Only You Can Prevent "FORUM FIRES"!!!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Only You Can Prevent "FORUM FIRES"!!!

This is a public service announcement. This message is for every member, and not aimed at any individual in particular, but applies equally to both old and new members.

This is OUR hobby!!

There is NO right or wrong way to do things!!

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but personal attacks will not be tolerated. It is acceptable to disagree with other members, it is not acceptable to attack other members by name calling or ill wishing.

This forum is not moderated in the traditional sense, and it is not censored. It is however monitored by the sponsors and the members. The purpose is to provide a pleasant and fun way for people interested in trains, to communicate and share, experiences and ideas.

If you find yourself getting angry over something that you see here, instead of responding with more anger, simply take a break. Step away from the keyboard, or write an email to a friend, but do not "fire" a post in anger.

Your help in this matter will make this forum more fun for everyone!

---

Those of you reading this message may wonder "who does this guy think he is, and what gives him the right to tell everyone else how to behave?"

The answer is that I am just another member like everyone else. The only difference is that I have more experience in this particular forum. Many other people have been members longer than I have, and some have more posts on other forums, but few have spent as much time participating and contributing to this one.

I have met a lot of people here over the last few months, and made a number of new friends, and look forward to meeting everyone as time goes on.

The impending changes in the OGR forum have presented this forum with some interesting challenges. This transition period will be awkward for for everyone, because of the major differences in the way that the two forums are organized and function.

I have taken it upon myself to try to provide some leadership, in what would otherwise be a chaotic and potentially unpleasant period. I would like to thank those of you who accepted my invitation to introduce yourselves, and move right on to train business.

I expect that as the June deadline draws nearer, we will see the number of new members continue to increase, and with it the activity level and number of new topics.

Because this forum is designed as a simple single stack, every post to a topic will pull that topic to the top of the stack, and push every topic down in turn. The more active topics we have the more difficult it will be to find the topic you are looking for.

It may be possible to get additional stacks started in the future, to help organize topics better, since some of Trains.com's other forums have multiple stacks for that purpose.

Trains.com has six different forums representing 5 magazines, and being a member of one makes you a member of all. I frequently visit the Model Railroader, and Trains Magazine forums as I have a lot of interest in topics more in tune with the focus of those magazines.

I strongly encourage you all to check them out, and use them to address questions about things not specifically related to the 3 rail O or standard gauge and 2 rail S trains. Their active members are very knowledgeable on prototype and general model railroading topics respectively, in spite of the fact that they do not run the same type of models that we do.

While my personal taste in model trains has shifted more toward the scale end of 3 rail O and the high tech, and is perhaps better in tune with the attitude of OGR, I will never forget my roots!!! Beside, all of that stuff only came about in the last 15 years of this hobby, which really started over 100 years ago.

I AM THE VOICE OF CALM AND REASON, PLEASE LISTEN, ENJOY, AND HAVE FUN RESPECTFULLY![:)]

900

[MA and PA JCT]

One word says it all: AMEN.

[brianel027]

Thank you Elliot. Well said.

And to think, 100 years from now, this could be one of those 100th Anniversary Cars Lionel does... "Smokey_Boy_4005 says Only You Can Prevent Forum Fires." [:D]

Gosh, never mind if Lionel is around in another 100 years. Can you imagine what the list price on that would be!!!! [:0]

[Anonymous]

Okay, thanks for letting us swim in your pond!

[Anonymous]

Part of the problem is the medium of internet forums. I would bet just about everyone would not be this "uncivil" face to face. Unfortunatly just typing words on a screen gives people courage(kind of like beer muscles) and for some people this is a dangerous thing. If this behavior continues then there probably will be some kind of moderator or if there isn't things will just get worse. So like I tell my 5 and 7 year olds" you better clean up or I will do it for you and you will not like my way."

Also just because there are alot of new people (myself included) does not mean it gives anyone the right to act badly. Everyone knows the etiquette if they have been online for any length of time so there really is no excuse for bad behaviour.

Finally I don't really care one way or the other about using big bold letters in a post. For me it is actually easier to read!!

[Anonymous]

This is all very good advice.[tup]

[spankybird]

Hi All,

Well said Brian and Elliot,

We use E-mail a lot at work. Biggest problem with it is miss-reading peoples attitudes. Try looking at it from the other persons view once. Then go play with your trains for an hour.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thank you all for your support!

