By Chuck Woodbury
PUBLISHER
If you read yesterday’s newsletter, you likely read my essay about how frustrated I got over some comments made by readers on a story from a week ago. I won’t go into the subject matter but if you want to read it, it’s here.
Inspiration strikes!
I got inspired early yesterday (Saturday) to check just how much blood, sweat and tears my staff and I have put into RVtravel.com and its thousands of newsletters through the years. So I got out my hand calculator and punched in numbers. Wow!
Since we started permanently counting our traffic 10 years ago, we have posted 23,000 articles and 249,000 reader comments (many more comments were posted but then removed because they were inaccurate or nasty). Plus, since 1995, we have published other websites including RVbookstore.com, FulltimeRVer.com, NewRVer.com (to return by January), OutWestNewspaper.com and at least 100 different blogs. I figure we have written and posted somewhere around 80 million words since we began publishing on the eve of the 21st century.
The average American reads about 240 words a minute. So if 80,000,000 words is divided by 240 that means it would take 333,333 minutes or 5,555 hours for one person to read everything we have posted.
Have two years to spare?
Now, let’s figure out how many days that would be if someone were to read all those articles for 8 hours day. That would amount to 694 days, or close to two years.
When I think about all those words, and the incredible education my staff and I have provided to millions of RVers and aspiring RVers, it makes me proud. I figure I wrote about 10 percent of those words. That’s a lot of time sitting on my hiney punching out sentences and paragraphs with my primary motive to help others better enjoy their RVs, and safer.
So please, please excuse me when I express my frustration with some readers who rudely tell me how I should run this website and its newsletters. Most of these people read for free and have for many years: we’re not even worth a few dollars to them for years of reading pleasure.
Thankfully, most readers of this website are the nicest people in the World: some have become friends. But then there are the know-it-alls and the purveyors of false information, some of them downright nasty. I always envision them like the Great and Powerful Oz hiding behind his curtain and microphone glorifying himself to the masses.
And right now, with Google suddenly answering queries right on its search pages using artificial intelligence instead of sending traffic to websites like RVtravel.com and others (more about that soon), our traffic, like most websites, has dropped. And that means we must work harder and smarter to earn our livings. Never before in my decades of being a student of journalism and communication have I seen such sudden and consequential change. I have never seen the techniques of propaganda employed so widely and unchecked because of a maligned and weakened media, and the massive numbers of people who are so easily manipulated and willing to repeat lies through social media and elsewhere.
Oh, my staff and I will work our tails off to survive while other publishers perish. But for now, after I have put in a long, hard day, if a reader should call me an idiot, commie or worse about something they disliked in one article, I get frustrated and even mad. I want to say, “Why don’t you just spend some time reading our archives and the massive amount of helpful advice and information we have published. Then perhaps resist condemning us because we wrote something in ONE ARTICLE that you didn’t like.”
I want to say, “You know, when we write an article, we write it for thousands upon thousands of people, not just for YOU! If you don’t like it and can’t help calling us names for doing it, then please seek out other sources of information!”
We cannot please everybody. We accept that.
And while I am on my soapbox, it frustrates me that the most opinionated and narrow-minded readers have never even bothered to contribute financially to help support what we do day in and day out. So we must run a lot of advertising.
Our statistics show that literally thousands of RVers have read most or nearly all our newsletters for years and never felt motivated to help support us. I ask myself “Aren’t we deserving of something?” Our donors, the 6% of our readers who do contribute, realize we provide a valuable service and need to earn a living. These 6,600 readers almost never comment in mean-spirited ways.
If you would like to help support what we do, please consider contributing any amount you can easily afford. We would appreciate it very much. You might also consider subscribing to some of our other newsletters. See the titles here and sign up if you see something you like.
Please feel free to comment. Criticism is welcome if constructive. But nastiness is never acceptable. Thank you.
##RVT1179
Chuck,
Once again I totally agree with you. I love the irony of non-contributors threatening to leave because they don’t like content or editorial opinions for which they are not paying! It reminds me of a popular, somewhat political phrase likely used by these complainers, namely cancel culture. With tongue in cheek, I might suggest you only allow those who contribute financially to RV Travel to “contribute” comments, or in other words, let them “put your money where their mouth is!”
