Is Tony Lash banned from CTT forum?

[Anonymous]

I read this on www.modeltrainjournal.com Is this true?[:0]

[daan]

Sorry, I can't find what you mean on the link you provided.. If it is true he probably didn't follow the "house rules" which every forum has.. Or he had a few usernames and had to get rid of it.

[Anonymous]

Probably, although forum administrators generally don't publish who is or who is not permitted to participate. That's just commonsense decency and a professional approach to handling such matters.

Tony is an altogether great guy with one of the greatest O gauge layouts in existence. He's also a very devoted MTH supporter, which is certainly his perogative. However, he enjoys stirring the pot in the never-ending MTH vs. Lionel feud, and that tends to widen the rift that already exists in this hobby. His approach--meaning the dialog he posts--often tends to further incite passions and is generally less than diplomatic, to say the least. The end result is that the forum moderators usually have to step in at some point and put an end to the discussion. If they have to do that too often, the instigator usually finds his posting rights terminated.

I don't have a horse in this race. I'm only interested in enjoying the hobby as a relaxing leisure pastime, and in hopefully enticing others to join in when the occasion arises. It's getting progressively more difficult to accompli***his in the turbulent world of O gauge as it exists today, and I suppose that accounts, in large measure, for my own interest in O gauge having significantly waned in recent times. Fortunately, my interest and involvement in model railroading extends to other scales and gauge--most notably Z, On30, Large Scale, and Standard Gauge--so it's easy for me to stay actively involved by simply turning my attention to one of these other areas until things settle down and cool off. But I can well understand how those in O gauge today are increasingly disillusioned by what they see and read on ALL of the forums and boards related to that segment of the hobby, and I can also understand how this kind of continuing animosity--in the industry and among hobbyists themselves--must be a matter of real concern to most forum administrators and to anyone who has a genuine love for O gauge model railroading.

[Bob Keller]

No, Tony's not banned. Must be a slow news day over there.

[MartyE]

QUOTE: If they have to do that too often, the instigator usually finds his posting rights terminated.

WOW then some of the various forum posters must have teflon suits because no matter how much trouble they stirup they never get banned.

[Bob Keller]

Gee, I only recall two guys getting banned from our forum. Don't know about MR, Trains or GR forums.

[Anonymous]

Two must be an all-time low for O gauge forums, including the maverick forums and boards which tend to be sought after as safe havens for refugees banned from other places. But whether it is two or 200, the important thing is that this forum's administrators (including MR and GR--the two others I visit) appear to deal fairly with controversial subjects, and they moderate with an even hand. That's certainly a good thing. Moreover, I'm sure it's not an easy thing to manage, since it's quite easy and common these days for discussions to turn heated and, eventually, bitter.

I could be wrong, but I imagine that the vast majority of folks who visit a hobby forum come to learn more about their leisure activity interest and to share their own experiences, both bad and good. A lot of those folks may be reluctant to post in light of some of the things they see discussed from time to time, but one can only hope that the level of intimidation isn't great enough to dissuade them from becoming more involved in what surely is one of the most diverse and creative hobbies available.

[brianel027]

People who have met or personally know Mr. Lash seem to have nothing but the highest regard for him. Anyone who has back issues of CTT on hand can dig out the July 2000 issue and see his layout... it's the kind that most of us could only dream of having.

So given all that, I don't know why when ever he makes a post it has to be some statement or purported truth that always borders on being either smart-allecky or a subtle dig at Lionel. Given his well known affiliation and liking for MTH, it certainly doesn't endear me at all to any kind of MTH product - what few they make that I can actually run or want.

He has one of his nega-info-threads going on another forum right now. I don't get it. Look, I'm as opinionated about this hobby as anyone. But I also enjoy helping others, giving pointers and tips and seeing others share the hobby - especially with kids.

It would reflect on Mr. Lash and MTH so much better if he would make the kind of contributions to the various forums where he could share some of the insights he certainly must have.

