Folks Leaving...Why?????

[Anonymous]

Has anyone noticed lately that we seem to be losing good folks from the forum and the hobby??? Can anyone shed any light on this situation, any one???

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by emeraldisle

Has anyone noticed lately that we seem to be losing good folks from the forum and the hobby??? Can anyone shed any light on this situation, any one???

Could you be more specific as to what you mean?

I find myself spending more and more time on a forum discussing things that are of interest to fans and modelers of the Southern Pacific. I find it a lot more useful than a bunch of polls about what is your favorite steam locomotive, complaints about MTH, grousing about the Union Pacific (or Horizon or Walthers, etc.). That's not to say there aren't some inane things said at that forum, there are. However, it's vastly less than what often appears here.

Andre

[Anonymous]

This is like any other hobby. If it isn't fun anymore than you stop doing it. BUt like most hobbies you come back to it. If you ask most modelers at some time they have packed away their stuff for various reasons, like a move, lack of time or the interest fades. Those who were truly into the hobby come back when the time is right. So whenever I see someone leave I always remember that they may be back. All you need to do to reignite the hobby is to stand trackside and the love of trains tend to come back. I left the hobby a couple times but it's always something I will come back to when the time is right.
Andrew

[camarokid]

I believe it's from burnout. That's why I only model in the winter. Other reasons could be money, divorce, money, moving to a smaller home, money, moving across the country, money, a traumatic event of any kind, money and most important of all, the boss (wife) said no more. Just my thoughts. I also answer some of the polls that interest me and lets me see what others are doing and thinking too. Archie

[Anonymous]

I use to spend hours at a time on another RR forum. railroadforums.com, but the interest in Model Railroading waned to a trickle. Almost everyone on that site is prototype train guys & gals. That's not my thing because I don't have any trains close by to take photo's of or spend the hours watching them. A friend told me about this forum
& that's where I stay most of the time when I log on.
I only answer topics that interest me & almost all of them do, but You get tired sometimes of reading the same thing over & over again, but with a different name of the topic worded in a different way.
But, that's modeling & human nature. Most of us don't search past topics to see what was posted in the past about a certain subject because it's time consuming. But, that's Ok, we all read them over again.
Some of us tend to have other things to do at different times & that's why it looks like a lot of people are leaving & "hey" it's the holidays.
Just wait till after Jan. 1st 2005. New breed of railroaders w/their new layouts, new PC's,
& friends that tell them about this forum.
My 2 cents worth!1

larry

[jrbernier]

I seem to see folks leaving rec.models.railroad due to all of the unmoderated flaming and off topic stuff. I was very active there since 1994 and it has gotten very bad in the past year. I find that I use this forum and the Atlas one more now.

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's safe to equate people leaving this forum with leaving the hobby. I sometimes check in having made some friends here but mostly spend my time at the-gauge.com. I agree with Andre that a lot of tedious, childish stuff like "UP bashing" turns a lot of people off and sends them to other more focused, moderated and mature forums.

I know I stopped seeing this as my primary forum during the Kerry -bashing era in which some believed that "freedom of speech" meant they had every right to turn this forum into something it isn't. So be it. I went to another forum , I didn't leave the hobby.

Wayne

[Fergmiester]

The same question was asked a year ago. I don't think there is any one reason as has already been indicated above. People will only stick around as long as something is of use to them. This is a great forum but after a while it does get repetitive and many of the questions have already been answered , which provides for a good and detailed archive.

Fergie

[Roadtrp]

People come and go in any forum. The Disney forum I frequent has seen a big drop-off lately. They have a World Events section that was VERY active during the election season that is practically unused now. Many of the people who were active in World Events also posted in the other sections, and now they are gone.

In the end, it is the nature of the beast. Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

[mustanggt]

Another thing, especially on the trains.com forum, is trolls. you know, Trainfinder/kissmycaboose/cinderdick. and just a few days ago, probably the same person made up two parody names of respected members. that could be driving away a few people.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes its just taking a break.
Sometimes its burnout. It differs from one guy to another.

[jlcjrbal]

I collected basbeall cards for almost 15 years, followed the sport as well as minor league teams. For some reason after 9/11 I just had no interest in either. If it would not have been my little boys interest in trains I would not have started the major project of building him a layout and driving to different RR to take rides. Joseph

[Anonymous]

I agree that there are many reasons why one might leave the hobby for a while. But it has also been my experience that the hobby does not die in an individual but just goes dormant for a while. Something may trigger the desire again and again they are off on a pursuit of a layout. I have seen it in both my Dad and I.

[sailor38]

Just to second the motion, I don't think you should equate people "disappearing" from this forum with people leaving the hobby. I have a 3,200 sq. ft. house and 1/3 acre lot with vegetable garden to tend. When spring arrives, you won't see much of me here.
I thoroughly enjoy model railroading and find these forums informative, amusing, and enjoyable, but for me (and for many others, I suspect) it is more of a wintertime pursuit. So, be of good cheer! As long as there are members present who are willing to share stories, experiences, and advice, why care who they are?

[Paul3]

Jim,
R.M.R has been going downhill for years. It didn't help when Big John passed on (RIP). He always brought that light touch to the group that made it more than just a bunch of words on the screen.

As Sheriff Sheridan told me when he heard about Big John, "Why is it that the nice guys die, and the (idiots) live forever?"

R.M.R can be saved. It will just take some work by us to save it (as long as the ISP's don't cut us off at the knees). As bad as it's gotten, it's still the last bastion of uncensored speech on model railroading on the 'net.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[PennsyHoosier]

I noted a few folks leaving, but not a lot. I enjoy the conversation here and I continue to be amazed at the expertise of those who participate. I sure appreciate this forum.

[AntonioFP45]

Don't forget that while a few folks leave.......more climb onboard.

