Where do you stand?

[AggroJones]

To the bunch of people who consider themselves serious model railroaders (not toy runners or what ever), how do you feel about people talking down your model work with statments such as "go play with your trains"? [V]

I understand people "play golf" or "play video games", but "play" and model railroading don't go together because its not that kind of thing. Do you "play model railroading"? I think not.

I spend too high a percent of my money and time doing this, so I concider it pretty serious shizznit.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind it. I just simply say "You know, I've spent a lot of time and money on this, so I wouldn't call it playing, I'd call it investing". Otherwise I just say "That's pronounced modeling".

[BRAKIE]

Naw,It doesn't bother me..After all it usually comes from people that have no hobbies,no life and spend all their free time looking at the idiot tube.More the pity...[V]

[MAbruce]

It really depends on the context in which it was said. If someone is being condescending and means it as a slight, well sure it bothers me (as I’m sure it would bother most).

But when you put into perspective, there are far worse things people have to put up with in life than being accused of “playing with trains”.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind a statement like "go play with your trains", because that is what I really do. This is a hobby and not a single paying passenger yet has rode on my trains. It does relax me to operate a train from the 50's era and watch stainless passenger cars with Warbonnet diesels up front. It was a time that will never be repeated except in modeling and memories.

If I was operating a large layout for public showings or for profit, it would not be play.

Enjoy the operation or models for what they are and do not worry about someone that does no understand why we go to such lengths and money to recreate the El Cap or many other famous trains.

[Anonymous]

If you show them it bothers you,then they'll keep saying it.
I'd rather be "playing trains" than face down in a gutter.
What bothers me is the IMMEDIATE attempts at guessing how much money I've spent. Don't ask a cattle rancher how many cattle he has and don't ask me how much money I've spent.

[Anonymous]

To me, "playing" with trains has an infantile connotation to it. To me, scale model building is is at least a hobby, if not an art form unto itself.
Technical skills like machining, soldering, electronics, carpentry and art are all combined into something more than playing.
I don't think if you would have asked Gogan or Picasso if they were "playing with a paint set" that you would get an affirmative answer here either.

[tatans]

HMMMM ! 4 of the 6 replies above replied with how much money they have spent on the hobby, Is this reflective of the new wave of model railroaders or "players of trains" to see how much money you can pour into a "hobby" ?? Does the guy who spends the most win??? just a thought.

[simon1966]

I play a lot! I have 2 young boys 4 and 7 and believe that playing is a wonderful form of bonding with the kids. The fact that Model railroading is technically challenging, mentally stimulating and appeals to my interest in history is an added and welcome bonus. It is so far removed from my day job (medical equipment sales) that I find it a very enjoyble distraction from day to day pressures.

[orsonroy]

It all depends on who I'm talking to. If it's someone who's never heard of the hobby, I tell them I'm a model railroader. If it's some holier than thou fellow modeler that takes themselves and the hobby way too seriously, I tell 'em that we're all playing with trains!

[randybc2003]

To most people that know me, I am a "Model Railroader". To those who don't I tell them I am an "animated dioramitist". If they persist in seeking my fascination, I just tell them it is a complusion like carpentry, metalworking, scullpture, or even golf. Haven't got any funny looks yet.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme

To me, "playing" with trains has an infantile connotation to it. To me, scale model building is is at least a hobby, if not an art form unto itself.
Technical skills like machining, soldering, electronics, carpentry and art are all combined into something more than playing.
I think if you would have asked Gogan or Picasso if they were "playing with a paint set" that you would get an affirmative answer here either.

Yeah!

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sprink

If you show them it bothers you,then they'll keep saying it.
I'd rather be "playing trains" than face down in a gutter.
What bothers me is the IMMEDIATE attempts at guessing how much money I've spent. Don't ask a cattle rancher how many cattle he has and don't ask me how much money I've spent.

My girlfriend already thinks I'm nuts for chasing around 1:1 trains with a camera... wait till I pull out the HO stuff again!!! [:o)][}:)][swg]

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[Big_Boy_4005]

I consider myself a serious modeler, not to the point of rivit counting, but trying to capture the flavor of real railroading.

Most people who know me realize that I'm not playing, when it comes to my trains, so I don't hear that comment much anymore after over 30 years. If someone does say that to me, I don't get upset, I just try to find something, from my experience, that they can relate to and begin a discussion. Most of the time it doesn't even get that far, because once they see the train room they realize how much time and money I have invested in this hobby, it becomes very obvious that I am well beyond play.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

HMMMM ! 4 of the 6 replies above replied with how much money they have spent on the hobby, Is this reflective of the new wave of model railroaders or "players of trains" to see how much money you can pour into a "hobby" ?? Does the guy who spends the most win??? just a thought.

Nah, it isn't about the money, it's about what you do with the trains. Unfortunately money is just a handy measuring tool. We all know the old expression about "the difference between men and boys", but that idiom need not apply here.

The other expression about "He who dies with the most toys wins", is another misconception, though many of my friends who collect old "toy type" trains still believe in that.

No, this hobby is all about, learning about trains and how they work, meeting other people who share a common interest, and in general having fun.[8D]

Maybe the new battle cry should be:

"He who has the most fun in life wins!!

[Anonymous]

dont bother me. If they dont appreciate my work that's thier problem. What i build is for me!(with the exception of my modules) And its not like there's nobody out there who really knows what goes into this. Im in a MRR club that just went over 90 members. I have plenty of MRR friends[^]

[Anonymous]

I tend to describe it as "Playing with trains" as I find people don't tend to hassle me about my hobby if I do this - their attempts to belittle it as "playing trains" are rather deflated if I call it that to begin with!

[mikebonellisr]

I consider my modeling a art form,Plus a enjoyable [ sometime frustrating] ,form of relaxation.I KNOW who I am, so it does'nt bother me at all.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fuzzybroken

My girlfriend already thinks I'm nuts for chasing around 1:1 trains with a camera... wait till I pull out the HO stuff again!!! [:o)][}:)][swg]

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

Get em out,,,NOW!!!!![;)]
One way to find out if she's a "keeper" or if you have to "catch and release"![:D]

[tomwatkins]

Darn right I play with trains! It's one of the things I do for fun. I'm fairly serious about it. I like superdetailing locomotives and rolling stock. I enjoy scratchbuilding structures. I'm building a fairly accurate representation of the roads and the area that I'm modeling. But I'm doing it this way because I enjoy it. How much money I have invested in it is nobody's business but mine and my Wife's. Fortunately she thinks the railroad is very cool!

I think Big Boy 4005 got it just right. He who has the most fun is definitely the winner.

Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[robengland]

They are toys. We play with them.

They are grown-up toys. So are windsurfers, home entertainment systems, PCs, bikes, fast cars....

A few of us transcend from play to high art (George Selios etc). My MR is definitely an act of self-expression, a theatrical event.... but at the end of the day I do it to play

[CP5415]

It doesn't bother me as most of the people that ask "if i play with trains" actually show an interest in it after poking fun at it.

Gordon

[grayfox1119]

If ignorance was bliss, those that make those statements would be the happiest people in the world!!

[Roadtrp]

I love playing with my trains, and have no problem with people calling it that.

I love playing with lots of stuff. I love playing with my trains, I love playing at Disney World, I love playing golf, I love playing with my wife [}:)], I love playing in my backyard, I love playing with computers at my job, I love playing at the casino.

Life is short. Have fun. Play with stuff.

[:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

He who dies with the most toys, WINS!

[Fergmiester]

I give'm the Fergie Death Stare then walk a way. Especially as what they do with their spare time is a waste of "O2".

[rogerhensley]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

To the bunch of people who consider themselves serious model railroaders (not toy runners or what ever), how do you feel about people talking down your model work with statments such as "go play with your trains"? [V]

And I would consider that it is you that has the problem. You obviously take yourself far too seriously. The average person has no idea what 'Model Railroading' is so I have absolutely no problem of saying that I'm going to the basement 'play with my trains'.

When they see the layout, they understand the difference between toys and models, and if they don't, so what. It's my world, not theirs. :-)

[Anonymous]

I have learned that when we have company I do not bring up the railroad or offer to show it UNLESS the guests ask about my trains. Then I share it with them. If they ask REALLY STUPID questions I explain as best I can. If they have some awareness of the hobby (which you can tell by the questions they ask) I share more detail with them. If they are judgemental and critical I ask them to go back upstairs!

[jwmurrayjr]

I have trains and a layout. I'm pretty sure that I play with them. They don't seem to produce any real revenue.[:p] I don't think that I could call it "work" (Well...I guess I could, but it ain't.)

The on-line Merriam Webster synonym for "play" is "fun". I have fun with my trains.

I'm sort of creating a partially imaginary world of my own, in very much that same way that my granddaughters create their own "play-worlds" with their toy animals and farm houses and fences. I'm sure that there is a difference. I think that they take it more seriously than I do.[:0]

[CBQ_Guy]

Personally, I HATE it. [:(!]