This is a great idea. I would give it a try. Our local paper is not available on line to people who do not subscribe and it is a rag of publication. It costs $60/month. Needles to say I don’t pay it. Occasionally my father will cut and paste me an article he thinks will be of interest to me. However, I can not comment on any article because I don’t pay $60 a month. BTW that $60/month includes a plethora of ads.
I noticed many papers around the country are doing this…no pay no read stuff. So much for the First Amendment.
I agree, Carl. That’s how substack runs there site.
I really appreciate SubStack. Very good source of information.
Thanks for the op-ed. You were spot on. I happen to be a subscriber (at least I think I still am) and I enjoy the articles and helpful information included in the newsletters. Keep up the good work. Our country has politicized almost everything. It is tough for me to read all the lies and misinformation on social media. It makes my blood boil.
Stop reading social media!
tough to do for the frequent user of the electronic crack…social media is not a means to unite people, just the opposite. There has been a massive amount of thought put into these platforms before launch to ensure addiction to their content / style. Just watch someone some time with a smart phone scrolling/ scrolling/ scrolling as life passes all around the unsuspecting rube. We have lost a generation or more to these poisonous beasts
I am one of those subscribers who rarely comments, but look forward daily to seeing what new information I can learn with this newsletter. Sometimes it is not relevant to my RVing situation (ex. pull behind vs. driveable), but it is always interesting and often entertaining. I was shocked to read some of the mean comments people were saying all because of an article meant to caution and ultimately help readers.
Chuck, please keep up the good work. There are many of us out here who support all you do!
Agree whole heartedly Jane! Chuck, I know it’s hard not to but please don’t let the Nay Sayers discourage you. What you do and what you publish is worth a lot to those of us that contribute each year…it’s also worth a lot to those free loaders that do not contribute as well. I would hate to see them discourage you, they are in the minority.
“No good deed goes un punished”. Keep up the good work>
Entitlement is at an all time high. So is cancel culture. This two-headed monster maliciously controls the narrative to it’s own purposes to only promote its opinion, with no room for common sense or compromise. You don’t agree with my self-righteous opinion…I’m gonna make you regret it! What keeps this creature alive is feeding it only what it craves: blind agreement and confirmation bias. In doing so, truthful and intelligent conversations become intolerable and unacceptable . The only weapons we have to defeat it is a combination of critical thought, active listening, compromise and, just maybe, a little compassion.
Michelle, your comment is probably the most all-encompassing and pervasive I’ve ever read here at RV Travel. Incredible amount of truth in such a short paragraph. Thank you.
Very well put. Bravo!!! 👍
Very well said and deserving of applause!
Couldn’t agree more. Well said. Unfortunately the weapons you mentioned for us to have: critical thought, active listening, compromise and compassion is NOT being taught in our public schools today, or for the last several generations for that matter. Sad, really sad.
Michelle: Are you an educator by any chance? You certainly have a grasp of the English language and how to present a tho’t. You have hit the proverbial nail on the head with your comment here. Thank you for posting it. I read virtually every comment in this newsletter, and daily, time permitting. This makes it easy for me to compare your post with others. Excellent observations and summation.
DW/ND I am not an educator. And thanks everyone.
Chuck, I learn a lot from you but interestingly not always about your topic. I would love to know more about how ai effects your site and revenue generation. Less traffic etc. Is it google’s way of saving expenses. Thank you for your lifetime work.
Dennis Ryan
Dennis. We use A.I. (artificial intelligence) as a research tool. We do not use it to write entire articles. Thanks for asking. Here is our policy: https://www.rvtravel.com/ai-policy
Thank you for all that you do! Always amazing newsletters. I’d love for us to both write to our representatives and raise the concern you did here about google making AI generated answers, for free, on their search results. They are training that based on content from sites, like this one, that is “stolen” and regurgitated via AI summary. This should be stopped.
Remember back when you did a search on a search engine and actually got information? Now all you get is ads and very rarely get actual information. I know, that is what pays for the site and also make the owners RICH. But I want information, not ads!
agree with other comments here. Require annual contribution to comment.
