Trains.com

An idea for the forum Locked

7089 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 7, 2006 8:03 AM

I'm not sure if Capt Bob is yelling or not but his posts are sure easier to read in BOLD FACE than this terrible faint grey on lighter grey.  And when you do a preview of your post, it gets even fainter.

INCREDIBLE. 

But this is progress, no? So much better than the old stuff that worked so nicely.  Reminds me of the junk stuff out of Redmond.

Art

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Slower Lower Delaware
  • 1,266 posts
Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 9:04 PM
TJ, You da man!   Couldn't have said it better or more completely myself!
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Virginia Beach
  • 2,150 posts
Posted by tangerine-jack on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 8:56 PM

I would rather read one post from K. Strong than 3,000 from a coffee shop poster with nothing to say.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Slower Lower Delaware
  • 1,266 posts
Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 8:54 PM

Guys want post count, they already have Post Count!

I was just fooling around and happened to check somebody's profile and Lo and Behold!  I had completely forgotten about it!  Right there at the bottom, guess what's there for all to see?

POST COUNT

Now, go look at the heading of each Post and what is right there below your name?

POST COUNT

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: South Australia
  • 380 posts
Posted by toenailridgesl on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 9:31 PM

"Phil,comma you are showing your lack of understanding of the written word and the Capital English language in space general. Not at any time did Capital I space indicate that Capital I did not know what a gandy dancer was; as in fact by sheer chance Capital I do. Back a long comma long time ago, a song came on the hit parade called the Gandy Dancers Ball. My brother Bob contatcted contacted the American Consul in Sydney who sent us out some written inforamtion information on what is it was. If Capital I remember crrectly correctly after 50 years, it was to do with a Gandy Dancer which who was a labourer on the old western railways comma in particular ones that lifted the rail into place. The load was so heavy that the many men involved had to develope develop a particular gaite gait to get the job done. This gaite gait was said to be like that of a gander which Capital I understand is a male goose. Hence the term gandy dancer. They say only the good die young and my brother bob Capital B died of cancer back in 1965 Full stop Capital He was only 35 years of age; so it was quite a while before that, tha no space t he gave me this information. Rgds Ian "

And I show a lack of understanding of the written word & the English language in general?

"Not at any time did iindicate that i did not know what a gandy dancer was; "

From your first diatribe in this post:

"I do believe it is aimed purely at Americans as they are the only ones who would know what the Term Gandy Dancer means."

Are you sure you're taking your meds?

"What is more i take personal offence"

Yup,I certainly do take personal offence at the image you try to portray to the rest of the world about what ignorant idiots we are in this country. Go stay on the LGB board, maybe they'll put up with your inane attempt to hit 10,000 posts.

 

Phil Creer, The Toenail Ridge Shortline,  Adelaide Sth Oz http://www.trainweb.org/toenailridge toparo ergo sum
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 9:22 PM
 iandor wrote:

I do believe it is aimed purely at Americans as they are the only ones who would know what the Term Gandy Dancer means.

Rgds ian

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 9:04 PM

Phil you are showing your lack of understanding of the written word and the english language ingeneral. Not at any time did iindicate that i did not know what a gandy dancer was; as in fact by shere chance i do. Back a long long time ago, a song came on the hit parade called the Gandy Dancers Ball. My brother Bob contatcted the American Consul in Sydney who sent us out some written inforamtion on what is was.

If i remember crrectly after 50 years, it was to do with a Gandy Dancer which was a labourer on the old western railways in particular ones that lifted the rail into place. The load was so heavy that the many men involved had to develope a particular gaite to get the job done. This gaite was said to be like that of a gander which i understand is a male goose. Hence the term gandy dancer. 

They say only the good die young and my brother bob died of cancer back in 1965 he was only 35 years of age; so it was quite a while before that, that he gave me this information.

Rgds Ian

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 1:19 PM

Unfortunately, once started threads are like Frankenstein's Monster; they refuse to die!

The originator's have even tried to change the name of a thread to no avail.  Their creation keeps on going, and going, and going.  Just like the battery bunny and even IT changed trademarks!!

