It is great that we have this board, where questions can be answered. I've been the beneficiary, and have also been able to chime in on a few. Sometimes, there's nothing better than another pair of eyes, or hands. I've also been the beneficiary of a local busfan, who also has 50+ years in the business, and is a retired GM and TMC Field Service Rep. (He's probably forgotten more than I'll ever know, want to know why there's a quart of oil inside GM's front suspension components? I only have 40+ years in the bus business, but most of it is in transit operations and management.
Lately, I've been following a specific thread - with the thought that I'd be willing to take a look if I were nearby. If the bus was close, and originally a southwest coach, it could have even been delivered by the retired GM guy. Since he loves buses, I'm sure he'd love to take a look. However, neither the post, nor the member's profile, say anything about location. For all I know, he could be nearby. I see private MCI's often, and there's an Eagle that I drive past several times a week.
We also have a lot of newer members, who may not have thought of the benefit of posting their location. We don't need addresses, GPS coordinates, or anything else - but a close location (nearest major city) could bring you free help. Someone (RJ?) mentioned this in another post that I'd been following, but now I can't find where.
At a minimum, please add it to your profile. However, that takes more work to find, so a better option is to add it to your signature line. See my signature line for an example.
Arthur
I want to second this! alot of times if we aren't close we might know someone that is. not the answer to all problems;but lets us have more trust to whom we are responding. Bob
I also agree that listing a general location is a good idea... I've seen many post from people asking for help, wanting to sell something, or asking where to buy something and never giving their location. I know that several live on the road and their location is always changing but those people usually say in their post where they are located at the time of their posting. Proud to be living in North Carolina!!!!!!
Jimmy
Ok, while the subject has been broached, let me add: PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME
It absolutely drives me crazy to answer someone and not be able to address them by name. If you don't want to let folks know too much about you, just give us your first name or even a nickname. However, we are among friends (mostly ;D) and I would like to see folks add their full name to their signature.
Jim
Jim
I changed my profile to reflect my name. I checked your profile and except for your email I wouldn't know how to address your first name or last..
John
John, check my signature at the bottom of each post. Name, Location, bus type, website, etc are always displayed. Plus, I always sign my post.
If you only change your profile, we have to take the extra step to go to that profile. If you set up the signature, it will show automatically on every post.
Jim
Quote from: robertglines1 on December 03, 2010, 01:18:32 PM
I want to second this! alot of times if we aren't close we might know someone that is. not the answer to all problems;but lets us have more trust to whom we are responding. Bob
Uh Bob where you from again? ;D
(Jest kid'n)
;D BK ;D
Bk same town your sister lives in! I added to signature-has always been part of profile.
Thanks Jim
I got it now. I must have misunderstood what your original post was saying. I got my signature fixed up.
John
Hey Bob, I noticed your signature line says "Last One"........ Are you sure???? ;D
This topic is always a good one and comes up once or twice a year. Good for the new folk to read and make the necessary changes.
You never know when you might have a fellow busnut in your neighborhood! ;)
Paul
Good Idea :D
I for one think this should 1st and foremost on everyones list. Being in the RV industry we don't see a lot of bus folk anymore. Like you I see a few parked around and some in passing. It would very nice to meet some other busnuts.
All the Best, M&C ;D
Good point, Jim. I've been beefing about this for a long time; didn't realize that posting our location in our signature would save a step. Thanks!
Dennis
Quote from: Hi yo silver on December 04, 2010, 08:27:45 PM
Good point, Jim. I've been beefing about this for a long time; didn't realize that posting our location in our signature would save a step. Thanks!
Dennis
Just noticed you were from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.. What part??? Beautiful country up there.
I'm just north of Roanoke, Jimmy. About eight miles off I-81, exit 150.
Excellent Idea!! We can use this thread to look at our posted profile too.
If you are headed south and need a place to stop for a while you are welcome here, overnite or a few days. We are leaving Dec 27 for Bussin' 2011.
If you get here before Dec 27, you can see Lois' Christmas light display. We are near Augusta, GA and when she turns the Christmas display on the lights in Augusta flicker. ???
Quote from: Hi yo silver on December 05, 2010, 09:03:16 AM
I'm just north of Roanoke, Jimmy. About eight miles off I-81, exit 150.
Ohh ok... I bought my MC-9 from Abbotts in Roanoke. I'm just about 30 miles east of Charlotte.
Jimmy
Quote from: JohnVickrey on December 05, 2010, 09:26:05 AM
If you get here before Dec 27, you can see Lois' Christmas light display. We are near Augusta, GA and when she turns the Christmas display on the lights in Augusta flicker. ???
So, are all those lights helping keep ya'll warm? Jack
David R. Pinson FMCA #571 ---5511 85th St----Lubbock,tx 79424-4607--806-798-7351--Eagle 05/10 Built in 1975---Love bussin---This eagle is our 5th converison
John Vickery
We are planning on leaving on the 27th also. Will be going down hy. 321 from nc then to 301 through Ga. From north of Jackson I have not figured out yet. I will try to stay away from inter state especially near Orlando.
Will probaly head west and go down through Lakeland and Bushnell. Then 17 to Arcadia. Any good ideas from the gang. Hope to find a rout that does not have access to I4. Makes for a better drive hate traffic.
Hope to see all soon.
NCBob I am planning on seeing you there.
uncle ned
Jack
The lights, a couple of electric heaters, heat pump, fire place and a fire in the fire pit outside........