Even if he did have some kind of inside information on MTH products... just sharing that information without always getting in some kind of dig. MTH obviously has fans and I'm sure those who have never tried the products would be more inclined to do so based on positive info about MTH rather than negative info about Lionel.

It would be even more disturbing if it ever came out that the posts that border on being digs are made with Mr. Wolf's blessings. Especially given the recent news in the 3-rail train business and the seeming lack of ethics some of those reports suggest.

Agree with him or not, Mr. Wolf did have some positive things to say about the hobby and ideas for growing the hobby in the last issue of CTT. It'd be nice if Mr. Lash would lend his voice to Mr. Wolf's in that direction. I don't know Mr. Lash's personal story, but by all appearances he is an American success story and probably has much to be personally proud of, as well as thankful for. Sharing that story with others might be the best inspiration and honorable legacy that he (and any of us) could possibly leave.

[Anonymous]

When reading Tony's stuff, I always thought he was a shill for MTH.

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree with you more, Brianel! Tony, with his inside connections, could be the best PR vehicle MTH has going for it, and a genuine force for promoting and growing not only MTH, but the hobby as a whole. However, I'm afraid that he often doesn't come across that way, for one reason or another, and that is unfortunate. Tony is, as I noted earlier, a great guy, and he loves sharing his own love of the hobby--anyone who has met him or visited his layout will readlity attest to that. But he also enjoys stirring the pot a bit--more out of knowing that it can easily be done than out of malicious intent--and he's obviously very successful at that. The problem, I suspect, is that anyone who has been around for a while assumes that his dialog has the blessings of MTH, just as most assume that "Clyde Coil" speaks for Lionel and Les Line for K-Line. I guess these manufacturers feel that having surrogate spokesmen does them some good. Frankly, I'm not at all sure that they're right about that. But I'm also aware that when the official spokesmen for these firms appear on any of these boards or forums, they end up being eaten alive.

It's just a shame that the congeniality that exists when hobbyists get together in real life doesn't extend to the times they share in cyberspace.

[Bob Keller]

Hey guys,
The purpose of the forum is to talk about toy trains, not talking about people who talk about toy trains, or whether they wear orange or purple underwear.

[daan]

The best part of it is that MTH wouldn't excist if Lionel wasn't there and that Lionel benefits from the extra interest in the hobby which MTH provides.
It's a bit sad if people want to argue about which brand is better. It's not about the make of the train, but it's about the toytrain itself that's most important..

[Frank53]

must be a slow news day over here too. [;)]

[Bob Keller]

Yup.

[jonadel]

It's Sunday, it should be slow and relaxed. That's what this hobby is all about, having fun and sharing knowledge and good times.

Jon[8D]

[prewardude]

I actually find Mr. Lash's posts rather amusing. I suspect that's the whole point behind his posts - to watch people get themselves all worked-up! Then again, I don't have a horse in this race - I just like trains, regardless of who makes them. [;)]

[FJ and G]

I think differently. My idea is that controversy brings excitment and entertainment to the hobby. And, if controversy isn't your bag, you probably won't enjoy a good novel or a good movie. Heck, drama is the mainstay.wh

And tony is dramatic.

And, if you don't like controversy amongst forumers, just have a look at what toy train companies are saying about one another! Makes our chitchat child's play.

That said, Tony has a wonderful layout and I wish he'd share more with us about his operations. He's got lots of talent going to waste, in what could otherwise enrich the hobby.

[Anonymous]

I don't know where redneckgoober got his information for this thread but, as far as I am aware of, no where on our forum is it mentioned that Tony Lash is banned from CTT.

BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[prewardude]

http://www.modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1504&start=0

Sixth post down.

[Frank53]

Perhaps redneck goober should have been more clear. It's one thing to say "I saw a post at modeltrainjournal.com asking if Tony Lash was banned" and quite another to say "I read on Modeltrainhournal.com that Tony Lash was banned.

[Anonymous]

prewardude:
Thanks, for the link. I deleted that post.
BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com