Now watch, this addition will either breathe new life into this thread or, perhaps, give it the kiss of DEATH.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 10:51 AM
 SRS 4501 wrote:

OK OK.  I got the message -  It was just an idea.  Didn't realize something like this had been done in the past.  I do understand there are some out there who might take advantage of the "system" just to see how far up the ladder they could go.  It's a sad fact I guess.  I for one would never do it and I don't think any of the "regulars" I've met on this forum would either

I think its time for this thread to die, don't you?  You don't want postings to be tied to Forum Rank, that is OK by me.  It was just an idea to spark some interest in the forum and I do belive it did just that..................... 

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Slower Lower Delaware
  • 1,266 posts
Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 10:20 AM

Snoq. Pass,   Go back and read the thread, it wasn'r hijacked; it took a logical bend about verbage and it's usages.

YO! ~ Bill C, The test very accurately got my "Sout Joisey" ( and since you will know whereof I speak, "Wilewood") origins and the fact that I have lived all my 66+ years in the Delaware Valley, on one side of the "crick" or the other, despite my close contact with folk from all over the world in my many years afloat.

Forget the post count, there have been folk ejected from some of these train fora for that very reason.    Others who used various aliases to project nonsense, and some who thought that they might someday get some reward by boosting a post count have also been removed.

I abhorred the coffee shop thread when it was here!  

I kinda like it the way it is, and as TJ said, it will die a natural death when nobody comes up with a new angle or something else to add to a subject.    It tends to be self - policing in that when someone gets just too out of line, someone makes some caustic remark that tends to ground everybody; and you will usually find that to be the last posting on that subject.

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: South Australia
  • 380 posts
Posted by toenailridgesl on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 4:55 AM
 iandor wrote:

As usual i agree with every thing Jack and Danny have to say.

What is more i take personal offence at what SRS had to say; i reagrd it as the start of a plot to get foreigners off the forum, in particular Australians.

I do believe it is aimed purely at Americans as they are the only ones who would know what the Term Gandy Dancer means.

Rgds ian

Ian, you are showing (again) your ignorance. Gandy-dancer was commonly used in SAR as a term for fettler, also frequently quoted in the Commonwealth Railways archives as a name for gangers. It is also widely known among ALL modellers who have ever picked up a book or reference that dealt with railways outside of your small sphere.

Read first, open mouth second. Why do you have to paint us Downunderers as bigotted idiots? Learn that with the internet this is a small globe. Any word-expression you don't understand is as close as Google for an explanation. I reckon it's time you pulled your head in.

Phil Creer, The Toenail Ridge Shortline,  Adelaide Sth Oz http://www.trainweb.org/toenailridge toparo ergo sum
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Virginia Beach
  • 2,150 posts
Posted by tangerine-jack on Monday, December 4, 2006 9:43 PM

 

Maybe we can have a "coffee shop thread" Evil [}:)]  No, that was a disaster along with the star ratings.  Maybe we can not post on a post when we don't like what was posted?  Like what I just did.  Look Ma, I gotta 'nuther star!  How has my post added to any knowledge?  It didn't, but I'm one up on my post count.

If everybody wants a rank system, then go ahead and have at it, it does not affect me one way or the other.  BUT- not having one keeps the nonsense posts down to a minimum. Put me down for a NO, SRS4501

We tend to drift off topic often on this forum, when that happens the thread dies a natural death and we move on. 

Gotta run, time to clean track, run some trains, and winterize the garden.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 236 posts
Posted by Snoq. Pass RR on Monday, December 4, 2006 8:13 PM
This post shows my main point.  SRS 4501 posted an idea and what are we talking about now:  What accent we have.  WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING.  True, taking a quiz about your accent is interesting, but that is why you start a new post.  This happens waaaay too much.  We do not help people by changing the question into an open post.  You want to do that, then lets copy the Classic Trains forum and start a open post to allow us to just talk about things besides trains.  We are NOT helping people by posting random stuff that interests only you on a post that a hobbist started to seek advice.
Account abandoned
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 6:02 PM

Bill; where did you get that quiz from, i would like to contact them and offer my results; confusing to say the least. However i do see some sense in it. I would like to see Kim do the same test and see how he goes. In retrospect it must be heading in the rifght direction though. What do thers think ?

