Only You Can Prevent "FORUM FIRES"!!!

[Anonymous]

Big Boy---An all you can carry train flea market? You better not commit any sins if you ever expect to find something like that. Some years ago some "helpful" dietician suggested that whenever I was tempted to snack I should just work on my trains. Yeah! Brilliant idea! For years every time I worked on my trains I got hungry. You've probably heard of yo-yo dieters, haven't you? Well I am a bungee cord dieter. Three times I have lost a hundred or more pounds and regained it all. The last time was in 1989 when my doctor put this 369 pounder on the Optifast Diet. I lost 150 lbs in EIGHT MONTHS!. Well it was nice while it lasted, and five years later it was all back again. Last summer I visited a friend I went high school with. He was as fat as I was then....and as fat as I am now. We haven't seen each other in about thirty five years, but there we were, two fatties. We agreed that some people are just supposed to be fat and dieting is just fighting with our own nature. Odd-d

[Craignor]

Odd-d and Big boy,

Glad to see you both burying the hatchet.

I have a friend who whenever he has too much to drink, never admits his mistake, but claims he was "Overserved" by the bartender.

Maybe, this weight issue is not of your doing...maybe you have been overserved![:D]

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hey Odd-d, I have a more constructive idea. Rather than an all you can eat buffet, how about an all you can carry flea market of trains? 0 calories consumed and hundreds burned, now that's a weight loss plan!![dinner][swg][swg]

By the way, here's the story of how I got my name.[;)]
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12164

[Anonymous]

Odd,
I am down from around 275. I am slowly taking it off, since I put it on slowly. I have heard good things and bad things about the atkins. Good- the weight comes off fast, bad- if you eat some carbs the weight goes back on fast. I figured I better start doing something since it was getting hard to crawl around under the layout.

[Anonymous]

It's always a pleasure to meet someone heavier than me. Maybe some day we get together and talk trains over a nice All-You- Can- Eat buffet. It's not so much that I am overweight...it's just that I am underheight. Now if I were about eight feet tall.....Odd-d

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Gomez ! You are correct in how I was hoping that this topic would be viewed. I am actually most frustrated with the person who is from this board, and not the newcomers, and have been in email contact with him to try to sort this out.

I am used to a little head butting up front, but I expect things will settle down nicely once everyone adjusts to the new reality.

Sorry Odd-d, got you there, 339 on the scale this morning, but working on it too. You had me on the top end though, 365 max last fall for me. See, all it takes is to find some common ground. If only I could drag my butt away from this computer too.[(-D][swg]

This photo is 11 years old, I would like to get into those overalls again. I still have them in my closet.

[Anonymous]

Gomez---I would KILL to be 265 again. On looking back I'm sure Big Boy probably meant well, but it came across to me as, "Oh, gee, there goes the neighborhood" and was no way to approach the subject...in fact that type of post is just guaranteed to step on some toes. I'm an old man and I am not going around looking for trouble, but we senior citizens can get a bit crochety when we think some youngster is trying to bully us. At my age I just want to peacefully tinker with my trains and not worry about being bullied. Bullying is for schoolyards and early teen age boys, not old people. Now I have work to do on the next section of my pike so I will not have any more to say on this unfortunate thread. One question, though. Are you UP to 265 or down to 265? You see I'm DOWN to 324 from approximately 385 this summer. And believe me sitting behind this keyboard doesn't help my weight at all. Have you tried Atkins? It works. Odd-d

[Anonymous]

Odd

324 pounds[:0][:0][:0] Now that IS a big boy. [:D] I thought I was a big guy at 265.

For what its worth I did not think the other big boy's comments were out of line or trying to be the boss. I don't think he has the power to change or delete any comments on this forum. My take on it is he was merely putting down in a post what most if not everyone should know already about how to behave on a public forum so things don't digress into a name calling bruhaha. Being a leader does not necessarily mean you are the boss, it just means that you are willing to try and make things run smoother and help others.

Actually I thought his choice of a topic name was kind of humorous, whether he intended it or not it is a copy of the old smokey the bear slogan, I still chuckle when I see this topic.

