Urban Legends, Trolls, Flamers and AW's

[Anonymous]

After reading the post where someone had said that MR has dismissed On30 as a 'toy" and the post that said "why would the poster attribute a quote to an industry outsider and open himself to libel" I have to say it happens all the time. MR is not going to spend the time or the money to track down everyone that posts a false statement. For those that are new to this world of bulletin boards and emails here's a summary of things I have learned and how I identify them.

Urban Legends: "MR editor says that On30 are toys" This is the same as "Man wakes up in tub full of ice with letter than says someone has removed his kidney." Ask yourself - "Does this make sense?" "Would MR really say that?" "Where is the evidence?" If it sounds totally stupid - it probably is.

Trolls: These guys will post something just to see what the reaction is. "I am a real model railroader - I only buy BLI or Brass steamers and Kato diesels. To do anything different would mark me as a stupid beginner who will never amount to anything in this hobby." If there is a post that gets your blood boiling, that is probably what the poster wanted. Sick people.

Flamers: These guys will attack a poster. Either they are really trolls hoping to spark a battle, or they are insecure in their own selves. Examples are: "You use Athearn blue box diesels and call yourself a model railroader?"

AW: Attention Wh_res. My fiance sees this alot on a wedding planner bulletin board. "I can't believe that after spending $20,000 on a wedding cake the caterer had the gall to put it on a platter that was worth at the most only $800." An example here would be "I just decided that my current roster wasn't good enough so I just placed an order for 10 BLI Cab Forwards and 40 Kato diesels. I figure that the improvement is worth a whole month of my hobby budget." Just ignore these guys.

Bottom line: there are people that seem to enjoy upsetting others and starting trouble. Ignoring them usually gets them to leave.

[dharmon]

If that's the way you're gonna be.......then FINE. I'll take my old Athearn I got for $5 bucks and the $7 worth of detail parts I'm putting on it and leave!!

[Junctionfan]

Trolls are kind of stupid creatures. Can I be a warlock instead?

Sorry...I'm in one of those silly moods.

[Fergmiester]

Actually if I'm not mistaken someone got there wires crossed while doing a home Labotomy, Yes Fundy, 220V does have it's uses. The article was published in another Model Railroading Mag and not MR.

As Always

Fergie

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dkelly

AW: Attention Wh_res. My fiance sees this alot on a wedding planner bulletin board. "I can't believe that after spending $20,000 on a wedding cake the caterer had the gall to put it on a platter that was worth at the most only $800." An example here would be "I just decided that my current roster wasn't good enough so I just placed an order for 10 BLI Cab Forwards and 40 Kato diesels. I figure that the improvement is worth a whole month of my hobby budget." Just ignore these guys.

I love those who lement at having to cut back their MRR budget and can only purchase 3 of the new Kato diesel release.

I wi***here was such a thing as a troll/flamer/AW dectector like the anti-spam software we have today... [:D]

[Anonymous]

A troll/flamer/AW detector? I think Circuitron is working on one lol.

[Anonymous]

Cool - got dharmon to quit the hobby. Now only a couple hundred thousand more and I'll be the model railroad king!!!

P.S. - Just kidding. I love Athearn diesels and what the company has done for the hobby over the past years!

[Anonymous]

I used to let myself get sucked into those arguments a few years ago. Now I just follow them for the entertainment value.

[rexhea]

Thanks dkelly,
Now if the guilty will please step forward or better yet---OUT!

I hate to be serious, but:
Being new to the forum, I can say that all of the above can certainly run off those that are new to the forum or even to model railroading. I have seen many post where someone is asking a question and a few of the replies are "we've been there, done that, now look it up" kind of attitude. Or, a response that leans toward calling your question or reply stupid. You know that the only question that's stupid is the one that's not asked. People come to the forum for help and hopefully they will find friendship as well , a reason we shouldn't forget.

Sorry, I will be around for the duration. I wear very thick underwear.[:D]

[Anonymous]

This topic reminds me of a quote I saw recently on TV.

"Profoundly Shallow, Slightly Shiny, and OK in small doses" -Graham Norton.

I think I am going to pour myself a drink and go worry about some bigger problems. Like wheather I want my industry that recieves refrigerator cars If I want it to be a "Welch's" distributor, A "Minut Maid" distributor a "Dole" distrubutor or a "Tropicanna" distributor ship.

Any Help in that department? Can I get anyone a drink?

James.

[chutton01]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

This topic reminds me of a quote I saw recently on TV.
I think I am going to pour myself a drink and go worry about some bigger problems. Like wheather I want my industry that recieves refrigerator cars If I want it to be a "Welch's" distributor, A "Minut Maid" distributor a "Dole" distrubutor or a "Tropicanna" distributor ship.

Well, since Tropicana still recieves refrigerator cars nowadays at it's distribution centers (most notably the Jersey City plant), might be a wise choice.

I still whole-heartedly believe that I once read of someone weighing his N-scale locomotives with depleted uranium (yes, the stuff in anti-tank ammo), but even Model Railroader thinks I'm mistaken [V]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chutton01
Well, since Tropicana still recieves refrigerator cars nowadays at it's distribution centers (most notably the Jersey City plant), might be a wise choice.

I still whole-heartedly believe that I once read of someone weighing his N-scale locomotives with depleted uranium (yes, the stuff in anti-tank ammo), but even Model Railroader thinks I'm mistaken [V]

Thanks for your opinion.

