all out party camp mentality.

[Merlin the Elder]

I thought there were regulations regarding the use of generators, KP... noise levels, etc.

[SirRichardBear]

noise level yes generators no not in general camping in quite camping generators have to be shutdown at 10pm.

[Merlin the Elder]

Hmm... I could have sworn that Mike posted that generators had to be under a certain sound pressure level, but maybe that was at Sherwood...or I could be crazy...most think I am...

[KiltedPrivateer]

Unfortunately, generators are not governed by the 85dB at 10 feet rule.  If they were, there would be many a Northern Tool, Harbour Freight special that would be shutdown out there.

[xed]

I saw a setup around a generator this weekend that was a few plywood sheets with hinges, reflecting sound waves away from the owner's camp and across the road.
Ridiculous.

[KiltedPrivateer]

Best camp setup this weekend, a man and lady with their midsized trailer at the crossroads, had two of those uber quiet generators sitting behind their trailer.  I walked by on my way to the dumpster and could barely hear them purring away.  The only thing that would have given them the Uber Camper of the weekend award would have been to put them in a box, in which case they would have been completely silent, but since they were on the road, they weren't bothering anyone anyway.  My hat is off to this couple.  May blue skies follow them through their travels (o:

[prothos]

This is our first year camping. we went out an purchased a quite generator just for the fair. we wonted to be considerate of others. I have to agree some of them are way to loud. Granted my generator is not honda but its rated at the same sounf levels as the honda of it same size. I asked the others around me if it was to loud and all said it was fine they couldnt hear it in thier campers.