[Anonymous]

Mr. Keller--- I am not in the habit of criticizing personalities, but I am not afraid to speak up if I feel like my freedoms are being ignored. I have been a member of this forum since before the OGR flap began. I don't take threats and I don't take orders....nor do I give them. I think it is very insulting for somebody to get in my face (figuratively speaking) BEFORE I have done anything wrong. Any time somebody sets themselves up as my boss there is going to be problems and not just from me, but from others who took "Big Boy's post as saying, "Alright you newcomers, I'M BIG BOY and I'm telling you how I expect you to act and I'll decide what you can and cannot post". I am willing to relax and enjoy our hobby and very contentedly talk about model trains with Big Boy and anyone else AS AN EQUAL. Maybe I was too quick to take offense, but those who know me best know that I can be as thorny as Big Boy. I apologize to Big Boy and anybody else for tweaking him, but he did set himself up as a juicy target, and you just can't do that in the company of men and of other hobbyists. In the future maybe local faux pas will be discussed as they occur instead of someone saying, "You better watch your step or I'll get ya", or like that other guy who said that if anyone gets out of line he would be quick to complain to Mr. Besugloff. C'mon, we have trains to run and pikes to work on.

BTW I'll bet i'm bigger than BIG BOY..... I weigh 324 lbs in my birthday suit....how big ARE you, Big Boy?

[Bob Keller]

Hi Guys,

Please don't think that there is no moderation of the forum. We simply offer a bit more legroom for discussion.

[Big_Boy_4005]

eZAK, unfortunately we will get no moderator, that is a major difference between the forum styles, that everyone needs to understand. This is why I am preaching self moderation. The CTT staff members have other obligations, and while they may watch the forum, that is not their highest priority.

I did not choose to ignore your warning, I had actually been warned via email days before you registered and posted that. At the time of your warning, there was no evidence of any trouble, however it did not take long for some to appear. Of course there is no connection between your warning and the incident, I'm afraid some people just carry grudges, and they boiled over.

I don't need to be in charge of anything here, I have my layout for that, but as you so aptly noted "We do not need an anarchic Forum!". I posted this topic to help gauge the attitude of the members toward the Idea, not toward myself.

When it comes to the word authority, there are two different meanings. I do not want the control type of authority. I do consider myself somewhat of an expert with regard to THIS forum.

I think that it is wonderful that we can discuss such an important subject in a calm and adult manor. Maybe the question is, can we all do the same when it comes to talking trains? In spite of some evidence to the contrary, I think we can!!!

I realize that many members consider the use of large text as yelling or being angry or just plain rude. That is not why I use them. I use them to get people's attention, and they are very effective when I want people to see and read that message or portion of one. I view large text differently from the use of all caps. I do subscribe to the convention that the use of all caps is shouting.

I also am a firm believer in the smileys, and often use a bunch at a time when appropriate.

[eZAK]

Big Boy Elliot!

I know you mean well and are just trying to get your point across.

BUT!

Using
Larger
and Larger
Text

Is NOT the way to go about doing it!

I tried to warn you about the 'Flames' but you chose not to listen.

Your perceived authority on this forum will just rub certain people the wrong way.

We may very well need a moderator.

We do not need an anarchic Forum!

Please refrain from shouting, i.e. using large text

Also try to be less authoritative in you words.

Doing this might gain you some respect.

I do not know about anyone else but I'm on both forums, and I'm NOT going anywhere!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Will!

This post was never intended as a challenge to fight anyone, since it takes two to tango, and I don't dance. The truth is that the vast majority of our new members are perfectly well behaved.

The postings that prompted this topic involved one person who has been in this forum for a while, and one, maybe two who have recently become active here. The problem as I understand it, is that these people have had words before over on the OGR forum, and it is my hope, and I suspect everyone else's, to keep that from starting here.

When I read that, I thought of two hockey players dropping the gloves. One person's comments almost seemed to be egging the other person on, trying to pick a fight just for the value of saying "I told you so, see we can't get along". The other party more or less closed out the exchange with some ill wishes. I haven't looked at it today, but I think it has passed, but I am hoping for everyone's sake, that it never starts again.

