A couple of things that come to mind when I hear those sort of comments goes back to things that have occured to me. Around town, many people know that I am a model railroader. There are times when I start looking for seemingly oddball items, people think it is for my model railroad. Not all the time, but there are times where that is true.
The other time was in a hobby shop. With my parents, we were visiting my brother in Portland, OR and I had one of my passenger cars with me to see if the shop had trucks for it. They were able to give me a stock number to order them. But in the process of getting other items, a customer came in and was admiring the car in question and complimented my Dad on it not knowing that the car was actually mine. (Dad corrected them and I thanked them for the compliment.)
Kyle:
They have virtually fed millions, but they have literally fed no one.
Tom
Honestly I've never had any negative comments from non-modelers. A lot of people I've showed my layouts to thought they were cool. I have had my layout reffered to as a "train set" and my trains described as "cute." But that's about the worst of it.
The only real negative comments I've recived have been from the hardcore rivet counters. It was the usual, "you're not doing it the way I'm doing it, therefore you're worng." To which I invoke rule #1.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
I think one of the major hurdles we are up against is the public's perception of what, or whom a model railroader is. The media are greatly to blame, I feel, for perpetuating the idea that we're all kooks and the best thing we could do is stay locked up in our basements or attics and never be allowed to see the light of day.
A few examples:
Just tonight I was watching Frasier (I had never seen them before so, as I work at my bench I have them playing on the telly) this particular episode (S2, E19) Frasier was asked to appear in court to defend a senile, rich man. He "plays with trains" was one of the qualifying traits that proved he was nuts.
In the movie Track 29 (1988) Christopher Lloyd plays a "train nut" who goes out and writes down engine numbers and plays with his train set while neglecting his wife, Theresa Russell. He has a pretty extensive layout in the attic and one of the plots of the movie is his excitement about attending the big National train convention. More stereotypes here than you can imagine.
The former Cleveland, Ohio mayor, Mike White is a model railroader. Any time the media didn't agree with his political stand on an issue they would frequently use his hobby as an explanation for his choices. "He has trains in the attic" or he "should go home and play with his choo-choo." That really helps our image in the public eye.
Another movie, The Station Agent, (2003) Peter Dinklage is a little "off center" in his role as a repairman in a hobby shop. He inherits an old railroad station and the fun begins. There are some touching moments but it is generally portrayed that railroad enthusiasts are, different.
Intolerable Cruelty (2003) (two short scenes) Edward Herrmann plays a wealthy tycoon who is also a train nut. Has a Santa Fe F-7 nose in his bedroom!
When the local media covers any of the train show/swap meet kind of events in the area they will invariably choose the shots with one of those "Eggliner" things running around a loop of track or when they interview someone they seem to gravitate to a fellow festooned with embroidered railroad patches and a blinking crossing signal stuck to his chest and, of course, he'll be wearing a choo-choo cap. Maybe he will even toot one of those wooden train whistles.
So with all this media stereotyping about those train enthusiasts it will be pretty difficult to shake the public's perception of what we see as an enjoyable and enlightening hobby.
I have not encountered anyone visiting my layout that hasn't walked away with a better understanding of the hobby and an appreciation for scale modeling.
Just my 2 ¢— Ed
Lets face it, our lives are full of silly things and rituals, it helps us cope with reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are people who spend a ton of money on video games. What do they have to show for all the time and money? Just saying "I completed this" or "I am a ____ rank in that".
I love the audible commercial "Last year Americans planted millions of virtual crops. So far, these crops have feed virtually no one".
There are a lot of commercials for supposed free games. They are some how making money if there is a commercial. Little things like "pay $1.99 to play now, or get x amount of tokens" obviously add up quickly. What do get out of all of that nothing.
Hitting a tiny ball with a stick and chasing it around a feild is also very expensive and doesn't get you much. Plus it too sounds like a game for kids. What do get? "I got the ball in the hole by onlying hitting it twice".
What about racing cars, riding motorcycles, playing games like baseball? It all could seem like games for kids, but most people consider at least one of these a hobby.
Model Railroading doesn't seem so silly after all.
If the moment strikes me right, I usually point out that I have come to the solemn conclusion that being adult is very much over rated and as such ought to be celebrated by running trains.
Shortly after my wife and myself had gotten settled into life together, we hosted a dinner for her parents. My little Cascade Valley RR was early into its latest rebuild, but was shown off to respectful nods and polite comments. Later on my dear bride told me that privately all they could talk about regarding their visit was "Don certainly has a mess in the basement." Her parents are now north of 85 years on this planet, and were again our guests for Christmas brunch. Now they see many of the little stories that are interwoven through out the layout, see some of the subtle visual puns, and are fascinated by all of the layers of details of normal life that are inspired by many of the modest sized towns that are backed into mountain valleys.