As for your depleted uranium wighting, I have heard of that to. If I ever get into N scale (Unlikely. I fidget to much) I will have to think about doing that as Uranium and depleted uranium are somewhat easy to find here in Wyoming. (95% of US Uranium Production comes from just 5% of Wyomings Available Uranium supply)

James

[Big_Boy_4005]

This whole On30 business is simply a matter of "training" big trains to run on small tracks.

Personally, I find narrow gauges to be the realm of some of the most serious modelers. These are people who are willing to tinker and cobble in order to create something new and different. This is not to say that people who model in standard gauges do not have the ability to create, but rather prefer to focus their attentions on other aspects of the hobby.

[cwclark]

These people don't bother me...I can spot an idiot a mile away!....ignoring them is the best policy...Chuck[:D]

[chutton01]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue
As for your depleted uranium wighting, I have heard of that to. If I ever get into N scale (Unlikely. I fidget to much) I will have to think about doing that as Uranium and depleted uranium are somewhat easy to find here in Wyoming. (95% of US Uranium Production comes from just 5% of Wyomings Available Uranium supply)

You have heard it also? I remember bringing that up in another forum last year, dredging up some half-remembered quote in some MR column that an N-scaler weighed his engines with uranium - eventually after much debate, I e-mailed an MR editor, who stated that he had never heard of it himself, and he thinks I mis-remembered it (after 20 years of being a subscriber, and so having read thousands upon thousands of columns and articles, he might very well be right).
Not sure how difficult it is to get depleted uranium, and if you do manage to get some, better be damn careful to avoid breathing in any DU dust - it's pretty nasty.

[Anonymous]

Actually I think the depleted uranium N Scale engine was discussed in an April issue of Model Railroader (the one each year where they hide some funny stuff and see who's notices). I think the guy who did it up was the gentleman that started N-Track. If I could only remember his name!

[Anonymous]

Rex,

You do bring up an excellent point. Do flamers and trolls scare off the newbies? I think so. I'd like to think that no matter how basic a question is, it should be asked and then answered with respect. We were all new at one time and I'm sure each and everyone of us has asked a "stupid question" at one point. I know I still do!! Of course at the time it was a very serious question for me. I've tried to make it a point to help out where I can, because I can't even begin to list the numerous people that helped and still help me out!

[cjcrescent]

I believe the gentleman's name is Jim Fitzgerald, IIRC.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you're right! I think it was him that did the DU engine.

Jim Fitzgerald is an actual legend. His contribution to N-Scale and model railroading cannot be underestimated.

[CBQ_Guy]

Or the statements/opinions could actually be TRUE!

[Jetrock]

Flamers and trolls do tend to scare off newbies--they do tend to intimidate, and new users tend to be easily intimidated.

I don't mind the AW's so much--their monster purchases are the bread & butter of the hobby industry, to make up for penny-pinchers like me who scour the discount shelves and junk boxes for bargains instead of "supporting the industry" with mega-dollars!

[mustanggt]

Trolls...Flamers.... old Atlas forums[:P]

[BRAKIE]

Well,You just got guys that can not except their way is not the only way and therefore must attack those that do things differently including hinting they are liars or fools..Then you have those poor souls that want to be in the spot light as a "expert' when in all truth they are not.
Then you have those that mumble jumbo about technical stuff that doesn't amount to a pile of horse hocky in all practicality..Then you have what I call mice..They will not open their bean hoppers in or around modelers but roar like a lion on forums.
Then there is my all time favorite troll.He/she/it comes on a forum acting like a newbie and asks rather flame bait questions.Then after the crap is flying they come on as a different person berating all forum members for berating that hapless "newbie".yes,gang being a moderator on 3 forums I seen that happen on one forum...I have even seen at least 2 guys argue with their selves using deferent monikers...[:0]

[Anonymous]

Brakie,

Man talk about folks needing to get a life!!

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

This whole On30 business is simply a matter of "training" big trains to run on small tracks.

Personally, I find narrow gauges to be the realm of some of the most serious modelers. These are people who are willing to tinker and cobble in order to create something new and different. This is not to say that people who model in standard gauges do not have the ability to create, but rather prefer to focus their attentions on other aspects of the hobby.

To me On3O is a far better scale for Garden Railways where space is an issue. Given choices and if my wife allowed a RR in the Garden, which is mine, I would definitely go On3O as it is less obtrusive.

Regards

[rexhea]

Brakie,
It can't be described any better than that. Nice going!

[robengland]

Hey chutton01, email that MR editor back and tell him to look at MR March 1980, page 140. Your memory is fine. In fact it is excellent.

"NTrack's record for ...longest train pulled by one engine ...355-car train behind Jim FitzGerald's Cotton Brute, a big free-lanced diesel weighted with depleted uranium"

[tatans]

It sort of sounds like some of the "N" scalers have been using NON depleteted uranium, notice any significant loss of hair, or a 3rd arm growing out of your back?? let's see some photos.

[easyaces]

A troll/Flamer/AW detector? Hey, did'nt Lionel make them sometime back? Most of my roster is shake the box Athern Blue box kits( cars and locos) and I would not have it any other way! They're good kits for the money, reliable, and you can do a lot with them. When I have the cash I stock up on what I need to idle the hours away building.[:D]

[darth9x9]

Most trolls/flamers/AWs don't reallize they are one......

BC