Its a hobby, seems like some folks have a hard time accepting the fact that building an electric train layout and operating trains is no different than building and operating RC race cars or airplanes. No different than photography, fishing, hunting, collecting stamps & coins, or chasing a little white ball around a couple hundred acres.
Bill T.
I must say, that is a horrible story. When you say your "family", who are we talking about? Your parents? Your children? Your siblings?
First of all, if you actually played with trains as a kid, then why would your family members tease you as an adult? That has been an adult pasttime for probably 100 years or more.
Second of all, teasing you "all day and night"? What is with them?
I could maybe see a little momentary teasing is you were laying on the floor with your head on the floor like my 2-year old grandson pulling a little Fisher Price plastic toy car around, but that is not what we are talking about here.
My main suggestion is to simply not run the trains in their presence, but if the trains are on display, leave them there to be viewed. I am sure that it looks cool.
In my family, the only one who even remotely questions my hobby is my son-in-law. He doesn't tease me because I would break his neck (LOL), but I can tell that he thinks it is immature. So, I never operate the trains in his presence. But, guess what? My 2-year old grandson is totally fascinated by my layout, so his Dad (my son-in-law) loves to take him down to the layout.
What I find amusing about my son-in-law is his hobbies: Fantasy Golf, Fantasy Football, an indoor putting green. My other son-in-law has every version of Call of Duty on his computer.
I think that the biggest problem you face is the "day and night" frequency of the teasing. Just don't run the trains in their presence.
Rich
Alton Junction
So, an adult enjoying a fun, harmless hobby is the one acting like a little kid? But, the other adults "teasing" you aren't acting like little kids? That seems very odd.
As others have said, just ignore them and enjoy your trains. As long as our hobby (no matter what the hobby is) doesn't harm anyone or cause us to neglect our faith, family, or job, then you have nothing to be ashamed about.
Merry Christmas,
Joe
As above basically stated sometimes it just you need to find a way to incorporate them into helping with the setup/design of the layout as it may just be they feel there being left out of your life that your not including them in something and feel there being rejected.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Sometimes those that we are close to are the ones that know us the least, like family members at Christmas. My teenage daughter hates the trains but did the decorating on the layout for Christmas and the portable layout. Later I asked why and she stated she loves the buildings and little people but does not like the trains. We then made a deal that she can do the buildings and people and I will run the trains.
Founding member of the All Aboard Fastrackers! See us at: www.allaboardfastrackers.com
Many of us have had to put our trains away for awhile. Some of us have even lost our childhood trains, only to find we were able to regain them, and then some later.
Here's hoping that someday in the future you will have an opportunity to separate from and overcome the situation you find yourself in now!
No!
Tell them that you enjoy your trains, continue to run them and maybe someone will join you, or tell them to eat Taylor Ham (John Taylor Pork Roll)!!!!
http://www.jerseyporkroll.com/what.htmMerry Christmas,
Ralph
Get the trains back out and start playing with them again. Show them pictures of Dads and their children playing with trains, and tell them this has been going on for 100 years. Then ask them if they would rather have you spending your time and money in a bar, or chasing women.
I am in my mid 50's, and just had a great day playing with my trains, and just designed another layout for myself.
Don't let the grinches spoil your hobby.
Larry
Sounds like they are giving you a pretty rough time. Me, I would do what I want and keep running the trains.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I find people like that to be very ignorant. Do they ever say what a grown man is supposed to do with his time? Or their money? Do they ever express interest in anything besides gossip or making money? Forgive me if I am placing my own past discussions in this thread! :(
I look at the holidays as being a chance to share my interests with others. Just like they would share their winemaking hobby, cooking hobby, singing or sports. I accept that they don't all share the same interest, but don't think of them as lesser friends.
sticks and stones will break by bones but names will never hurt me. Just turn up the sound volume on the trains
model in O. the Western NY and Ontario Railroad
i have a horrible story about how my family thinks i am alittle kid because i play with trains at the age of 41. they teased me all day and night to the point i turned the trains off and put them away. does anyone have this problem.
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