I have been reading RVtravel for several years. I appreciate the objectivity of the articles or declaration that the article may not be presenting both sides of the issue. There are many in the news media that seem to feel that presenting what people want to hear is more important that unbiased reporting. The political environment has created individuals that believe their opinion is correct without any confirmation of facts. Only the opinion of others is their confirmation.
Please continue with the honesty and fun your staff expresses.
You are right about contributions from readers. I contributed today.
I have been a reader for about 3 years. I look forward to the newsletter every morning. I am also a supporter but under a different name, since Cookie P is only one of my email addresses.
I like the idea of only having contributors be able to comment. Put their money where their mouth is. I don’t know how much of a coding nightmare that would be.
Agreed
Also agree. No contribution…no comment for you!
Thank you for all of the great articles that you provide. I am a newbie to RVing alone as a woman and have learned so much. I look forward to my Sunday reading. Hang in there for us and yes I contribute monthly because you ARE worth it.
I hope you and your staff keep doing what you are doing and take joy in pissing off the closed-minded and self-absorbed people! This is another vote for allowing only subscribers to comment.
What was the old saying Chuck, you can please some of the people some of the time but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Keep doing what you’re doing and for those who don’t like what is said, DON’T READ IT. And don’t make a threat to unsubscribe, just do it. Problem solved.
My question is if those nasty commenters think they can do a better job than this publication, why don’t they? I used to subscribe to many other so called RV websites but not anymore. This is the only one! This website is the most informative and most enjoyable news letter of any else I’ve found. I get up every morning enjoy reading it. with my coffee. Please, keep doing what you’re doing and thank you for what you do!
Excellent articles the last two days, keep up the good work.
Its obvious that the critics get thier basis from one skewed source fox entertainment.
No doubt.
Ron, the problem with your comment is that by default, you imply CNN and the MSM is not skewed left. I will be the first to acknowledge that >90%, almost entirely, FOX skews most news and all opinion to the right. Absolutely no question about it. Do you have the ability to admit the MSM and CNN skew to the left. It is 100% fact and it is measured by media groups. I am simply trying to assertain whether or not a CNN or MSNBC or MSM viewer can acknowledge they may be in an echo chamber not dissimilar to the echo chamber that FOX exists in, just on the other side.
IMO, that is the problem for the L and the R in 2024. Most listen only to those they agree with, creating tribalism.
Most listen to main stream media and social media and think that’s the gospel. Of course FOX is slanted to the right. There has to be balance to ALL the left wing rhetoric spewed by the main stream media, FOX try’s to present a view counter to the left social media. To be fully informed, listen to both sides and make up your own mind as to what is truthful and what is biased BS.
I see it the same way Charlie. FOX is little more than a 50 lb counter balance to the combined 300 lb gorilla. Which is why I source news and information from many places.
The difference is, FOX viewers are generally aware that are in an right leaning space whereas CNN and MSM viewers think they are getting unbiased straight news. One must be able to acknowledge this simple fact in order to have credibility.
Edit: been a couple of hours now and yet no acknowledgment from the hair on fire CNN viewers….. the silence is very informative. Got nothin huh?
I think most of us always knew that most news had a liberal slant – freedom of the press for some reason has always meant left rather than right. PBS is the biggest example that comes to my mind. I’m not sure what MSM is and I don’t get CNN, but I do watch ABC primarily, mixed in with some NBC and CBS and occasionally Fox. We all get comfortable with newcasters we know and believe we can trust those we are comfortable with. There are news people I will no longer watch or read because of ethical/legal issues. It saddens me to believe that I was wrong in who I trusted. But, when I know, I do better. Why should anyone believe people/organizations that have admitted they have lied?
MSM is Main Stream Media friend.
To your last sentence… yes, which is why don’t watch ABC, CBS or NBC for news anymore, occasionallyi watch a little CNN when i’m looking for a laugh. I get most of my news from Substack where I find trusted journalists that do not simply parrot the D talking points. I enjoy the Washington Times as well along with the Wall Street Journal which is quite balanced IMO.
Hey Chuck, still waiting for your reply from my emails and phone calls. It would be great to know why you have ghosted me after our Zoom call. Thanks Rob S
Oh gosh Robert. You sound a bit irritated. Maybe you are one of the people Chuck is writing about? Feel entitled to a response to your opinion? Is it possible you got your answer?
