Ulrich wrote:But one has to wonder...do sports people..like those highly payed ball players call their fans foamers or something like that? Probably!!
An "expensive model collector"
It is human nature to strengthen the bonds with one's chosen group, and to distance oneself from others who have marked similarities, but who are never-the-less distinct in some way(s). For example, and I don't defend the practice for a second, it is common in the regular armies to deprecate the reservists, or what you would call the National Guard. Us vs. them syndrome, where "we" are the "real" whatever, and the rest are wannabes or posers. Weekend warriors, and other pejorative terms.
I suppose in this instance, though, that a good number of rail fans have made distinct nuisances of themselves over the years. The details or specifics are not the issue...the issue is that the pros, who get paid for a particular form of work, and who would like to work unfettered or unharassed...and safely...must feel that at times rail fans have gotten in the way. They may have used questionable judgement and done things that showed a lack of respect for the work that the pros were doing...or so it appeared. At the same time, jaded individuals who no longer find their work particularly thrilling or appealing will sneer at the enthusiasm of even well-behaved and well-meaning fans.
The term is an attempt at classification. It tends to be eroded over time, or it morphs/creeps to include other meanings as well as excluding others it originally signified. I don't know enough about this particular term to say what is what, except that it doesn't sound very friendly or genial. Perhaps context means a lot with respect to its use.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
I've been interested in trains since I was a kid but only recently have I heard the term "foamer" used to describe people "like me". I have since learned that it is not a complimentary term applied by the PROS to descibe people who foam at the mouth when they see a train... Well..that isn't me..maybe that WAS me way back when...when my fresh little seven year old face was pressed up against the fence to see the passing parade of first generation diesel motive power. I really don't dont know if I foamed back then...all I can tell you is that I liked what I saw and wasn't afraid to show it. Fast forward a few years to when I was a teen...now I'm most decidedly NOT a foamer...In fact by that point I had learned to display a cool disinterest in almost everything. Today I'm much the same way..I don't foam for anything or anyone...and I don't know of any train buffs who do.
So when has being interested in something become a liability? Lots of people have NO interests. Is that better? Just curious...I personally don't take offence at the term foamer even when applied to me..So what do you guys call people who like gardening, airplanes, ships, sports etc? Some people have more than one interest...that must be REALLY bad huh?
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