Care to have your story shared?

[rjs111]

Hello. I'm writing a research paper about off grid living with an emphasis on vehicle dwelling. The lifestyle and culture has always been an interest of mine. If you have the time I would really appreciate some responses to these interview questions from some experienced and new vandwellers. I'm really curious to find out if any long term vandwellers have noticed a trend towards decreased acceptance of their lifestyle by the public.

Please provide any background information that you feel comfortable with giving such as your name or pseudonym, your age, what state(s) you reside in, what you do for work, what kind of vehicle you live in, when you began vandwelling, and any other details you feel may be relevant.

• What events took place that led to your decision to start living in your vehicle?
• What are some unintended consequences that arose from it? Lessons learned, difficulties or complications, etc.
• What are some negative aspects of your living arrangements that you would not experience if you were to live in a conventional dwelling?
• What are some positive aspects of you living arrangements that you would not be able to experience if you were to live in a conventional dwelling?
• How do your friends and/or family feel about your living arrangements?
• How are you treated by the general public and law enforcement officials? Any examples would be helpful.
• If you've been vandwelling for a significant amount of time, how were you treated by the general public and law enforcement officials when you first began?
• What are your plans for the future in regards to your living situation? Do you plan on continuing your current lifestyle or are you seeking other arrangements?

Thank you very much!

 

[GotSmart]

If you read the different posts, and the different blogs they are connected to~~~ you will see all the answers for your homework.

It says you have been a member since 2012, but have your activity hidden?

To gain a persons trust, you have to be open.

I have written many research papers, and you want to not do your research.

 

[gypsychic]

What's the class you're writing the research paper for? Soc, law enforcement, urban planning? Also, what's your thesis statement of your research paper?

 

[rjs111]

If you read the different posts, and the different blogs they are connected to~~~ you will see all the answers for your homework.

It says you have been a member since 2012, but have your activity hidden?  

To gain a persons trust, you have to be open.

I have written many research papers, and you want to not do your research.

Thank you, but I'm not just seeking the answers. The assignment calls for an original interview. Please understand that I'm not asking you to write an essay for me. The interview will only be one source of many. 

Yes. I've been a member since 2012, but this is my first thread. 

What's the class you're writing the research paper for? Soc, law enforcement, urban planning? Also, what's your thesis statement of your research paper?

A general upper division english/critical thinking class. In short, the paper is about a decreasing acceptance of those that choose or are forced to live alternative lifestyles. 

 

[Almost There]

A general upper division english/critical thinking class. In short, the paper is about a decreasing acceptance of those that choose or are forced to live alternative lifestyles. 

So, if I'm reading this correctly, an assumption has already been made that there IS a decreasing acceptance by society.

Just a thought but shouldn't critical thinking be more investigative, as in 'Is there a decrease in acceptance' - a question rather than a statement.

 

[rjs111]

So, if I'm reading this correctly, an assumption has already been made that there IS a decreasing acceptance by society.

Just a thought but shouldn't critical thinking be more investigative, as in 'Is there a decrease in acceptance' - a question rather than a statement.

It's not an assumption. It's a thesis, or a best guess based on research that I've conducted thus far. A thesis statement is, after all, a statement. 

Also, this interview IS part of my research. I'm trying to get different people's perspectives. If I find an overwhelming majority that say there is no decreased acceptance, then I'd happily accept it.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

there is no decreased acceptance

 

[Almost There]

there is no decreased acceptance

agreed

 

[ttpadilla]

Increased acceptance.

 

[rjs111]

Thanks everybody, that's great. Would anyone mind answering the questions? If you feel more comfortable PMing me the answers, I'd really appreciate it. 

 

[mockturtle]

There is no decreased acceptance. If anything, there is greater acceptance.

 

[SoulRaven]

I would be happy to give you an interview via telephone, I have the Square Reader app on my smart phone and I can accept credit and debit cards for payment before the process starts.

 

[Seraphim]

Look people - a thesis requires a statement: whether it is a true statement or a false one is irrelevant. The point of the research is either to prove the statement right, wrong, or inapplicable. If you don't want to help with the research, then don't. If you have incidents which may help the statement be proved or disproved, then offer them.

DONT offer your opinion as a statement of fact. That helps the author not at all, and none of our opinions are acceptable as fact.

 

[SoulRaven]

How about: Why does substance abuse come to the surface on Sunday in the late afternoon on a three day holiday weekend?

 

[cyndi]

Look people - a thesis requires a statement: whether it is a true statement or a false one is irrelevant. The point of the research is either to prove the statement right, wrong, or inapplicable.  If you don't want to help with the research, then don't.  If you have incidents which may help the statement be proved or disproved, then offer them.

DONT offer your opinion as a statement of fact. That helps the author not at all, and none of our opinions are acceptable as fact.

