danno54 Real keyboard commandos
That's a good one, I'll have to remember that!
Mike.
My You Tube
"We also have a lot of posting done by those that should be lurkers and not posting just to see if they can stir the pot."
My definition of a "troll".^^^
Another site I am much more active on has a number of newer guys that troll it just to annoy members. Always with a snarky answer and never any input regarding the old car interests of the site. This appears to be a millenial and younger thing. Real keyboard commandos but never attend any of the car shows to meet the gang.
And if nobody said anything?
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Most people are relatively civil on here, though there have been a few who got offended by something I said and vice versa. My post was primarily directed at non-MR forums, which have a tendency to get much more heated than here.
Good point Kevin. I think most people have been burned once or twice when misinterpreting the tone of an email or text. You learn pretty quick to try to assume the best of others unless they give you a reason to think otherwise. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt and not judge motives in a knee-jerk fashion.
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
BigDaddyIt is tragic that people feel unwelcome by hostile answers. If I see a first post by a newby, I always welcome them to the forum.
Thank you Henry.
We need lots of participants here, and your effort to welcome newcomers is greatly appreciated.
Engi1487I was mistaken for a troll when I first joined this forum, when though I was just asking questions and getting used to using a forum.
I never thought you were a troll. I think a lot of it was misunderstanding of your old user name and the misinterpretation of a couple of your early questions.
In the four years I have been here, there have only been two real trolls, and one borderline troll, that I know of.
I hope you feel welcome now.
The Milwaukee Road WarriorThirdly, regarding "unkind responses": yes, I have had them.
I have made responses where my tone has been misinterpreted. I have begun to use more emojis now, and I am trying to write in a less rigid style.
My old employer had strict writing guidelines for emails and public posts, and I wrote like that for decades. It is beginning to fade now.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
OP here.
The Milwaukee Road WarriorAnyway, I had previously set up a Flickr account to share photos of my layout progress and within a day or two of this unpleasantness I was sent a message on Flickr that someone (don't know who, but obviously from this forum) "liked" my Flickr account and wanted to link up. The page in question was loaded with all sorts of pornography.
That's one that's never happened to me. I do get that on email, and facebook. On facebook I had a week of requests from people, who, not only could I not pronounce their names, I couldn't pronounce any of their "friends" names.
It is tragic that people feel unwelcome by hostile answers. If I see a first post by a newby, I always them to the forum.
My inclination is to help people, but sometimes I have been spectacularly wrong. The forum gurus set me straight and I end up knowing more than I did before. To Mel's point there are some people that spew garbage. Isn't that true of every forum on everything?
There are a lot of threads that go on far beyond their usefulness. There are others that maybe important to real railroad, but have nothing to do with MR.
Don't write off VRF. On Strasburg, you see Strasburg, on the other cameras you see schnabel cars, WW2 hospital ward cars, nuclear waste cars and all sorts of stuff.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy So why not post more? Have you been met with unkind responses? Are there just too many guru's here? Like my other forums, are you just not here very much? Are most of the threads of no interest to your?
So why not post more? Have you been met with unkind responses? Are there just too many guru's here? Like my other forums, are you just not here very much? Are most of the threads of no interest to your?
Where to start.. my posting tends to be seasonal, as in: when I'm on my winter break from work I tend to post more. Other times of the year its sporadic. Now and then. Months may go by and I'm just too busy. If I were retired or without younger kids I would be around more.
Secondly, I was out of the hobby for a loooooong time and have lots of questions and so I find myself reading more than commenting.
Thirdly, regarding "unkind responses": yes, I have had them. It's part of life and sometimes people have a bad day and make a snarky remark. I can live with that.
What was over-the-top disturbing to me was a forum member that last year took insane objection to the line of one of my posts and insulted me. Totally unnecessary.
I had simply shared something that I thought was humorous that other modelers would also get a laugh out of.
This particular person had apparently lost their sense of humor a long time ago (or their ability to live-and-let-live) and was outraged that I would try to inject humor into the hobby ... because he didn't find the same thing to be amusing; as if he alone were the arbiter of what is and isn't worth a chuckle.
Anyway, I had previously set up a Flickr account to share photos of my layout progress and within a day or two of this unpleasantness I was sent a message on Flickr that someone (don't know who, but obviously from this forum) "liked" my Flickr account and wanted to link up. The page in question was loaded with all sorts of pornography. It was disgusting.
As a result I had to deactivate and cancel my Flickr page to be on the safe side.
It's a shame people can't just move on from things that they either aren't interested in, or topics they don't like in forums, but rather, feel it necessary to still post and "set you right."
Seriously, if you don't like a topic just move along.
Many of the lurkers, like myself, are probably here to gather information. This site is a wealth of information. A simple search can usually answer any concern I may have. I don't feel the need to chime in at every turn. Is lurking a problem of some sort?
Online posts do not adequately convey tone.
I'm tired of certain model train forums where seemingly every single discussion devolves, and there are certain people who to me just exude stress, which I just don't need.
So, whatever, I won't be posting very much anymore anywhere. I may come on for a quick look, but...
