Did you get teased as a kid for being a model railroader?

[brothaslide]

I was reading another thread that mostly students were on and they were mentioning that they didn't talk much about model railroading with other students becuase they didn't want to be teased. It reminded me of when I was a kid, I didn't talk much about Model Railroading either for the same reasons - plus I was in the marching band - the double nerd threat! (I was cool in band - I used to drum major like the bands you saw in the movie Drum Line.)

For all the students, it all works out. High school, and the people you went to high school with, become less and less signifigant as time goes on. I've been happily married for almost 14 years, have two wonderful daughters, active in my church, and own my own business. Life is good and model railroading is fun!

[eastcoast]

I was in a very tight circle of friends (3 people) , everyone else I left at
the school doors. A friend who lived across the street had a MRR and we
had something in common. But I never discussed my personal life with
many others anyway. Since graduation, I married and became an active
advocate for MRR and Operation Lifesaver, my results have been good
thus far. I did not attend my reunion, and am still trying to find my lost
friends who have spread all over the USA. I miss them.

[Anonymous]

Nope! Every one of us in the neighborhood had model trains. Of course, back then, Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer were the big names - O-scale, naturally. We didn't run on each others' tracks, though.

[Anonymous]

I get teased all the time!

[orsonroy]

I never got teased for model railroading. Of course, I was also on my high school's fencing and rifle teams, and was the captain of the rodeo team, so I think I intimidated that out of most people!

[lupo]

GOOD TOPIC BROTHASLIDE,
I read it and it really hurt me, because some of the guys got picked on this weekend over ??nothing??

I was not teased for MRR when I was a kid,I think mainly because the vicar in the small village I lived was a well known MRR and he had a huge layout on the attic of his house where his son, and friends ( I was one of them ) spend many years playing and having fun.
and at that time you did not pick on the vicars son . . . .

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

. . . .and was the captain of the rodeo team, so I think I intimidated that out of most people!

Rodeo team - that's cool!!!!

Out here in Southern CA, many of the coast high schools have surfing teams. Carlsbad High has the US High School National Champion Surf team - Dude!!!!!!!

[cpcolin]

Only a few close friends in high school knew I was a model railroader. I went to an all boys Catholic highschool "Go, go Gordon go" so I kept my mouth shut about a lot of stuff. I was really into cycling so people thought it was cool when I would bring in magazines with Greg LeMond in them to school.

[steveblackledge]

I got some stick at school like most kids in the UK, but it was worth it, i take my kids to see the Trains and they love it, they saw a Steam special excursion on saterday morning near home, two Locos on the point thrashing up the grade, to say they loved it is an understatement, i hope they take after me and go into the worlds greatest hobby, its better than hanging out on street corners causing agro. I am also trying to re-educate my fellow workers i work for Paccar in the UK at it's new PDC, they think i am totally nuts for "playing trains" as one of them says, to which i answer why not join me in the Worlds greatest hobby !!!
GREAT
steve
steve

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I was teased - until I saw the sense in not mentioning my hobby to classmates - sad to have to do this, but a whole lot less hassle. As I mainly hang out with computer "nerds" now, it's not a problem - they can see how much skill, effort, time, etc goes into modelmaking. May have "converted" a few as well...

[Anonymous]

I didn't mention it at school for that reason however now I am at uni I do (I'm doing civil engineering so it is even an advantage).

Some people have raised their eyebrows however once they have seen my layout and run a train no-one has ever reacted negatively about it again.

Much like my friends Citreon 2CV. Everyone laughs at it until they have a ride in it - then they laugh with it!

2CVs rock!

neil

[Anonymous]

yes i still do becuase i am still in school

[Anonymous]

I only had a train set when I was about 9, and it really never got set up & messed with.
Four years ago,(at 32) I found the box with all my old stuff in it & that re-kindled my love for trains....... So I didn't get teased, But with the people that I knew, I would have been.....
As brothaslide said, kids, stick with it, 'cause b-4 you know it your life is upon you & all that " school picking on you " stuff really doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

No, I had a special circle of friends who thought this stuff was cool, Trains in the 70's was acceptable. Besides I never really talked about it at school as it took on a life of it's own between Orchestra, Jazz Lab, Chamber Orchestra, Band, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Swimming and being Photographic Editor of the Yearbook.

The hockey team that I was on when I was 16 thought I was nuts but some were envious when I bought a Big Boy for a $100 in Erie, PA during a tournament.

On the way home crossing the border you never saw a group of teenagers so silent when the customs officer came on the bus and said "does anyone have anything to declare".

[Anonymous]

I have never been teased for it, and have even gotten a couple friends started in it.
I don't really worry about it at the school I go to now, because I don't know anybody on a personal level.