Oh, and Willrothfuss, I consider this to be your pond too. You and I may not be as far apart in our philosophy as you might think. I have read almost all of your posts, but I don't honestly expect you to have read all of mine. When you do run across mine, I do hope that you will read them, then you will see what I mean.

Please don't think of me as a snob, or a bully but as an advocate for this forum.

Sincerely, The Lorax [:)]

[Chris F]

Elliot,

Actually, I think of you as an advocate for trains in general, both toy and scale. Your membership in both the TCA and NMRA speaks to that. Your posts are one of the things that started me coming to this forum in the first place.

For those of you who want to get to know Elliot a little better, check out Volume 6 of TM's Great Toy Train Layouts of America. I especially liked his comment about what he did in his teenage years!

[Anonymous]

[si

Y-Y-Yes SIR!!! Now do I salute my monitor screen? Odd-d=6][/size=6]

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thank you Chris!

Though I've tried to remain humble about it, people are beginning to figure that fact about me out. I have tried to build my reputation here without leaning on my past, but won't deny that I do enjoy when people discover the connection.[bow][swg]

[Anonymous]

HEY, BIG BOY, what will you do to us if we don't obey you? Odd-d

[Anonymous]

[(-D]

[nitroboy]

That has to be one of the best post topics I have ever seen! I will enjoy learning and using this forum.

Dave

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Odd-d

HEY, BIG BOY, what will you do to us if we don't obey you? Odd-d

I'm a Big Boy, I don't need to take on Challengers.[:D]
I work with them.

[Anonymous]

Elliot,

Good words and recommendations. So far it looks to me like we new posters on this forum are getting along fine, both with CTT veterans and OGR refugees. I seems to me that most of us OGR guys are spending more time here because: 1) we object to additional fees that are being implemented by OGR; 2) we think there's a bit of a heavy hand on OGR with respect to forum moderation; and 3) we're not as rigid about scale as many OGR posters are.

For me personally, I find this forum to be more laid back than the other one and a lot of fun to read. If everyone enjoys his model trains as much as I do, even though my layout is small and undeveloped, then we'll have a great bunch here who have much in common and much to share.

[Anonymous]

Hey, Big Boy--- After I learn how to make the print bigger I'll just say that your time is done, and WE'RE TAKING OVER. That's not a "challenge" that's a FACT. Odd-d

[Anonymous]

LMAO!!


"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 1899

[bluelinec4]

I already posted this in the roll call post

I had paid my 18.00 on OGR and came here to try it out just in case the new look doesn't pan out. I am going back to the OGR forum. People there are much friendlier and there is more of a sense of comaraderie. It seems that some on this forum feel like you have to ask their permission before you can post. I have seen many " Since you guys came here I see...." comments. Read the K-Line yuch post to see what I mean. So if OGR decides to charge 50.00 I will stay there. See you CTT. I wish I can say its been a pleasure

[Anonymous]

I agree -- especially in the case of this thread started by some guy flexing his "beer muscles." I hope he's an exception to this place and not the norn. [V]

[Anonymous]

Hey Big Boy, we're all "big boys" too! How about checking your oversized ego at the door before you mess with the OGR "big boys"!!!!!![:(!]

[cbojanower]

I really hope your OGR guys are merely jokiong because its makes us other OGR guys look like asses.. chill out and enjoy the new digs.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Nothing like being invited into a new acquaintence's house and grinding your cigarette butts out on his carpet. Mr. "Polska", in no way do you represent the old forum. Don't start that stuff here, please.

[Anonymous]

Elliot, I'm flattered. No problem- I can see you're thinking of the good of the group and I think we'll be good friends. Glad to meet you. All I ask for in my friends is that they have a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves. [^]

Don't pay a lot of attention to ODD-D. His bark is worse than his bite.[:D]

[pennsy_fan]

reading all this makes me want to break out the pennsy fire car & put it out.

Hey folks, you can please some of the people all of the time, and, all of the people some of the time, but you cant please ALL of the people ALL of the time.Lets talk 3-rail,
high-scale, toy detail TRAINS!!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Will!

This post was never intended as a challenge to fight anyone, since it takes two to tango, and I don't dance. The truth is that the vast majority of our new members are perfectly well behaved.