Please keep doing what you are doing. And I wish I could opt out of googles search by AI. Time to find a new search engine.
Duck Duck Go
I was about to say the same thing! 🇺🇸
Yup…I’m with the Duck!
My IT professional says DuckDuckGo does not have sufficient security features for him to recommend using it.
Brave browser and DuckDuckgo are a couple of good ones.
We know your opinion of AL, Chuck, but maybe AI could look for certain words and phrases in the comments on RVTravel articles. Then it would either eliminate the comment or save it for a moderator to review before publishing. As a journalist, you likely hate the word “censor”, but in today’s Internet world of people hiding behind fake names and freely making public comments, some moderating is necessary. If the comments from those people never get published, they will either stop commenting or, more likely, stop reading the newsletter.
Thank you for continuing to publish, Chuck! I might just give up and enjoy my retirement deep in the PNW forest.
Hey Chuck, your irritation is certainly well founded and I agree with you wholeheartedly! I don’t have to read all the negativity that you do, mostly unfounded from what I’ve observed over the years, but would encourage you to keep on keeping on!! I’ve been a paid subscriber for several years now and a freeloader for several years before that, but became very aware that I got so much from the newsletter, that I should kick in some cash…..never regretted that decision!! The bulk of readership appreciates you & your staff!
Its sad that some people who are so filled with anger, distrust and a pension to grab hold of the latest conspiracy that crawls out of the sewer and vent that out on the rest of us! It seems to me that recent complaints that you brought “politics” into into this very helpful source of all things RV’ing are the very ones that brought politics into it. Ignore them and remember that they are a misguided small minority of an otherwise great group of folks that happily enjoy RV’ing!
Fighting windmills Chuck. I don’t always agree with you, but I treat it like everything else I don’t want to read…IOW, I scroll past what I don’t want to read. People feel empowered when they have a keyboard and comment section, saying things they wouldn’t say face to face. I write for a magazine in the print industry, you and I once talked about writing for you. Readers are funny, I have to remind myself when I get a dozen or so negative emails about something I’ve written, it’s a tiny percentage of the 125,000 subscribers. Keep up the good work and don’t let the noise distract you.
Blood, Sweat and Tears was a favorite band back in the day so illegitimi non carborundum. The meaning is meant to entice y’all to keep up the good work regardless what a few smart mouths think. Many of us enjoy your articles but not the all hat and no cattle keyboard warriors that permeate every website in the world anymore. Ignore them and do what you do best. We appreciate your effort.
My grandmother used to say, “Don’t let the door hit you in the a** on your way out. ”
Its one thing to disagree or voice a contrary opinion, respectfully. But when one resorts to name calling and slander, all bets are off. Make a rule and enforce it consistently. If you stoop to that, you will be banned from commenting permanently.
I think much of it is learned behavior from those who are supposed to set an example, thereby normalizing the unacceptable. Of course, once banned they’ll whine like 3 year olds about being “cancelled” or “disrespected” or whatever. Most start learning at about 3 years old that rude and bad behavior has consequences. Time to bring that back.
Thanks for your newsletter- and sorry to see you have to deal with the negativity of the conspiracy-oriented crowd.
Is it me, or have people gotten nastier over the years? I am the Pres. of our very large HOA and have experienced what you are getting here, but on Face Book, and in person at our meetings – angry people lashing out, but not willing to step up themselves. Oh, it’s fine for “others” to do the work, do the research, do the writing, etc. It’s so much easier to sit on the sidelines and be critical instead of thankful…sad. What’s happened to our society?
Thanks for your efforts. This is the “Best” Source of RV Interests.
Thanks to all your Writers also.
Keep’m coming!
That is so sad, that you and your staff are being subjected to such harshness and criticism.
I enjoy the articles that are published on all the various platforms. Thank you to you and your entire team for all that you do; the information, the insight, the tips/tricks, RV care, recipes etc etc etc
I have told many fellow RVers about RV travel and I know they too are enjoying the online “magazine”.
Thank you for all that you and your team do.
I got exhausted after a while reading yesterday’s comments, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of support shown for RVTravel.com. I’m one of those readers who has learned a lot here, but I also enjoy many of the articles that aren’t educational just because they’re so well written and tell a good story. I believe Chuck when he says he isn’t getting rich at this, which means he, Emily, and the talented writers are doing it because they love doing it. Thank you, I appreciate it, and apparently quite a few others do too!