[Anonymous]

I was never teased as a kid because of my fascination with trains. Most of my friends had a hobby--trains, model car building, art. It was also helpful to have adults at that time in life who encouraged you to pursue something constructive. My grandfather and mother were two of my biggest supporters, as were teacher's at school (I seemed to always have a picture of a train stashed between the pages of my text books and teachers couldn't help but notice!). Yet another reason for us as adults to encourage today's kids to pursue their passions. I think too often we don't express an interest in what they're doing, which can leave them with the sense that no one cares. Unchecked, this can lead to negative activity. ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH![^]

[Anonymous]

very few people know that i do model railroading. most of those who know about it are ones who do it or other modeling. other just now this is just another wacko facet to my personality - they already think im crazy with my obsestion with sailboats (its all i did for a long time). railroading is a close second. i do have a couple friends my age who give me a hand now and then, which realy helps, especialy during the winter. hopefully i wont get so enthused in my new winter sport of skiing (been out twice and LOVING it!) will incringe on the time for the RR. im seeing if i can drag my friends into it some more.and so we shall see.

2CV's rock - just about as much 60's or 70's volvo's

[Hawks05]

i haven't been teased yet. i have only told 3-4 peopel i guess. one over heard a conversation that i had with my friends son. my friend is the guy who got me involved and his son i've known for awhile so he knows. the other is a female friend. i told her because i told her i was busy one saturday and i wasn't going to lie or anything. she was like oh, well thats cool but she doesn't mind i don't think. probably thinks its pretty funny but whatever i'm happy doing it. there are a few others who have overheard things but just haven't said anything.

i have 2 years left so i'm not worrying. besides have long hair, a funny last name, and my first name James (Jamie because of the long hair) i don't have much to worry about. none of that bugs me much anymore this girl that i said i told is really great. when i'm talking with her i don't even care what other people say. sounds kind of sappy but its true you can call me anything and i pretty much won't care.

oh well. i guess my advice is don't tell anyone really unless you want to get picked on or the people you tell are into the hobby or are really close friends.

[AggroJones]

In high school, it would have been too dangerous it anyone found out I was a model railroader. It would have been even more terrible for me in that ghetto hell hole!

To answer your question, no I wasn't teased in school. Cause I tried my damnest to not let any other kids find out!

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

. . .It would have been even more terrible for me in that ghetto hell hole!

Ghetto hell?! - Hey Aggro, we prefer the term "Ghetto Fabulous" at Locke. www.lockesaints.com - So hard to be a Locke Saint!

Peace and Chicken Grease

[Jetrock]

In high school I got teased about plenty of other things, I don't think anyone every specifically pointed out the copies of "Model Railroader" I'd bring to school as a reason to tease...if I was in high school today I'd probably be singled out as a "Trenchcoat Mafia" type and be given large doses of Ritalin, but schools were, as weird as it sounds to say now, slightly less screwed-up in the 1980's.

When I was a kid, in the 70's, model railroading was still an acceptable hobby for any kid young enough to still play with toys of any sort. In high school I was also into Dungeons & Dragons, computers, and heavy metal, all of which were considered activities worthy only of geeks, dorks and weirdos (hey, I was all three, what can I say?) so, as I mention above, model railroading didn't even appear on the radar.

I got out of model railroading in the late 80's and 90's primarily because I was too poor and had too little space, plus having other priorities for spending my money and time (read: women, music, women, parties, women, nightclubs, women, hair dye, and of course women) but now that I'm a boring old married guy I don't have to worry about Impressing The Chicks with my pastimes (and my wife likes trains too.)

A while ago at work I was reading a book on trolleys and a young adult (19-20 years old) there asked me what I was reading, and I showed her--she commented, "Man, are you *boring!*" I just smiled, knowing that I've done enough crazy things to fill several lifetimes--and trains are *fun!*

[Anonymous]

I initially made no secret of my hobby, and took some kidding from a few kids in Elementary school. Ironically, the father of one of them worked for a railroad. Consequently, as I progressed to Jr. High and High School, I played my interest closer to the vest, being kind of selective about who I let it on to. By that time, no one was kidding me, but I was cautious anyway.

There were a couple of other kids from school who "had trains", but I am the only serious modeler to emerge from that group.

I did get some vindication many years later, when at my 20th High School reunion, one of my classmates (Not one of the antagonists) asked me if I was still into trains. When I replied in the affirmative, he said: "You know, we all thought that was kind of cool". (Why couldn't they admit it back then???).

[mloik]

Originally posted by GASmith
[
(Why couldn't they admit it back then???).


Jealsousy.

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