I am an Australian livbing in SE Queenslandand, i have a distinct Sydney style of talking, rather than an accent as such. Anyway i came out as from Inland North, almost a full North easter or from Philly.

Interesting huh.

Rgds ian

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 236 posts
Posted by Snoq. Pass RR on Monday, December 4, 2006 3:59 PM
SRS 4501, I think your idea is great.  The problem with this forum is that too many people disagree with others ideas, so they get mad and tell you that you are wrong and stupid.  This then causes people not to use their imagination and post their ideas, because they will be called stupid and wrong.  Okay, back to this issue.  Right now we have people post things like "great model" or "nice".  So what difference does it make if we have post "ranks" or not.  Truthfully, I think it would be great to have a post rank for those who are trying to help other people.  So, SRS 4501, put me down as a YES.
Account abandoned
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Notheast Oho
  • 825 posts
Posted by grandpopswalt on Monday, December 4, 2006 3:51 PM

Good little test. It identified me as being from Boston or possibly from New Hampshire or Maine. I've lived in Connecticut for over 30 years so I guess my Cleveland, OH accent has been erased.

Again poor Ian has been left out of the fun.

Walt

 

 

"You get too soon old and too late smart" - Amish origin
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 12:04 PM
I am from the West Cowboy [C):-)] Nice quiz!!!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 11:00 AM

Bill, great little quizz.  Thanks for sharing that with us.  Mine came out "defintely southern."

(which pleases me bunches!)

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 10:22 AM
 Rene S wrote:
 vsmith wrote:
We had starts, they got dropped when the forum switched formats, too many people posting just to rack up numbers.
-
I dont think anyone really misses them, and I should know, I had as many starts as you could get, didnt really mean anything.

 Vic is exactly right. Too many folks would just post non-sensical things just to add to their ranking.

Rank don't mean anything in real world! Just look around (or remember back to the old days) and see how many people screwed yeah and they had no rank. Ranking aint squat.

Would like to see us get a "link" for urls in the top box (the chain link part)

William

  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,839 posts
Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Monday, December 4, 2006 8:01 AM
 vsmith wrote:
We had starts, they got dropped when the forum switched formats, too many people posting just to rack up numbers.
-
I dont think anyone really misses them, and I should know, I had as many starts as you could get, didnt really mean anything.

 Vic is exactly right. Too many folks would just post non-sensical things just to add to their ranking.

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 7:31 AM

Bill, not a bad quiz.  It identified me as most likely 'midlands', closely followed by 'northeast'.

I moved out of the Chicago area at 25,  spent 14 years in New Mexico, 2 in California, 26 in upper New York state, 2 in Boca Raton, Florida, and almost 11 here in ya-all Texasl.

So the quiz pegged me nicely but you do have to answer the questions accurately.  I have dropped a lot of Illiinois-isms along the way and must have picked up some Northeastern ones unconciously (sometimes I think I spend my entire life unconcious!!).  But I sure don't say the capital (Albany) of New York as OH-b'nee as NooYawkers do.

Long Live Esperanto!!!  Art

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 44 posts
Posted by Bill C. on Monday, December 4, 2006 6:20 AM

Relating to accents, someone just sent me this test relating to American accents:

Click Here: Check out "What American accent do you have?" 

It correctly identified mine as Philadelphia/South Jersey. 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 4, 2006 3:34 AM

Yes well when i use a word that i think may not be understood by all i try to give an alternative afterward in brackets to help. After all the idea of writing anything is to communicate and if people are not familiar with a word or words that you use; you have failed to communicate properly.

I am from Sydney and many words are Sydney words and even other Aussies would be uncertain of what those words means so why use them?