In short, my point is that while there are people that will look at this hobby of ours, and only see what is immediately in front of their eyes, most modelers have a knack of not just seeing what is in front of their eyes, but also seeing what might be- with just a bit of future construction.
Don H.
I don't think I have ever had a negative comment either? Most ask questions about the contruction, want to run a train (or at least watch one move), and at some point usually ask about cost. I tell them I really don't know and don't want to, because it would scare me. If I do talk cost they grab their kids and keep them very close to them!
Maybe non train folks THINK negative things when they see it, but are too polite to say it?
I got grief for it for years growing up, but one day I realized "I'm talented at something, while you're a high school Benchwarmer". I'm 23, and people are impressed with my decal work, painting, etc. Same with my rail photography. They don't see the big deal of subject, but are impressed with the aesthetics behind it. Then again I have a hobby to "balance out the geekiness"- I play guitar, and have had a couple say I play like slow hand Clapton.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
I've only had one bad experience with a non modeler,who ragged on me about wasting my money on kiddie toys.I shot him down by simply saying,"I've never woke up with a wish I were dead hang over after a evening of enjoying MY hobby"
If anybody knows what M.C. Fujiwara calls one of the yards on his club's layout, that's what I say to anyone with negative comments.
WP Lives
Mikie:
Your hobby sure beat doing drugs or hanging out with the wrong crowd to get accepted, right?
Victor A. Baird
www.erstwhilepublications.com
My parents were quite negative towards my hobby as I moved into my teens. One of the reasons I started mowing yards and doing odd jobs, money to buy myself trains! I never let it get to me, or anybody else as the trains are my place to escape the stress and sensory overload of the real world. Thats very important for someone with Aspergers Syndrome, failure to escape and recover leads to meltdowns and those are not fun for anybody, espicaly me. Mikie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
No-one has ever been rude or dismissive, but some people clearly don't get it and talk about the "train set" in the basement. Best comment ever came from a tradesman who said to my wife, "Wow! If your husband can build this, he can build anything!"
It seems like we have a discussion every year right after Christmas about negative comments regarding our model railroads from non-modelers.
BATMANOver the years, the only less than enthusiastic comments I have have recieved were from a few people that have absolutely no hobbies or other interest of their own, other than to exist. People that I know that are involved in any pastimes they choose to do and get pleasure from, think the trains are cool.
I think this says a lot. The only real negative comments have been from the in-laws, mostly my late MIL who thought it was selfish of me to waste time, money, and space in the house on a hobby. Both she was and my FIL is (who is now on his third post retirement career) complete workaholics. I will say that FIL's new wife however is fascinated by it.
jim
wabash2800 Truthfully, I'm not overly sensitive, but do non-model railroaders every get your goat? What are some of the things they've said about our hobby? I had a visitor the other day (a railfan but not a model railroader) and let him see my basement layout in progress. This person made the rude comment:
Truthfully, I'm not overly sensitive, but do non-model railroaders every get your goat? What are some of the things they've said about our hobby? I had a visitor the other day (a railfan but not a model railroader) and let him see my basement layout in progress. This person made the rude comment:
When I was a kid or teen, I might have been more sensitive. But now at 55 I'm past caring what other people think - problem solved. People are rude all the time and well, life goes on. Everyone has their "poison" so one person it's trains, others it's something else that a different person might think is a waste of money.
The only thing that is important to me is they my wife enjoys my hobby and encourages it.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Never really had an issue here either. My family likes trains, not to the extent that I do, but they are all crafty in one way or another so they can appreciate my model railroad. Dad used to be a PITA when I lived at home because he had a Lionel-everything-is-a-toy-more-track mentality, but since I moved out, it isn't as bad.
My in laws tend to like the layout too. My FIL likes to check out what I'm doing, and my nephew (3) loves to watch the trains run.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
Hi All.
In general I receive very positive comments and questions which exhibit a desire to gain more knowledge of the hobby. When my wife and I have friends over at least half an hour is spent at the model railroad where I demonstrate a small portion of what is possible with todays technology. Some of the guests have had "trains" at a younger age but never developed into the hobby which, at times, is much to the regret of the individual after they observe what is possible. I do not have a large, basement empire, but just a 8'X10' pike which keeps people entertained.
The "cold" comments I receive come from my wife.
All the best.
