Comments on content

[marknewton]

BlueHillsCPR

As for not knowing you from a bar of soap, judging by your attitude here, I'm not terribly sorry about that.

Bugger me, Kevin, you keep banging on about my attitude? What would that be, exactly? You keep pointing the finger, but never actually specifying what it is that you find so offensive.

As for lecturing, you've got it all wrong.  If I were to presume to lecture you I would want it to be in person.  This was no more than a reminder, however pointless, to act your age.

When did you become my personal arbiter of age-appropriate behaviour? You don't know how old I am, so why make that an issue? You'd be stuffed if I turned out to be younger than you, eh?

I hope these kids you mention have the opportunity to see your behavior toward this group of kids as well as the role you played for them.

Again I ask, what's this awful "behaviour" you find so objectionable? You've had ample opportunity to point out where I've insulted anyone, or "knocked someone down" as another poster claimed. Why the reticence? Or couldn't you keep the confected outrage going if you had to actually back it up with some evidence?

What a pelican!

Anyone who reckons they can judge a person's attitude or character based only on exchanges in these forums, or is reduced to slinging insults as you're doing, is the one behaving like a pelican, IMO.

[Geared Steam]

selector

Another well-placed post.  Thanks, David.

If your done cheerleading, how about locking this mess?

[marknewton]

el-capitan

That may be what you believe but not what you said. You said: "Sorry, no, you can't. You don't have the skills, knowledge or expertise that only comes with years of experience."

I agree I could have phrased that better. But then, you could have taken a deep breath before deciding it was a personal attack on yourself and others, and responded sensibly.

el-capitan

This statement appears condescending because you seem to be basing it only on the fact that he is a teenager, nothing else. If you are basing it on more, please let me know what you are basing it on.

I'm basing it on the examples he offered to back up his assertion, nothing more. That he is a teenager is neither here nor there to me. Notice, I didn't mention age, or anything about teenagers. That was imputed later by others, including yourself.  

marknewton

If you think that's condescending, you need to grow a thicker skin, or at least think a bit before you reply. I think it's interesting that you took offence to a comment that was not remotely directed at you, since you're presumably not a teenager?

el-capitan

I don't even know where to begin responding to this gem.

You could start by explaining why, as a 33-year old, you took umbrage at a fairly innocuous remark that wasn't directed at you, or referred to you or about you in any way.

[el-capitan]

Yes, i saw how you worded it. I wasn't intending to criticize your post. sorry if it was taken like that.

 I'm going to (hopefully) let go of this argument, debate, whatever it is. Looking back at the posts, the only thing I really had a problem with was the statement "No, you can't." I'm not sure why that bothers me so much.

Any popcorn left?

 

 

[TheK4Kid]

 Well, model railroading isn't my only hobby, and I've been it since I was 10 years old. I also am a model airplane builder-flyer as well as a full scale private pilot.

I remember flying in model airplane contests as a kid along with another kid.
His name was Burt Rutan, and he went on to design a lot of airplanes and one that flew into space to win the Ansari X-Prize, called Spaceship One.
So much for kids in the hobby eh?

TheK4Kid

 

 

[citylimits]

This topic seems to have attracted a similar level of outrage & tit for tat point scoring as a post I followed a couple of months ago relating to the matter of what constituted a scratch built model and what didn't. Like this topic, postings there showed a decided lack of tolerance and a willfully contrived misunderstanding of fellow posters' points of view. There also seems that to some, there is a desire to go hard and from an elitist position where a pedantic view point is the norm rather than the exception.

 

Generally, but certainly no always, age and experience does produce a better degree of understanding of a subject and usually a greater level of skill.

However, this is not a constant thing and there are variables. Such things as natural talent and a perspective that has not been jaded with time can make some young people much better than their older counterparts and are often more innovative.

 

I play guitar - I've done this for years and for a while made a living at it. All through those years I have been blown away by younger players, often much, much younger players who in a short period of time achieved a level of playing proficiency that I never thought possible for myself at their age and are able to capture a feel that has constantly evaded me - and they carry their own gear as well!

 

Another one? I've seen young people not long out of trade school who can produce items that are fully functional and accepted for use in the process of restoring elderly steamers. Some ex-railway fitters on the same project and with a lot of age just seem to be a bit doddery now and are often resentful of the skill and talent they see in the young.