I know for a fact that we can all get along, in spite of any differences in opinion, or preconceived notions we may have. It takes patience, tolerance, and cooperation to do that, but I believe that we are all capable of doing that if we put our minds to it.

I really want to be friends with everyone, even you Odd-d.[:)]

[pennsy_fan]

reading all this makes me want to break out the pennsy fire car & put it out.

Hey folks, you can please some of the people all of the time, and, all of the people some of the time, but you cant please ALL of the people ALL of the time.Lets talk 3-rail,
high-scale, toy detail TRAINS!!

[Anonymous]

Elliot, I'm flattered. No problem- I can see you're thinking of the good of the group and I think we'll be good friends. Glad to meet you. All I ask for in my friends is that they have a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves. [^]

Don't pay a lot of attention to ODD-D. His bark is worse than his bite.[:D]

[Anonymous]

I agree. Nothing like being invited into a new acquaintence's house and grinding your cigarette butts out on his carpet. Mr. "Polska", in no way do you represent the old forum. Don't start that stuff here, please.

[cbojanower]

I really hope your OGR guys are merely jokiong because its makes us other OGR guys look like asses.. chill out and enjoy the new digs.

[Anonymous]

Hey Big Boy, we're all "big boys" too! How about checking your oversized ego at the door before you mess with the OGR "big boys"!!!!!![:(!]

[Anonymous]

I agree -- especially in the case of this thread started by some guy flexing his "beer muscles." I hope he's an exception to this place and not the norn. [V]

[bluelinec4]

I already posted this in the roll call post

I had paid my 18.00 on OGR and came here to try it out just in case the new look doesn't pan out. I am going back to the OGR forum. People there are much friendlier and there is more of a sense of comaraderie. It seems that some on this forum feel like you have to ask their permission before you can post. I have seen many " Since you guys came here I see...." comments. Read the K-Line yuch post to see what I mean. So if OGR decides to charge 50.00 I will stay there. See you CTT. I wish I can say its been a pleasure

[Anonymous]

LMAO!!


"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 1899

[Anonymous]

Hey, Big Boy--- After I learn how to make the print bigger I'll just say that your time is done, and WE'RE TAKING OVER. That's not a "challenge" that's a FACT. Odd-d

[Anonymous]

Elliot,

Good words and recommendations. So far it looks to me like we new posters on this forum are getting along fine, both with CTT veterans and OGR refugees. I seems to me that most of us OGR guys are spending more time here because: 1) we object to additional fees that are being implemented by OGR; 2) we think there's a bit of a heavy hand on OGR with respect to forum moderation; and 3) we're not as rigid about scale as many OGR posters are.

For me personally, I find this forum to be more laid back than the other one and a lot of fun to read. If everyone enjoys his model trains as much as I do, even though my layout is small and undeveloped, then we'll have a great bunch here who have much in common and much to share.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Odd-d

HEY, BIG BOY, what will you do to us if we don't obey you? Odd-d

I'm a Big Boy, I don't need to take on Challengers.[:D]
I work with them.

[nitroboy]

That has to be one of the best post topics I have ever seen! I will enjoy learning and using this forum.

Dave

[Anonymous]

[(-D]

[Anonymous]

HEY, BIG BOY, what will you do to us if we don't obey you? Odd-d

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thank you Chris!

Though I've tried to remain humble about it, people are beginning to figure that fact about me out. I have tried to build my reputation here without leaning on my past, but won't deny that I do enjoy when people discover the connection.[bow][swg]

[Anonymous]

[si

Y-Y-Yes SIR!!! Now do I salute my monitor screen? Odd-d=6][/size=6]

[Chris F]

Elliot,

Actually, I think of you as an advocate for trains in general, both toy and scale. Your membership in both the TCA and NMRA speaks to that. Your posts are one of the things that started me coming to this forum in the first place.

For those of you who want to get to know Elliot a little better, check out Volume 6 of TM's Great Toy Train Layouts of America. I especially liked his comment about what he did in his teenage years!