I am happy to say that I agree with most what you said today. I am happy to be a paid subscriber. I am happy to say that I have never ever called you a nasty name. I am glad to say that I rarely “google” anything knowing full well the algorithms are written to provide skewed and slanted results that promote a single narrative and deceive. I am glad that not a single comment I made on yesterday’s or last week’s article was deleted.
Most of all happy to say I am not certain of your party afiliation if any, or who you will pull the lever for this election season either, which is how it should be.
I continue to look forward to having coffee with your publication.
Happy trails Chuck.
Right on Cancel – right on!
As a paid subscriber, I am amused, irritated and incredulous, all at the same time, that those freeloaders threaten to stop receiving your newsletter because they don’t agree with or understand (?) what you’re saying. I’d say “good riddance”. I have been reading your articles since “Out West” days and always have appreciated your work. Don’t let the naysayers and name-callers get you down.
The criticism could be worse, Chuck. You could be running for office!
I have subscribed to and supported through a monthly contribution RVTravel for several years and really enjoy and appreciate what you do. I would be happy for you to use my monthly contribution to unsubscribe the mean spirited and hateful commenters.
Thank you Chuck for standing up for what you and all of the RV Travel editors and writers do for for us. And thank you to Diane for keeping me from crossing the invisible line of out of order remarks and comments from time to time.
I’m not sure about the remarks for a “pay for you to comment” line of thinking through some earlier commenters though. It seems to be kind of over the top for this or any other outlets. IMHO.
What you and your team have accomplished is extraordinary. The RV newsletter is a trusted source of largely unbiased information. That is rare. In this day and age of the internet, social media and scams, information consumers need this. It is often hard to distinguish between misinformation and lies disguised as the truth, and the truth that is made to look like lies.
Chuck, your two recent articles are all about your “feelings”…and that is exactly what has caused the divide in our great nation! “Feelings” have become the priority instead of solving real problems hard-working tax-paying American citizens are facing! Cut and paste articles from the “powers that be” SHOULD be questioned and researched AND “comments” become more important than ever! This is why the First Amendment is “first”…Steve H’s comment about AI censoring is a great example of what too many think is a good idea…and that is exactly what has happened with Facebook…YouTube…Instagram! …and now here…the comments say it all. Our country is being destroyed by this way of thinking 🇺🇸
I enjoy the newsletter and get a lot out of it.
Chuck, I read your article yesterday and I feel your frustration. It is so sad that our country is being pulled apart by a fairly large segment of our society that only trusts online conspiracy theorists. I’m not sure where we will be in a few years, but honest hard working journalists, like yourself, need to keep up the good work and maybe we will get through this dark period.
Thanks for all your hard work!
Larry, do you know who invented, propagated and expanded the term “conspiracy theory”?
Central Intelligence Agency. Open your mind and think about that for a minute.
Interesting, have not heard that. What is the source of that info?
Hi, Roy. That got me curious so I just Googled it. According to Wikipedia, the term goes back to 1863. According to INTEL.gov, the CIA was formed in 1947.🤔 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Interesting how someone’s theory about conspiracy theories, is in itself a conspiracy theory.
AI will be the end of all. It is dangerous and disconnected. Remember Hal the computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey!
I do not understand the push to replace human interaction!
Look at what Social Media has done. Faceless people say things they would not tell if you faced that person.
I will have nothing to do with it.
I stand with you, Chuck
Thank you for your work and the work of your staff. I appreciate you all!
Kudos, Chuck,
As a regular reader and follower, I appreciate your taking on the mean spirited and largely uninformed commenters. Keep up the good work both in that capacity as well as your role as an RV educator. Thanks for all the worthwhile information.
I may not always agree with something but I always enjoy AND learn! Please keep up the good work!
I appreciate all the work you and your staff put into these newsletters. Doesn’t matter if I agree or not with everything you write, I have learned a lot from you since we bought our first camper 5 years ago. I have used Google to search out information, but have found that it is not always right, and sometimes just flat out wrong. I prefer real articles written by people that are knowledgeable, not some AI that just gathers information off the web and spews it out at me.
