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In my book, "Foamer" is a derrogatory term for those who are so over the top they make a bad name for the rest of us "normal" railfans and present a danger to themselves and others. I don't really have a problem with foamers who have mental illnesses such as autism, ect., since they can't help it for the most part, and as long as they are supervised (if need be) so as not to become a danger when around active railroad environments.  Many railroad employees I know don't mind us "buffs/railfans/enthusiasts" (whichever you call yourself), as we tend to mind our own businuess and stay out of the way so they can do their job. My problem and theirs are with the "foamers" who are willing to do anything to get that picture, including tresspass, break and enter, and more, but should know better. The foamers we all hate are the ones who will actually threaten employees, groups/museums, and others because they did something they don't like, or were told they were tresspassing. I've seen foamers put on Hi-vis vests and walk around active yards and railroad lines thinking it's okay. Their excuse? "I know everything there is to know about trains, I know what I'm doing" I know a railroad employee who lost his job, and from there, his home because a foamer took a picture of him dismounting a locomotive in the wrong way and reported him. This has happened to many others, sadly. These people (foamers) are downright dangerous to themselves and others, and on top of it are downright annoying and embaressing to the rest of us; espeacially when they talk everything about trains to anyone in earshot, as if they even understand what they're talking about. Classically, I see the family of four trying to enjoy themselves and get away from him, obviously walking away while he chases after them to share his next "fact". No wonder "normal" people and railroaders think ALL of us are like that. I was visiting IRM this past summer, where you can go up a set of steps to look into the cab and talk with the crew;and one guy was just going off on the crew about how they should paint it this way and that way, and the marker light were in the wrong place, and (I'm quoting him here) "That's not how the Frisco fired their locmotives, you're doing it wrong! Don't bother firing if you can't do it right!" Then, to my disbelief, he asked for a cab ride, and told them to #^&$ themselves when told "no". I went up to the crew, saying "We're not all like that you know, us guys on the ground taking pictures, we volunteer where we can and respect you for what you do" The fireman smiled and said "We know, if we thought there was no such thing as a decent railfan out there, we would have sold this thing for scrap and left long ago, we're here for the decent people like you." We've all seen the kind of people I've described above around various places, and I (rightfully) have a disdain for them. They should know better, but they still go out and do this kind of stuff. If you're widely considered a "foamer" or "one of those guys" by other people, you've really done something wrong to earn that title.
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