Uncle Ned
We usually go to St Cloud down 301, I'll let you know when I figure out what I'm doing this time. If you leave at 6am and I leave at 6am you will catch me before I get to Florida...... :-\
I thought I had my location in my signature, but apparently not. I added it to my signature. I already had it listed in my profile.
This had me thinking again ( look out ) maybe we could have some kind of short list by state.
Maybe just click on a state and have a list of all members in that state.
Just a thought.
Lonnie
Lonnie, that might be an idea too. I know there's a help list, and I think I'm on it. Your idea of a member list would go beyond that. I suspect quite a few folks, particularly newer members, might not think they have the experience to add their names to a list specifically devoted to helping others. I'd be interested to know if there are other members in the Dallas, Texas area, regardless of experience.
The impetus for this thread was someone with a specific problem, asking for help, but there was no way to figure out where he was. If he was close, I'd have been willing to take a look. If he was close, I could probably have asked my retired GM Field Engineer friend to come along. Russ Long had posted the same request in another thread with someone who had a problem with his bus. So, I echoed some past requests to add location to signature lines, so we (potential helpers) could find out quickly if we were in the neighborhood.
Another way to look at it --- if you're asking for help, try to make it easy for potential assistance to reach you.
Someone I know (not bus related), called me for help when the person's auto broke down, then turned off the cell phone to preserve the battery. Of course, it took me several tries to find the breakdown, and not being able to call really raised my blood pressure. I was not overly polite when I finally found the car.
Arthur
Location;
Look at the website - aprs.fi then search for N1XRB. The map will show a yellow, hey its the only color available in the software, bus. If moving click on the call sign, N1XRB, and you will see speed and direction. Tracking is available if you really want to see where we end up.
Hopefully, weather permitting, we will leave central Maine on the 27th of December. Then a speed run to Arcadia.
Travel in Florida depends on time of day. I like the 301 route. And like so many others I hate I4.
For the help list - well we are where you find us.
Bill
i'm not changing my signature everytime i move. w're in kentuk today. soon to be alabama, then florida, then arcadia, then who knows?
Tom, your signature is perfect, and something like that would take care of you, too, Bill. "Fulltiming Somewhere" , "On The Road", or something similar tell the story. I have noticed that most folks who fulltime/travel will, when asking for help, tell us where they are - right in their post. There would be no need for frequent updates.
I think the issue goes more toward people who are asking for help, from their home location. Yes, I know where some of the regulars live, from their past posts - but I don't have the brain cells to try to retain everyone's location --- if we've ever been told in the first place. I'd hope the newer members see this, and think of it.
Here's a hypothetical example. Jose New Member posts that his Eagle has a problem with its whosiframitz. A bunch of people try to tell him where to look, we go back and forth with photos, etc. Once he tells us where he is, three days later, I find that it's the Eagle that I drive past several times a week, in someone's driveway, about 5 miles away. Further, there's a much more experienced busnut, almost walking distance from the Eagle. If I knew anything about Eagles (I'm strictly a GM guy), I might have been able to stop by and help, although my friend is a GM/TMC guy, his 50 years of bus maintenance experience might also have been helpful.
Bottom line, for those asking for help, try to make it easy on the responders. When I've had to call 911, the first thing they ask is for location. We're not out do do something sinister, we just dont' want to have to do a bunch of detective work that isn't necessary. As to the thread that got me started on this post, I actually looked at the member's profile two or three times over several days - just in case he'd updated it with his location. Since there was no way to find out where he was, and since with a country this big, it's more likely he's somewhere far away, I figured that had fulfilled my obligation.
Arthur
Quote from: Runcutter
Tom, your signature is perfect, and something like that would take care of you, too, Bill. "Fulltiming Somewhere" , "On The Road", or something similar tell the story. I have noticed that most folks who fulltime/travel will, when asking for help, tell us where they are - right in their post. There would be no need for frequent updates.
I think the issue goes more toward people who are asking for help, from their home location. Yes, I know where some of the regulars live, from their past posts - but I don't have the brain cells to try to retain everyone's location --- if we've ever been told in the first place. I'd hope the newer members see this, and think of it.
Here's a hypothetical example. Jose New Member posts that his Eagle has a problem with its whosiframitz. A bunch of people try to tell him where to look, we go back and forth with photos, etc. Once he tells us where he is, three days later, I find that it's the Eagle that I drive past several times a week, in someone's driveway, about 5 miles away. Further, there's a much more experienced busnut, almost walking distance from the Eagle. If I knew anything about Eagles (I'm strictly a GM guy), I might have been able to stop by and help, although my friend is a GM/TMC guy, his 50 years of bus maintenance experience might also have been helpful.
Bottom line, for those asking for help, try to make it easy on the responders. When I've had to call 911, the first thing they ask is for location. We're not out do do something sinister, we just dont' want to have to do a bunch of detective work that isn't necessary. As to the thread that got me started on this post, I actually looked at the member's profile two or three times over several days - just in case he'd updated it with his location. Since there was no way to find out where he was, and since with a country this big, it's more likely he's somewhere far away, I figured that had fulfilled my obligation.
Arthur
Art reminds me off the recorded 911 call I heard on the radio once!
Bubba calls 911 and tells them
"I need an ambulance I think my wife has had a heart attack or stroke or something!" The 911 operator asks
"what is your address sir"Bubba;
"Eighty two fifteen Eucalyptus Lane" 911 Operator;
"Could you spell that for me?"Bubba;
"U...c....a.....l............. Oh shoot why don't I just drag her over to the corner of Oak & Elm streets for ya. That'll be easier on both of us!" ;)
;D BK ;D