What is "stealth" for?

[wanderlyst]

I've been reading some interesting threads, and something I noticed is that there is some difference in opinions about stealth. I haven't been a part of this community long enough to fully understand the typical use in the nomadic group, but I've picked up from a few posts. I.e. "I don't show my rig for stealth reasons" and "don't show anything personal such as licence plates and it's fine"
What are your opinions on this?

I won't make my opinion based off of someone else's, instead, I want to use this thread to learn different points of view and decide from learning about both sides.

 

[MrNoodly]

I think most times we talk about stealth it's about trying to hide the fact someone is sleeping/living in their vehicle where local ordinances forbid it. Or it can be about going unnoticed because "normal" people automatically think you're lowlife scum.

Protecting your identity and whereabouts on social media is certainly an issue for some, but I would put that more in the category of personal safety.

But these are just my opinions.

 

[rvwandering]

I agree with MrNoodly. Stealth for most vandwellers means blending into the neighborhood so that your vehicle looks like it belongs in the community and not like you're living in it. It's not hard to fly under the radar and not be noticed by ordinary people but most likely the police will be aware of you.

We have a small class C and are not stealthy at all so we do not attempt to park on the street very often. Personally, I think people worry too much about being stealthy. Stealth is really important if you must stay long term in a city for your job or some other reason. If you're just visiting there are many places where you can stay without any problem - Walmart and other big box stores, truck stops, casinos, rest areas, etc. Some cities and states are more lenient than others so you'll still run into situations where stealthiness or traveling a good distance to find a spot to sleep are the only options. If you prefer camping out in nature the choices of good free camping spots are almost endless and there's no need to be stealthy.

 

[wanderlyst]

Thank you for the opinions! I kind of felt like it was a big deal(more so than necessary), but I do see how prolonged stay in a city might create a need for stealth.

The vehicle I am trying to fix up and get is a medium sized SUV so should I ever need it, staying "stealthy" shouldn't be too hard.

In what ways do you(anyone reading) feel stealth is over(or under)rated?

 

[Blanch]

Stealth can be a number of things.

I’m in a travel trailer and I am a solo female. My “Stealth” is to have a camp that looks like a family on vacation with several chairs and a bicycle out. I don’t want to appear to anyone as a woman camped alone.

So stealth means different things to different people here. It’s sort of a universal way of saying that something isn’t obvious.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wanderlyst]

Thanks, blanch!
I can really see a use there. Have you ever encountered trouble or unpleasant things you feel you would not have, had you been more "stealthy"?

 

[Blanch]

I had an issue with my generator being stolen and an angry man who threatened me. Once I shifted my camp to look like a family was camped together I have not had a problem. That’s almost three years on the road.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ckelly78z]

Even those who are camping on BLM land, and boondocking don't really want to draw attention to themselves most of the time for security purposes. I don't want nosy people poking about my campsite, or parking close to me.

 

[lenny flank]

The purpose of stealth isn't to hide from the cops. They know all the tricks and you simply can't hide from them. But they also have better things to do with their time, and if you aren't doing something illegal or stupid, they won't bother with you.

The purpose of stealth is to avoid attracting attention from the public. If anyone anywhere notices you and gripes to somebody (security, store manager, cops, whatever) then they are obligated to roust you out even if they would not have done so on their own.

I also do stealth in order to be a good neighbor. I make no noise, I make no mess, I cause no trouble, I attract no attention, I do not look like a homeless person or a druggie, I stay in the back of the van where I am invisible, and I stay unnoticed, unseen, and overlooked. Nobody even knows I am there.

In general, those people who constantly have cop troubles, have brought it on themselves.

 

[wanderlyst]

Blanch
Thanks for sharing!

Kelly
That does sound true. I never thought that living in a vehicle, trailer, etc would call for much space, but I guess it is nice to have room around your vehicle/tiny home.

-edit-
Lenny
Okay! That definitely makes sense. Do you feel as if your adventure would be more or less full of you weren't so "stealthy"(using your definition of stealth)?
-------

Do you/full time nomads like to be "stealthy" around normal/housekeeping folk? Does it really matter if they view you as "low life scume" as MrNoodly said earlier? What else can come of house folk knowing you live in your vehicle, RV, or trailer?

 

[lenny flank]

^^^ I prefer not to park in places where I am not wanted. So for me, "stealth" is just a way to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from passers-by. I have no need to hide from the cops.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

The people who do not want license plates shown or even to be filmed, could easily be personal issues with stalkers/ex-spouses...etc. Most of the time it means hiding out from sleeping where you are not supposed to.


