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I agree that the column is Fred Frailey’s opinion, and he has a perfect right to it.  Let me offer my opinion. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I think this needs to be broken down because Fred’s seven points are somewhat like apples and oranges in that some are illegal, and some are merely personal choices that Fred disapproves of.  And furthermore, while some of the seven points are based on forum behavior as well as field behavior, some of them are based only on field behavior. <o:p></o:p> Fred is talking about railfans, but it is not clear how many or which ones.  He clearly is referring to all railfan photographers, including himself when he says:  “Do you wonder why railroaders don’t have more respect for those of us on the other side of the camera lens?  I’ll tell you why:  We haven’t earned it.” <o:p></o:p> Do non-railroaders have to earn the respect of railroaders?  I don’t require anybody to earn my respect.  I give it out for free, and then withdraw it only if necessary.    <o:p></o:p> Fred’s seven ways to become a better railfan: <o:p></o:p> 1)      Get off your butt:  I disagree that this has anything to do with how good of a railfan you are.  Some railfans spend their whole life researching railroading in the 1800s.  Why would they be better fans if they devoted some of their time to experiencing current day “real thing” railroading, as Fred asserts?  Is railroading in the 1800’s not the real thing?  Would a railfan who spends all his or her time watching current era trains be “better” if he or she spent a little time researching railroading in the 1800s? <o:p></o:p> 2)      Be better informed:  I disagree that this necessarily makes one a better railfan.  One could argue that the innocent spontaneity of simply hanging around the railroad to see what shows up is more enjoyable than making a big obsessive effort to learn the lineup of what it coming.  It is a similar to the assertion that looking at trains through the camera lens detracts from the full sensation of the train experience. <o:p></o:p> 3)      Shut up:  This seems to reveal something about the Kalmbach culture, how they view this forum, their collective political ideology, how they impose that ideology on this forum and on Trains magazine, and how they view the role of this forum compared to the roll of Trains magazine.  I’m not sure which forums Mr. Frailey is referring to with his example of engaging in “vicious so’s-your-mama ideological warfare,” but fortunately we have never had that happen here.  It has come close, however, with threads about waving and labor/management issues. <o:p></o:p> 4)      Leave your camera at home:  I disagree that this has anything to do with how good of a railfan you are.  I know people who take lots of photographs, and have become conflicted over whether it is really worthwhile.  They may wonder what the ultimate point is in having a big collection of images among their worldly possessions.  Compulsively taking photographs can become like an addiction, and some people quit in order to alleviate the burden.  And some of these quitters can become like ex-smokers who lecture and condescend to those who still smoke.  I would not presume to lecture a photographer about what he or she is missing by using a camera to capture an experience. <o:p></o:p> 5)      Use common sense online:  I do indeed believe than any railfan would be better if they did not do things that are illegal or damaging to others. <o:p></o:p> 6)      Accept that you don’t know everything:  Very few people believe that they know everything, and it may or may not be a problem for the ones that do.  Mr. Frailey needs to explain how this leads to good reputations getting recklessly shredded, as he asserts. <o:p></o:p> 7)      Never become part of the action:  I agree with this and my response is a repeat of that for item #5.
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