Rgds Ian

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 1,192 posts
Posted by kstrong on Monday, December 4, 2006 2:24 AM

 iandor wrote:
I do believe it is aimed purely at Americans as they are the only ones who would know what the Term Gandy Dancer means.
Speaking of terminology, I stumbled across the following site while looking for the origin of the term "Dolly Varden" as it references a particular style of railroad car. It may help us yanks translate railroad terms to Australian. Smile [:)]

 http://dbromage.omni.com.au/slang.html

Later,

K

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 3, 2006 4:53 PM

Capt Bob is quite right about globalization; but something akin to that started here in the USA right after radio was born and spread like wild fire after coast to coast TV came on line.

Prior to that time, the regional accents throughout the country were quite different.  Gradually the 'Chicago' or mid-West accent took over.  There's a vast difference between the East Texas and West Texas accents, and the locals insist on mispronouncing the words of their childhood; their children who watch network TV may have a slightly different accent. 

I was born just 92 miles south of Chicago but my parents pronounced the letter W as dubya just like President George Bush does.  Mirror was meer; drawer was drau-ah; and wash was warsh.  My younger brother said 'warsh' up to the day he died; he tried to change but the habit was just too ingrained.

My children don't mispronounce these words, in large part because that's not the way they hear them on TV or in school, but also because I have tried to pronounce them correctly. 

Now back on topic; I don't like the idea of displaying the number of posts added to or threads started as it tends to incite contests, running up the total, etc.

Art

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Slower Lower Delaware
  • 1,266 posts
Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Sunday, December 3, 2006 8:00 AM

Ian, you're starting to sound like DeGaulle; and you see what a world power his isolationism turned his beloved Isle de France into?  It is indeed an island of it's own that is largely ignored by the rest of the world because it is irrelevant!

Sheer distance has tended to isolate the peoples of Anzac over the years, but modern communications and travel means are whittling away at that isolation.   I will not postulate as to the good of it; but it is indeed a fact of life that you have to learn to deal with and not get all touchy about.    At least you guys aren't drowning in illegal immigrants who refuse to learn the language, play by the rules, and be productive citizens like we are!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 1, 2006 9:32 PM
I understand, Ian.  The sad thing is that a lot of what the US "exports" in the way of culture is simply bad.  Hip-hop and gangsta lifestyle are but two examples.  What T-Jack said is also true.  One day, faaaaarr into the future, we will be a global culture and local mores and customs will be a vestige of the past.  We won't live to see it but it will happen eventually.  On the other hand, don't be offended when we colonials lapse into slang or colloquialisms.  We're not plotting against you or trying to assimilate you.  It's just shorthand to us. 
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Virginia Beach
  • 2,150 posts
Posted by tangerine-jack on Friday, December 1, 2006 7:47 PM

It's the end result of globalization, cross culturalism and a flattening of local colors.  Ian, it's not just Australia that is suffering from this, in the USA there is now scant difference between our geographical areas (North, South and Mid West for the most part) that even 25 years ago was like going to a different country when you crossed state lines.  Now there is a McDonalds and WalMart everywhere so it makes no difference if you are in Idaho or Georgia.

We have a pastor of a local church, he was born and raised here in the USA, but went to Australia for 3 months and now uses a fake Australian accent.  Others are now copying Australian lingo and habits (thanks to Steve Irwin et al) but have no understanding of them.

Whether or not you agree with it, it is happening, it is a natural growth of the culture.  Where it leads I don't know, but we don't always progress in the way we want.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, December 1, 2006 6:08 PM

I quit watching TV about a year ago so I'd have more time with trains and the hound. My only complaint with this and other forums is that it seems whenever someone posts a link, they post an indirect link that you have to do a lot of hunting for to find the link they want you to go to. With only so much time and so many posts, it makes it a bit frustrating.

 BTW, I feel like an idiot when people chat all day about a particular TV show or movie or movie star that I know nothing about.

 

Iget my news from newspapers and NPR radio while working. Gets it's retro

 

Regarding Australia, I think Western Australian beer is the best in that country, better than in other parts. 

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy