Poll on Model Railroader's age?

[rexhea]

Has there been a poll for the age of MR's?

I was thinking that with so much concern over the hobby's future it would be interesting to know what age bracket everyone fits into. There appears to be a good range from students to retiree's. This could indicate, that although the numbers may be down, the appeal is still there for all ages. It would also be interesting to know how long they have been in the hobby.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Yes there has been, a few times. Do a search and post to one and it will become active. Most of us are in our 30's, 40's, and 50's. There are quite a few in their teens and 20's, and a handfull 60+. Around here it doesn't indicate much more than who likes the forum.[swg]

Last December or January there was a rather funny one by Norboy, where he didn't plan it quite right and ran out of groups of ages, so I came along and made a second part to give everyone a chance to respond. We had some good laughs with that one.

[rexhea]

Big_Boy

I guess I'm not using the right keywords to find it. (I'm new at this). If its been awhile since a poll on age has been posted, could you find yours and bring it forward? Some more laughs would be great..

Before I forget, I looked at the pixs of your layout that you posted in one of the topics. It's incredible! You have really done some engineering and it looks like it will be one heck of an operation.

Just looked at the clock. Be back a.m.
REX

[Anonymous]

For starters "What is your age", Author, The Great Aggro Jones, http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=12041 Feb 07-2004

[tutaenui]

Another poll that might be of interest is How old is your model layout?. My current layout. since construction commenced has existed for 10 years.

[CNJ831]

Such polls conducted here, concerning the age of modelers, can be interesting and fun, allowing us to see what the makeup of forum participants is. However, they can not be taken as in any way accurate or meaningful with regard to the actual situation that exists in the hobby in general. Typically the number of responses is far too small to be statistically sigificant and thus the figures dramatically skewed, even regarding forum members. More importantly, it has been pointed out here several times in the past concerning such polls that the results will be strongly bias toward younger, technical, and internet savy individuals and exclude a great percentage of modelers over the age of 55.

While on this subject, it might be of interest to note that MR magazine used to periodically run results of reader surveys, which included an average age of the readership. Up until 1974 average age varied within a year or two of 33 but thereafter began a slow but steady climb. I think the figures started to scare MR when the average age reached 47 more than a decade ago because the surveys (run every few years since 1954) ceased. A projection from the trend indicated by the final few MR surveys would suggest the average age figure would now be close to 55, or perhaps even more since it was clearly accelerating.

So, have fun with the polls but don't forget to take them with a handful of salt grains!.

CNJ831

[rexhea]

CNJ831
I understand what you mean about any accuracy with a forum poll. It's just that I was pleasantly surprised to find so many young people on the forum. Young meaning teens and twenties.

But, what the heck. I will see if I can kick Aggro's back into gear and have some fun[:D][:D]

[Don Gibson]

This type of poll is informative.

Most "Polls" have been "What's your favorite ......."? (Yuk!)

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Big_Boy

I guess I'm not using the right keywords to find it. (I'm new at this). If its been awhile since a poll on age has been posted, could you find yours and bring it forward? Some more laughs would be great..

Before I forget, I looked at the pixs of your layout that you posted in one of the topics. It's incredible! You have really done some engineering and it looks like it will be one heck of an operation.

Just looked at the clock. Be back a.m.
REX

Sorry I slept in Rex. I found them and bumped them. If they, and there are 2 polls, aren't on the front page, check down a couple of pages. HAVE FUN!!!! [swg]