Always the voice of reason.

Thanks!

 

[ttpadilla]

Hello. I'm writing a research paper about off grid living with an emphasis on vehicle dwelling. The lifestyle and culture has always been an interest of mine. If you have the time I would really appreciate some responses to these interview questions from some experienced and new vandwellers. I'm really curious to find out if any long term vandwellers have noticed a trend towards decreased acceptance of their lifestyle by the public.

Please provide any background information that you feel comfortable with giving such as your name or pseudonym, your age, what state(s) you reside in, what you do for work, what kind of vehicle you live in, when you began vandwelling, and any other details you feel may be relevant.

• What events took place that led to your decision to start living in your vehicle?
• What are some unintended consequences that arose from it? Lessons learned, difficulties or complications, etc.
• What are some negative aspects of your living arrangements that you would not experience if you were to live in a conventional dwelling?
• What are some positive aspects of you living arrangements that you would not be able to experience if you were to live in a conventional dwelling?
• How do your friends and/or family feel about your living arrangements?
• How are you treated by the general public and law enforcement officials? Any examples would be helpful.
• If you've been vandwelling for a significant amount of time, how were you treated by the general public and law enforcement officials when you first began?
• What are your plans for the future in regards to your living situation? Do you plan on continuing your current lifestyle or are you seeking other arrangements?

Thank you very much!

Robert,

How did you arrive at this laundry list of questions (designed to prove your thesis that this lifestyle is less accepted by society than it used to be), from your glowing and optimist thread of 2.5 years ago? Where's your story? What happened to that dream of building your own van? Did it happen? And then what? Did someone squash your dream? Maybe if you let us in a little, you'll find people more inclined to help.

Hello.&nbsp;<br />I've been doing van dwelling research for the past year. Ever since I stumbled upon it by accident I've found it to be a very romantic and&nbsp;intriguing lifestyle.&nbsp;I'm very much looking forward to building the van when I get out of the military next year and move back to California. I think I've got everything pretty much planned out (down to the model of solar panels to get) but the more I delve into the forum, the more ideas I get and the more that the plan changes. Thanks for all the ideas/inspiration/motivation/answers in advanced!&nbsp;<br />-Robert

 

[rjs111]

Robert,

How did you arrive at this laundry list of questions (designed to prove your thesis that this lifestyle is less accepted by society than it used to be), from your glowing and optimist thread of 2.5 years ago?  Where's your story?  What happened to that dream of building your own van?  Did it happen?  And then what?  Did someone squash your dream?  Maybe if you let us in a little, you'll find people more inclined to help.

I came up with the questions because I'm in a college class that requires a research paper on a topic of my choosing, and one source must be an original interview. Vandwelling/off grid living has been a longterm fascination of mine, as you can conclude from my forum introduction post 2.5 years ago. I figured that it would be a fun, novel topic, and I could easily get a few people from the community to chime in without much difficulty. The thesis wasn't meant to be pessimistic or derogatory in any way (I'm assuming that that's the way it came off based on my responses so far -- I apologize if that's the case). It was only based on my best guess in order to get my foot in the door to focus my research. 

No, I never built the van, but my dream wasn't squashed. My life took a turn in a direction that I wasn't expecting at the time. I'm currently earning my bachelor's degree with plans of grad school, but I'd still like to build the van to take extended trips in. 

 

[gypsychic]

I'd have no problem doing an interview but I don't have the experience your looking for. I'm so very new to this that I've only taken 1 camping trip in my van and I'm still living in an apartment. If you still want to interview me feel free to PM me.

Personally I'm surprised that more people aren't offering to help. This group is usually more open and welcoming. it's not like this is going on YouTube for the whole world to see. It's a college english class. Come on people. I was just asking questions because I was curious, not because I was suspicious.

OTOH, it might have helped if you had been a little more detailed in your request. Good luck on the paper. If you've been reading this forum for a while, you know that there are many voices here. Choose your interviewee(s) wisely. [emoji6]

Good for you to be continuing your education. I hope you are doing it wisely with as little debt as possible.

Cheers

 

[GotSmart]

Now you are seeing what it takes in Vandwelling. Open communication makes everything work. police and relations as well.

My contribution will be in your inbox soon.

The questions are designed toward the negative, thus the positive attitude of my responses.

 

[Seraphim]

Rjs

Your post was neither derogatory nor offensive. I can only imagine some of the responses were fueled by people who didn't completely read your request, and whose knee jerk responses were were the result of thin skinned insecurity and ignorance. I have never been embarrassed about being a member of this forum before, but I am embarrassed by some of the negative and rather insulting responses you've received. You made no assumptions, asking IF anyone had noticed a change, and asked for positive and negative experiences both. This is indicative of a good research paper. Good luck with your studies.