 

18 year old drivers that think they are great drivers - well some of them are, they are sober, thoughtful, skillful and considerate and have the reaction of a fighter pilot. I agree that these kids are probably not the norm but, look how many middle age drivers with years of experience are, for various reasons, a menace on the road.

 

Age and experience winning out over youth and inexperience - well mostly, but is certainly not an absolute.

 

Cheers

Bruce.

[el-capitan]

marknewton

So you were a bit of a child prodigy, good on you. But do you reckon your case is in any way typical?

Nope, but no matter, I just don't like anyone telling anyone that they can't.

Anywho, in an attempt to lighten the mood, while still sticking to the original subject of kids not belonging in MR, Here are some picks of my previously mentioned 7 year old, Dylan. These were taken on Sunday. We got enough track in so I taught him how to run locals using car cards on Saturday night. All day Sunday he did nothing but run locals. The pictures show him on his 5th run of the day and judging by the pajamas, his shift has expired (past his bedtime) but I made an exception (wife was working) and let him stay up late to finish the job. Please excuse the partially finished buildings and complete lack of anything resembling scenery.

[New Haven I-5]

Get the off my train table kids, NOW! Said the guy that wrote the nasty letter about the student corner ( whatever you call it). 

 

 

                                             Be GOOD people!

 

                                                     

[New Haven I-5]

 

davidmbedard

New Haven I-5

Get the off my train table kids, NOW! Said the guy that wrote the nasty letter about the student corner ( whatever you call it). 

 

 

                                             Be GOOD people!

 

                                                     

 

HUH?

David B

I am referring to " get off my lawn"

[TheK4Kid]

 el-capitan,

Your pictures say it all!
A young man dreaming and totally enthralled by what he sees before him.
"Men Dream, Machines Do, and from this the American Adventure is built!
The age of men who dream is not relevant, young minds formulate some great ideas,
and eventually we will hear from them somewhere down the rail line!!!!

If any of you youngsters out there read this, GO FOR IT!!!

 Build a layout, it doesn't matter what it looks like, it's about the fun you have doing it!!
Just remember we all had to start somewhere!
I'm almost 58 years old. I started with an HO oval shaped layout, a gift I got for Christmas
when I was about ten years old.I now have a larger, much nicer layout, but it doesn't matter what you start with.
Have FUN, ENJOY, and you can always improve on your layout, this is what it's all about!

 

The K4Kid

[Midnight Railroader]

Here's MR's response to the original letter, as printed in the September, 1973 issue:

"More than 250 letters have come to us in response to the Goodfellow letter. We think this will be an all-time record...Two of the letters supported Goodfellow. About one third of the remainder were from students."

 (The editor's comment was printed at the end of an angry letter from one of the "teeny-boppers," as Goodfellow called them.)

[el-capitan]

Midnight Railroader

Here's MR's response to the original letter, as printed in the September, 1973 issue:

"More than 250 letters have come to us in response to the Goodfellow letter. We think this will be an all-time record...Two of the letters supported Goodfellow. About one third of the remainder were from students."

 (The editor's comment was printed at the end of an angry letter from one of the "teeny-boppers," as Goodfellow called them.)

Sounds to me like the original letter was just published to drum up some interest in the mag. Get people talking about it. There is no other logical explanation.

[reklein]

El-Capitan,great shots of your kid working on the railroad. Funny how those little guys make HO seem larger. Thats real dedication,railroading in your jammies. BILL

Reminds me of the role playing games my kids did when they were taking history in the 4th grade in the 80s.

[Bergie]

davidmbedard

Another clarifiactrion.  Argueing and Debating are 2 different things.  Arguments are typically confrontational and usually don't end up with good results; ie, no winner.  Debating is showing your side with facts.  Debates are usually won or lost.   This thread is an Arguement and not a Debate, hence, it will not end with any good results or clear winner.

 

I couldn't agree more, David. This thread is showing no -- and will have no -- clear winner. All we're doing is picking apart everyone's words.

Come on guys, let's get back on the same page. This has turned as nasty as politics... and at this point, I for one am sick of politics.

Let's move on. [Locked]

Bergie