I think it depends on how the person who refers to our hobby as 'playing with toys' intends the message to be received. If they mean it in a positive sense and are not being condescending then there is nothing wrong. If they are trying to be demeaning or disrespectful then who cares? Show them the door!
I have a sister in law who thinks my interest in model trains is amusing, but she has never been disrespectful. We get along just great.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
philo426 Grown men in funny hats and pants chasing a little white ball and breaking their club over a tree when they slice into the woods!Fun?you be the judge!
Grown men in funny hats and pants chasing a little white ball and breaking their club over a tree when they slice into the woods!Fun?you be the judge!
I worked at a golf course for two years, love the game and was a pretty darn good golfer. So how is your comment any different from those that make fun of me playing with toy trains?
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
selector I am speaking about range. I hope people realized there's more to me than what they know, or what they think they know. In my case, I like music, singing, cycling, SUP, running (including competitive....years ago), gardening, philosophy,
I like wargaming, cosplay, gardening, home improvement, photography, playing guitar, and collecting music.
And someday... I am determined I will get on a TV game show.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I think a person should have many interests, including at least a passing interest in what others find interesting. I am speaking about range. I hope people realized there's more to me than what they know, or what they think they know. In my case, I like music, singing, cycling, SUP, running (including competitive....years ago), gardening, philosophy, quite a bit more about health concerns in the aging these days, and scale/toy/widdo twains. If the latter makes you smirk, bite me.
When I used to go to Randy's house every other week to work on his N scale NORFOLK SOUTHERN layout, my wife and kids called it my "Play-Date".
It took me 6 plus decades to learn how not to give a flying fizzy. So no, call them toys. Get a bullhorn, or post it on Facebook.
Now if someone says they like the house I just built better before I put all the dirt on it...
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
And what (IS) ever to be upset about just having fun?
Toy or No Toy. And that is the question? Seems to me the people that gave up all their toys in the by-gone attic ain't having too much fun anymore ???
I choose my selective toys now replacing the by-gone Toys in the Attic improving them. And I could'nt give a Tinker's Hoot about anyone that thinks anything different then the way I think now at my ripe old age
Live Right, Play Hard
TF
maxman I have told my buddy's that it is just a comment and to ignore it. Who cares what people say, hey look I'm 73 and I tell everybody that I have trains and a layout if it comes up. I have to listen to others about their new car, golf clubs,etc. Dave DAVID FORTNEY but why get all upset when somebody who knows nothing about model trains calls your trains toys. It seems silly to get upset when there is so much to be upset about these days. So, sounds like you're upset that your friends are upset. This whole topic is upsetting.
I have told my buddy's that it is just a comment and to ignore it. Who cares what people say, hey look I'm 73 and I tell everybody that I have trains and a layout if it comes up. I have to listen to others about their new car, golf clubs,etc.
DAVID FORTNEY but why get all upset when somebody who knows nothing about model trains calls your trains toys. It seems silly to get upset when there is so much to be upset about these days.
So, sounds like you're upset that your friends are upset. This whole topic is upsetting.
I'm guessing for most, the older we get, the less we care about what other people think.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
This is a good one.
I think Aerosmith summed it up the best. "Toys, Toys, Toys in the Attic, toys, toys, toys"
I've had "Toys in the Attic" for years It's not something I really worry about or try to get a handle on. A lot of things I own is a toy.
Toy Trains, Toy Mustang, Toy Fun, ... Come on now, do you think a bunch of grown adults going to play golf is not playing with toys? They're chasing around a ball in a field trying to sink it in the hole for crying out loud
If you ever truly grow up all the way it's a plain shame. Those are all those up-tight people that don't even know how to have fun.
Live life, Live Happy and by all means continue to Play with your Toys.
It is the young at heart that (Remain) the most Happiest People
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I'm not offended by much other people say about anything. As a confirmed introvert, my self esteem is not invested in what relative strangers say or think about me. And yes they are toys. The only difference between men and boys, is the price of their toys....... Sheldon
I'm not offended by much other people say about anything.
As a confirmed introvert, my self esteem is not invested in what relative strangers say or think about me.
And yes they are toys.
The only difference between men and boys, is the price of their toys.......
Sheldon
If in the form of a compliment, then I don’t mind. If it’s in a mean or hurtful way, that’s another matter.