The postings that prompted this topic involved one person who has been in this forum for a while, and one, maybe two who have recently become active here. The problem as I understand it, is that these people have had words before over on the OGR forum, and it is my hope, and I suspect everyone else's, to keep that from starting here.

When I read that, I thought of two hockey players dropping the gloves. One person's comments almost seemed to be egging the other person on, trying to pick a fight just for the value of saying "I told you so, see we can't get along". The other party more or less closed out the exchange with some ill wishes. I haven't looked at it today, but I think it has passed, but I am hoping for everyone's sake, that it never starts again.

I know for a fact that we can all get along, in spite of any differences in opinion, or preconceived notions we may have. It takes patience, tolerance, and cooperation to do that, but I believe that we are all capable of doing that if we put our minds to it.

I really want to be friends with everyone, even you Odd-d.[:)]

[eZAK]

Big Boy Elliot!

I know you mean well and are just trying to get your point across.

BUT!

Using
Larger
and Larger
Text

Is NOT the way to go about doing it!

I tried to warn you about the 'Flames' but you chose not to listen.

Your perceived authority on this forum will just rub certain people the wrong way.

We may very well need a moderator.

We do not need an anarchic Forum!

Please refrain from shouting, i.e. using large text

Also try to be less authoritative in you words.

Doing this might gain you some respect.

I do not know about anyone else but I'm on both forums, and I'm NOT going anywhere!

[Big_Boy_4005]

eZAK, unfortunately we will get no moderator, that is a major difference between the forum styles, that everyone needs to understand. This is why I am preaching self moderation. The CTT staff members have other obligations, and while they may watch the forum, that is not their highest priority.

I did not choose to ignore your warning, I had actually been warned via email days before you registered and posted that. At the time of your warning, there was no evidence of any trouble, however it did not take long for some to appear. Of course there is no connection between your warning and the incident, I'm afraid some people just carry grudges, and they boiled over.

I don't need to be in charge of anything here, I have my layout for that, but as you so aptly noted "We do not need an anarchic Forum!". I posted this topic to help gauge the attitude of the members toward the Idea, not toward myself.

When it comes to the word authority, there are two different meanings. I do not want the control type of authority. I do consider myself somewhat of an expert with regard to THIS forum.

I think that it is wonderful that we can discuss such an important subject in a calm and adult manor. Maybe the question is, can we all do the same when it comes to talking trains? In spite of some evidence to the contrary, I think we can!!!

I realize that many members consider the use of large text as yelling or being angry or just plain rude. That is not why I use them. I use them to get people's attention, and they are very effective when I want people to see and read that message or portion of one. I view large text differently from the use of all caps. I do subscribe to the convention that the use of all caps is shouting.

I also am a firm believer in the smileys, and often use a bunch at a time when appropriate.

[Bob Keller]

Hi Guys,

Please don't think that there is no moderation of the forum. We simply offer a bit more legroom for discussion.

[Anonymous]

Mr. Keller--- I am not in the habit of criticizing personalities, but I am not afraid to speak up if I feel like my freedoms are being ignored. I have been a member of this forum since before the OGR flap began. I don't take threats and I don't take orders....nor do I give them. I think it is very insulting for somebody to get in my face (figuratively speaking) BEFORE I have done anything wrong. Any time somebody sets themselves up as my boss there is going to be problems and not just from me, but from others who took "Big Boy's post as saying, "Alright you newcomers, I'M BIG BOY and I'm telling you how I expect you to act and I'll decide what you can and cannot post". I am willing to relax and enjoy our hobby and very contentedly talk about model trains with Big Boy and anyone else AS AN EQUAL. Maybe I was too quick to take offense, but those who know me best know that I can be as thorny as Big Boy. I apologize to Big Boy and anybody else for tweaking him, but he did set himself up as a juicy target, and you just can't do that in the company of men and of other hobbyists. In the future maybe local faux pas will be discussed as they occur instead of someone saying, "You better watch your step or I'll get ya", or like that other guy who said that if anyone gets out of line he would be quick to complain to Mr. Besugloff. C'mon, we have trains to run and pikes to work on.

BTW I'll bet i'm bigger than BIG BOY..... I weigh 324 lbs in my birthday suit....how big ARE you, Big Boy?