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"Hobbist or Terrorist?" in Time Magazine

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The weird part is, since 9/11 I haven 't been hassled once. I've talked with MOW employees, track gangs waiting out rainy days in their little "shanty towns" engineers waiting at crew chan ge points, and train crews waiting out signal changes, and all i've gotten were smiles from guys who were obviously a tad thrilled thaqt someone had taken an interest in their lives. Trying to explain my success where others seem to have problems isn't entirely easy, but "behavior" most likely is a part of it. When I know I've been seen, I don't behave in ways that make folks have to won der what it is I might be up to. And when asked, I just say "Oh, getting in a little train watching" Then ask them about how their day is going. People really enjoy talking about their favorite subject (themselves) and so things just go well, thats the best I can explain it, buy there are a few caveates: 1. Never act like you know you shouldn't be there, if you begin your "retreat" the second some guys lay their eyes on you, they're gonna come find you and tell you that you know you don't belong there 2. stay away from the tracks as much as possible, and by this I mean don't just walk down thecenter of the tracks, walk along side them 3 As a train approaches, never leave 1 iota of doubt in the en gineers mind that you know he's there and a train is approaching. When a train is approaching from my rear, I'll look back over my shoulder several times, not because I need to know there's a train coming, but I want to make sure the engineer knows that I know he's there. If you act in ways that give the engineer cause to worry for your safety, he's gonna use that radio for yourr own good. 4. "mix it up a little" Don't go to the same spot day after day, but try to go to different lines, locales, etc your viewing will be more interesting, and you won't set a pattern that can only work against you 5 Probably most importantly, when confronted (and it likely will begin as a "soft challenge" such as ~hows it goin?~ or ~where ya headed?~)act like you are happy to see the guy and try to avoid that "bambi looking into a pair of headlights down the road" look from coming into your eyes. It works for me
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