I could care less about what people think of me or what I do. I am happy with who and what I am.
Worrying about what people think of you is vanity and that is not a nice prison to be in.
DAVID FORTNEYbut why get all upset when somebody who knows nothing about model trains calls your trains toys. It seems silly to get upset when there is so much to be upset about these days.
dbduck richhotrain Do I get offended when people refer to my trains as toys? No, because I tell very few people that my hobby is model trains. I guess that I am just defensive about my interest in the hobby. Rich Defensive? Or is it embarrassed and/or ashamed to admit??
richhotrain Do I get offended when people refer to my trains as toys? No, because I tell very few people that my hobby is model trains. I guess that I am just defensive about my interest in the hobby. Rich
Do I get offended when people refer to my trains as toys? No, because I tell very few people that my hobby is model trains. I guess that I am just defensive about my interest in the hobby.
Rich
Defensive? Or is it embarrassed and/or ashamed to admit??
Alton Junction
Going out to the 'train room' and using one's imagination, creativity and skills to build a miniature scene with structures and landscaping as part of a model railroad is oft regarded as 'playing', while going out to the 'studio' to use one's imagination, creativity and skills to paint a picture is called 'practicing art'.
I guess I do get kinda irked sometimes when I hear; "Oh, he's playing with his trains." But whatever, 'model railroading is fun."
Peter
Frankly, I could really care less what other folks think of or call MRRing. The ones that are interested however I will show what I've been working on. I also try to show them the same respect for hobbies that they are interested in that don't necessarily appeal to me. But...there's usually some aspect about another hobby that I can generally relate to and appreciate.
It's kinda like the stuff that folks bring in on PBS's "Antique Roadshow". A vast majority of it has ZERO appeal to me. However, I can still appreciate the amount of work, time, and craftsmanship that went into designing and making it - even though I would NEVER care to have it in my own house.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Well again I guess I live in a different world from most. I can not recall ever, since 1951, having my Model Railroad stuff referred to as toys. Either Model Railroad or Trains but never toys.Even when I was working I had my Bowser Big Boy on display in my office which was a great conversation piece, from 1964 to 2007 it was never called a toy. Most common was “I see you’re into model railroading”. Occasionally someone would ask what it was, I would respond “the largest steam locomotive ever built, the Union Pacific Big Boy.”I wouldn’t have been offended had it been called a toy just explain what it was.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Reminds me of something that happened at an open house for the club,
A kid grabbed for a locomotive, and missed. A club member said loudly "Dont touch!" the kids mom said "Don't be so mean, it's just a toy train." I showed her the price of the locomotive in a magazine.... she applogized and shoed the child away.
So they may be "Toy trains" but they cost the same {or more!} than the downpayment on a cell phone
(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).
Here is the problem. Model trains are toys, scale or not. As adults, we are not supposed to play with toys. Only children play with toys.
I am by no means a bible thumper, but I have always been intrigued by 1 Corinthians 13:11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.
So, the problem with model trains is that they are toys, and as adults we haven't put them away or we did but took them back out of hiding. You can call cooking, computer games, whatever, toys, but they're not. Model trains are toys.
When I'm cooking dinner, my kitchen stuff is toys. I'm creating and playing. Likewise, my tools are toys, as are my computers.
My trains are among my favorite toys, that's all. It's a place of high honor.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I don't get upset at all. Like Kevin, my layout is my set of toys.
DAVID FORTNEYIt seems silly to get upset when there is so much to be upset about these days. Dave
Exactly!
York1 John
DAVID FORTNEYI have friend's that get really offended. Yes in essence they are scale models but why get all upset when somebody who knows nothing about model trains calls your trains toys.
My electric trains are toys, and I enjoy playing with them. Playtime is good for your soul.
My friends have different types of toys, bass boats, RVs, woodworking tools, etc. None of them get offended by the term toy, and neither do I.
Really, only scale military diorama builders have a leg to stand on when they say their hobby creations are not toys, they never get played with.
It is a sad condition for a toy to never be played with.
Happens all of the time some see them as toys.
Russell
I have and although I'm not offended but I have friend's that get really offended. Yes in essence they are scale models but why get all upset when somebody who knows nothing about model trains calls your trains toys.
It seems silly to get upset when there is so much to be upset about these days.