Of course, some people post highly personal videos on youtube for money.
They taunt the inevitable trolls that come out of the woodwork as a result.
Then they whine about how scared and unfairly persecuted they are from all the blowback...and if you pan a shot they happen to be in from 350 feet away, will yell/scream and cause a major ruckus about "betraying their right to privacy."

 

[Dingfelder]

Do you/full time nomads like to be "stealthy" around normal/housekeeping folk? Does it really matter if they view you as "low life scume" as MrNoodly said earlier? What else can come of house folk knowing you live in your vehicle, RV, or trailer?

There was a thread here some time back about a guy who was taking pictures of anyone on the street who had an RV or could conceivably be in a vehicle they could be sleeping in.  They were on streets they legally had free access to, and it wasn't an issue of them being dirty, loud, or obstructing anyone or anything.  He simply was incensed at the idea of travelers in his neighborhood, even though his neighborhood wasn't a particularly remote or private one.

Anyway, if I recall correctly, he was publishing those photos on the web and complaining vociferously even when told that those spaces were not restricted and nobody was doing anything wrong.  I think he pushed it to other extremes, but don't want to expand on that too much because my memory is a bit fuzzy.  However, one of our best-known contributors here bumped into him and laid it out in greater detail.

Anyway, all that is to say that there are people who will get upset for bad reasons or no reason as well as good reason, and you have to take them into account too.  They may do anything from annoy you to frighten you to vandalize you to complain to you about the cops and even lie about you.  So it makes sense not to let people get themselves wound up about your presence.  A lot of people feel angry about life in general, and it hardly matters who you are or what you did or did not do to people like that: if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, you're going to take it in the neck and they're going to love giving it.  

So ... if not being attacked or screwed over is important to you, proceed with caution when it comes to ruffling people's feathers.  A lot of people were born with excuses to behave badly, so you don't want to trigger them or give them another one.  If nothing else, you can count on their local community to support them right or wrong, as opposed to a stranger.

 

[Dingfelder]

Then they whine about how scared and unfairly persecuted they are from all the blowback...and if you pan a shot they happen to be in from 350 feet away, will yell/scream and cause a major ruckus about "betraying their right to privacy."

I decided not to pursue photography anymore because people act out so much when they see people taking pictures these days.  If I ever get back to it, it will be strictly nature.

 

[B and C]

The Supreme court ruled a few years ago the you had no expectations of privacy in public anymore and photography in a public place is not breaking any laws. If you can see it, you can photograph it. If you don't want your picture taken, wear a disguise or stay home.

That being said, I will not knowingly photograph anyone intentionally unless they they give permission or are part of a crowd and the crowd is in the shot I want to take.

 

[lenny flank]

Odd. I shoot roughly 200 photos nearly every day, and never had any problem at all with it.

 

[BelgianPup]

There are all kinds of weird people out there, these days.

There are home and business owners who have been the victims of crimes, people who have control or other mental issues, down to other people living in vehicles who think that a newcomer is infringing on "their" location.

There are vehicle dwellers who think the entire world belongs to them, and they believe they have a god-given right to do whatever they want, wherever and whenever they want: play loud music, set out their chairs, tables, BBQs and pet enclosures, run their noisy generator all day and night, steal anything that isn't welded down, sell drugs, etc.

And every single one of them is different.

 

[cyndi]

Reining it in, here. The OP wants to know about stealth in a mobile lifestyle. If you'd like to discuss photography and/or your rights to privacy, do it elsewhere. Any more off topic posts will be removed

 

[Stardust]

In most everyplace in the USA, it is assumed that “normal” folks live in a permanent dwelling of some type, preferably one that is similar to the dwellings of its neighbors. So to this way of thinking, it follows that people who live in a vehicle or in other non-permanent shelter must be “abnormal” and therefore must be, at the very least, scrutinized carefully, and kept at a distance. So there are laws against this unconventional way of living in many places. Thus the need for  “stealth” : to be able to go about one’s otherwise lawful business without attracting attention from law enforcement or those who wish us ill or would do us harm. Mind you, this assumes that the person who is “alternatively sheltered” is not trespassing, blocking the right

 

[Weight]

I tried stealth with my van. Every time I walked away I couldn't find it again. Lost hours searching the area. Noe it is just another window van and easy to find.