Reinhard
Joe F
I think we've got it! We can use model railroads to weed out people with bad personality traits! LOL You know, just like a Rorschach Test or the vet inviting a dog in the same room as a cat to see if it is a cat hater. <G>
Generally, I don't let the negative comments get to me. My brother in-law used to give me grief about what I spent on trains, but then he realized what he spent on car parts and quickly realized my hobby was far cheaper. He has since shown me some abandoned right of ways on our many ATV adventures. I surprised me last Christmas when he telling me he was researching a certain topic on diesel engines and how it quickly bridged over to locomotives.
Will
Hi!
I guess I need to put my two experiences in here............
For the last 20 years, anyone that came to the house got to see the layout. This includes pretty much everyone that walked thru the doors. Of all those people, only two rubbed me the wrong way......
The first was a new well to do "lady friend" that came over (I was between wives). I opened the room to show her the 11x15 double layer HO layout, and expected the usual positive exclamations and comments. Instead, after she looked around the room a bit, she said, "How much did all this cost" - and not in a very nice way. Ha, she lasted about two months..........
The second negative experience happened the first time my step daughter brought her new husband over. I already knew he was a pompous old fool, but expected a bit of awe and admiration from him.
Well, I opened the door and he walked in and looked around and said nothing. I got down and crawled under the "duck under" to get into the center of the layout. I asked him to join me, and he said "I don't do that" - meaning he would not go under the duck under, even though the floor is thickly carpeted. Of course, that just reinforced my negative opinion of him.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
The only negative comment that I have received was the day that I got my very first HO scale train set (Hogwarts Express). It was Christmas and my wife had decided that she would do something about my interest in trains, so she gave me the set.
The negative comment came from a sister-in-law who said something to the effect of "Really, you have got to be kidding!" I forgave her. We still talk. She hasn't said anything since about my trains. I think my brother may have had something to do with that.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Usally everything is real positive. However, it does bother me when people use the term "choo choo trains".
These are scale models of hulking beasts!
BATMAN said: "Over the years, the only less than enthusiastic comments I have have recieved were from a few people that have absolutely no hobbies or other interest of their own, other than to exist. People that I know that are involved in any pastimes they choose to do and get pleasure from, think the trains are cool."
Truthfully, I'm not overly sensitive, but do non-model railroaders every get your goat? What are some of the things they've said about our hobby? I had a visitor the other day (a railfan but not a model railroader) and let him see my basement layout in progress. This person made the rude comment: "You'll die before the layout is complete!" A friend of the family said the same thing but not in such a rude way. (She also says I'm lost since I left the Catholic faith to become a Lutheran. <G>) My mother, who visited recently, said I "ruined the basement". I don't have a spouse (yet), so I guess that could open up a whole new can of worms. My dad is open minded, but he won't ride a live steam railroad in the park with me, for example. Once he came along with me to see a club layout. He had a big grin on his face with stars in his eyes.
But on the flip side, my pastor, and a member of my congregation, and their sons visited a few years ago specifically to see the layout. And they were very open-minded about the hobby and enjoyed the visit and running trains (especially the boys). Both are educated, and I think that opens your eyes to the world and makes you more open- minded about things.
I'd like to know what your experience is with non-model railroaders perception of model railroading.
[/quote]
Just a post like this once in a while.
rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Hobbez It does bother me a bit, though, that everyone always asks "how much did this all cost?" I don't ask folks how much their golf clubs, or antique cars, or gun collection cost? Why does EVERYONE ask how much model trains cost?
It does bother me a bit, though, that everyone always asks "how much did this all cost?" I don't ask folks how much their golf clubs, or antique cars, or gun collection cost? Why does EVERYONE ask how much model trains cost?
Because most people have at least a vague idea of how much an antique car costs or how much golf clubs cost. And people ask about how much those things cost too.
Ironically, the only negative comment was from a model railroader. A couple of years ago, I met two guys at my LHS (Caboose Hobbies). We started talking, and I mentioned my layout. Neither one of them had a layout. But they planned on building one. So they offered to help me to get some experience. One guy was one of those rivet counter types, into operations heavily, he operated on a club layout.
So one day, they both came over to help me. One guy was really cool. But they rivet counter guy, made all kinds of rude comments. Oh this is old school, looks like a sphagetti layout. You benchwork this, and that. And "oh I hate when people have roads go off the layout".
After a while I got sick of it and made some excuse I had to leave. And this guy didn't even have a layout, but he sure had ideas how mine was.
Thats the only negative comment though, and all my friends and family are always commenting how beautiful it is and how cool it looks.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989