Is it just me, or hasn't anyone notice that we've gotten a load of newbies that have joined in the past year!

And to all you newbies or "seasoned newbies":
Welcome Aboard, always!![:)][:D][4:-)][C=:-)][C):-)][swg][tup]

[cwclark]

I believe you are refering to the guy that posted yesterday (ModelRailroader 71) ....I believe that he was very old and could no longer enjoy the hobby...i'm guessing but i think he may have gone to an old folks home or had to have someone else look after him (something to look forward to from your kids someday)..he has sent me pictures of his layout in the past and it was a nice one...lots of scenery work done...he explained to me awhile back that he was getting old and too feeble for the hobby anymore...with these circumstances, what else could it be for him to have left the hobby so abruptly?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

I believe you are refering to the guy that posted yesterday (ModelRailroader 71) ....I believe that he was very old and could no longer enjoy the hobby...i'm guessing but i think he may have gone to an old folks home or had to have someone else look after him (something to look forward to from your kids someday)..he has sent me pictures of his layout in the past and it was a nice one...lots of scenery work done...he explained to me awhile back that he was getting old and too feeble for the hobby anymore...with these circumstances, what else could it be for him to have left the hobby so abruptly?

What? [?][%-)]I am not in a old folks home, and I never did send anyone pictures of my layout. I never told you that[:(][:(!]

[cwclark]

then you aren't the guy that i was referring to then..it was some time ago and he had sent me pics of his layout and told me by e-mail that he was getting too old for the hobby and was about to be put in a home by his kids...it was so long ago that i forgot his handle and thought he was you...haven't seen him around in a long time either.....and by the way..if you are leaving the hobby....what are you still doing here?[:D]

[Anonymous]

Just came back as a non-member to check whats happening. I missed this forum and have joined 2 others but I still think this is the best. I am thinking about returning[8D]

[cwclark]

that is good....so maybe you want to delete the post you made yesterday...it almost brought me to tears when i see a fellow modeler trying to leave the hobby...it's not that easy to get away from....huh?

[Anonymous]

You're never too old to be a model railroader. I have a friend that is 95 & he's still into trains. Another friend that is 85 & he's rebuilding an "S" gauge layout. I'm 66 & hope to be doing trains the rest of my life. Your
Nevr tu oldt.

[cwclark]

yep...i'll quit the hobby when they have to pry my cold dead fingers from the throttle...

[lupo]

One of the people that DELETED their membership lately was Mark Deschane, he always had interesting posts, I guess he is not leaving the hobby, but quit the forum

[Anonymous]

My personal approach to this forum is to look in intermittently. I'll hit it for a few days, then not log on for several weeks. It is a seldom thing that I go back to a topic, the exception being when I have posed a question and wi***o see the response. As such, I do not now, nor do I intend to ever get into the forum where I carry on a dialogue with one, or even a group, of modellers. I do respond to posts when I think I have something to add, but seldom go back to see what the response might be. So I am in and out of this forum on a very sporadic basis, but this does not reflect in any way my activity in the hobby. I have been active modelling in HO gauge since 1953 on a continuous basis and must be considered a model railroad addict (if that is the proper nomenclature). I wonder if there are not people that are very active in the MR forum that are intermittent modellers. My point is that what you see in any forum is not necessarily a barometer for the health and well being of the hobby. This is, of course, just the opinion of a genuine old fart.

Tom

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Lupo: One of the people that DELETED their membership lately was Mark Deschane, he always had interesting posts, I guess he is not leaving the hobby, but quit the forum..

That really surprises me. He just posted (I guess yesterday) a really long and detailed answer to a question. I always wonder why anyone would actually delete their membership. It doesn't cost anything. Why not just leave it in place and not come back? Or do as Tom says and just log in from time to time?

QUOTE: tpaulsen: I wonder if there are not people that are very active in the MR forum that are intermittent modellers. My point is that what you see in any forum is not necessarily a barometer for the health and well being of the hobby.

Exactly right. We're talking about a very small subset of the general model railroading population that regularly posts here, or on any of the model railroading forums for that matter. And I'm probably way too 'intermittent' with my modeling because I'm too active on the forum!

Regards

Ed

[rexhea]

For my brief absence, I spent so much time on this forum that I wasn't getting anything done on my layout. I was always afraid that I would miss some new information and I ended up with an over loaded brain circuit and trying to do things I wasn't ready for. But now, with some restraints, I am back. [:)]

REX

[willy6]

A good example is by model railroader 71, the fence ,the grass, and which on is greener?.I like this side of the fence.

[BRAKIE]

First about forums..Folks leave forums for many reasons to include burn out,tried of answering the same questions,getting flamed when they do answer because somebody else wants it his way or no way or has different modeling ideas that differ from everybody elses.So they get fed up and leave.

About leaving the hobby..After 53 years in the hobby I have seen more then my fair share come and go.Some come into the hobby and realize its not for them..Other come on strong wanting and preaching how he wants every thing 110% perfect and to scale only to become burn out or fade into the sunset..Then you have what I call the fly by nighters that come into the hobby excited and up and disappear within weeks or months only to start a new hobby..The worst of the lot is those that fall upon hard times that up and quits the hobby because they can no longer can afford to buy the latest locomotive or cars..Never mind they may have thousands of dollars already in equipment..To those poor folks it dooms day for their hobby..Boo hoo! Naw,They should stop and think before they quit the hobby and sell everything they have..You see when good times return and they decide to reenter the hobby they have to start from ground zero..I never could understand that way of thinking and yes I have fallen upon hard times and still kept active in the hobby not to mention how the hobby has help me though those hard times..
So anybody want to quit? Go ahead..Its your choice. And in the end who really cares? It don't mean a thing as we seen quitters before..