Thanks for all that you do.
I’m a third option kind of guy. At least the folks who get mad at you are reading your articles and being exposed to what may be a new idea. If they never are exposed to anything other than their favorite conspiracy theory advocates, they will never have the chance to hear something that might, just maybe, change their mind at least just a little.
When I read the comments and see the nasty one sided responses I often will stop reading or skip the part of the thread with the off subject, politically motivated retorts and move on. Life is too short to spend reading biased drivel.
I am saddened and disappointed that any reader would have ANYTHING negative to say about what you ALL have worked so hard to accomplish. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the important information you have put in my brain in the long years I’ve been (cheaply) supporting you. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. Anybody who would make nasty comments must be a very unhappy person. Not all humans are “human”. Hang in — we need you. HUGS
I have been reading your work for years, and contributing. I learn, enjoy, and promote your site. When I read information that I feel will be a disservice to readers, I comment. 1st Amendment. Write on.
Chuck, I enjoy the information, comments, and humor in the newsletter. Ignore the non- subscribers who complain about your newsletter, and probably most things in their life.
I just contributed for the 3rd time – keep up the good work
I was a full-Time RV owner and traveled the U.S., enjoying everything I saw along the way. I used the resources in RVTravel, and found most things useful, and simply bypassed those that did not, without emotion. Even though I turned in the motorhome keys a long time ago, I still read these newsletters weekly. Not that I have a need, but I have interest, and I find most writing to be free of slant. Don’t let ’em get to you, some people have nothing better to do.
You all do a fine job!
Having been an Admin / Moderator in several groups, one thing comes to mind. When your following grows to a certain size, there comes a comfort in being able to say “you want to leave / unsubscribe? go right ahea.d” Let’s not forget, we all know that those ones tend to be the ones that also stir things up in a group, so, in a way, they’re kind of doing the group a favor by leaving. (Sort of like the Homer Simpson beer / intelligence theory.)
I too have held the position of site moderator and know how people react to information and comments posted. Some folks are very passionate about their beliefs.
I rarely read anything on RV Travel, but the tech and recall articles. If your contributing reporters can’t write a tech article, without sliding in their own political bias (right or left), I too will be gone. There will be no threat. I will just have your emails sent directly to the junk mail box. I get my information from multiple sites, not just RV Travel. While I don’t believe there is any free lunch and asking for donations is fine, I would think that all the advertising would offset much of the cost of maintaining the site.
Thanks Chuck for speaking up and for being an example of what civil courage looks like. Ninety years ago people looked the other way and became fearful of bullies. We know what happened. Thanks again….I really mean that.
Illegitmati non carborundum.
👍👍 Have a great day, Gene. 😀 -Diane at RVtravel.com
You are experiencing nothing different than I did when employed by a newspaper years ago.
Legitimate gripe some people just can’t be happy. Have a great day 🎃
Dear Chuck and team: Please keep up the excellent work! I read the newsletter every day! The newsletters are an irreplaceable source of information and entertainment for us in our RV travels! We appreciate all of RVTravel’s hard work. Thanks so much, Bob S
Again, here you go denigrating the readers. I am disappointed the you can’t take your own advice and just let it pass if you don’t like a comment. It seems they hit a nerve and you can’t but help to try and make the readers out to be the bad guys, when in fact they are the reason you exist, other wise your would never charge and not allow comments or not pay attention to them.
Thank you, Chuck, for relentlessly informing readers for decades. I do not envy your work, particularly enduring the peanut-gallery commenters. Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Chuck, thank you. I feel your pain. I just sent you $25. I read this newsletter occasionally, and if anything the articles here saved me from making an expensive purchase.
Keep up the good work, and ignore the likes of William P and others that just don’t get it.
Chuck, I feel your pain. Remember, the loudest people don’t represent the masses. The vast majority of your readers have never left a comment. I sometimes get frustrated when I look at comments on one of our videos on a sensitive topic. They might be half positive and half negative. But when I take a breath and look at the “like” to dislike ratio, I usually find that 98-99% of people have hit the like button and less than 2% have hit the “thumbs down.” I suppose that’s the problem with the internet these days. But that minority of grumps is way smaller than we all think it is.