John Mock
We might need to consider individual's circumstances as well. Even those with a great deal of experience and who have a pretty nifty layout up and running might be exhausted by the time they crawl to their laptop or PC after whatever dinner they can cobble together, and they simply do not want to get embroiled in lengthy debates, or even to place themselves where they have to argue with someone for some reason. In a forum where there is healthy debate, threads get lengthy, sometimes a bit testy, and who needs to get into a 36 hour response cycle where you say several versions of, "Well, it worked for me?" I could see people "on the margin's" of whatever current crisis is taking place struggling to keep up, let alone jumping into protracted discussions about the state of the hobby, or about our hosts' software.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL but I don't even know what VRF is,
Sorry, I was lurking this afternoon and just seen this. Yep, Virtual Rail Fan, I know Henry enjoys them to.
Now, back to lurking.
RR_Mel We also have a lot of posting done by those that should be lurkers and not posting just to see if they can stir the pot. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
We also have a lot of posting done by those that should be lurkers and not posting just to see if they can stir the pot. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I used to lurk out of fear that I had nothing to contribute. Offering suggestions was not easy but I realized that often, there are no perfect answers. It seems that what works for me might not for others, but perhaps it's something to consider.
The value of posting is learning about something new.
As I stated in another post, I used to spend time learking during break time and lunch while at work but now that I'm retired maybe I can speak up more. Most of the time I just feel that I learn more by "listening than talking" or someone else has said what I would have. With this Covid thing going on, it's good to have some place to go and vist, even on line.
Ralph
The reason why I "lurk" is because most queries are answered by those with much more experience than I possess. As I gain skill and experience I will probably post more. Any questions that I myself have had I have found answers to by searching old topics. There is a great group of folks here and I feel privileged to glean knowledge from their experiences. The few posts I have made were in situations where my input may have been of value.
I lurked without ever joining for a long time. I only joined when I had an issue and needed to vent and eventually ask for help on things. I don't always have time to stay up to date on the various threads and usually when there is something I could provide input on, either someone else (usually a regular) posted something similar or the conversation moved on to something else.
Mike
Soupy As I said in reply to another thread, I lurked for ten plus years after being hurt by some unkind comments made by a few. I must say, and I don't remember who, someone replied, "Ignore them, they're jerks." Aside from that, I don't have a current layout and am unlikely to have one again. After five or so tries I've learned that I love building the benchwork, laying the track and getting it operational but then lose interest. I do continue to love the hobby and looking at the progress and craftsmanship exhibited by many who come here. Keep up the good work and I'll keep lurking . . . and respond with a comment when I have something useful and non-controversial (I hope) to add.
As I said in reply to another thread, I lurked for ten plus years after being hurt by some unkind comments made by a few. I must say, and I don't remember who, someone replied, "Ignore them, they're jerks."
Aside from that, I don't have a current layout and am unlikely to have one again. After five or so tries I've learned that I love building the benchwork, laying the track and getting it operational but then lose interest.
I do continue to love the hobby and looking at the progress and craftsmanship exhibited by many who come here.
Keep up the good work and I'll keep lurking . . . and respond with a comment when I have something useful and non-controversial (I hope) to add.
Commenting on these Forums was more "dangerous" for sensitive souls decades ago, when there were some genuinely nasty and highly personal comments particularly posted on weekends when the moderators were not always on duty. I think that was pretty common across the spectrum of internet forums and chat rooms back then.
It really was a reign of terror there for a while.
I am reminded of a famous incident involving Abraham Lincoln. The night before he delivered the Gettysburg Address, a group of people and I think even a small band came to his hotel and he went to a window and waved. Someone called for a speech. He refused, saying something to the effect that "it is very important for a person in my position not to be heard to say something foolish." A heckler in the crowd yelled "if he can help it." Lincoln smiled and said "and often the only way to help it is to say nothing at all" and shut the window.
Dave Nelson
Overmod snjroy I don't post questions very often. Is there a term for those? When I have some kind of problem or challenge, I either find the solution through online searches (99% of the cases), or I ask someone at the club. Maybe I should post questions more often, I haven't really thought about it... This is why a 'welcoming tone' even for apparently 'dumb' or 'previously-answered' questions is the right way the 'regular posters' should respond. It should not hurt if, while running the online searches or waiting to talk to someone at the club, you spool up the forum and ask the question here. At worst no one answers, or you have to endure a little banter. And at best we might give you information or insights you wouldn't have gotten the 'other ways' -- I suspect the hive-mind here is more extensive than any club's, and representative of more types of education and experience. And perhaps easier than the SEO firehose of asking questions via Google or some other search engine...
snjroy I don't post questions very often. Is there a term for those? When I have some kind of problem or challenge, I either find the solution through online searches (99% of the cases), or I ask someone at the club. Maybe I should post questions more often, I haven't really thought about it...
This is why a 'welcoming tone' even for apparently 'dumb' or 'previously-answered' questions is the right way the 'regular posters' should respond. It should not hurt if, while running the online searches or waiting to talk to someone at the club, you spool up the forum and ask the question here. At worst no one answers, or you have to endure a little banter. And at best we might give you information or insights you wouldn't have gotten the 'other ways' -- I suspect the hive-mind here is more extensive than any club's, and representative of more types of education and experience. And perhaps easier than the SEO firehose of asking questions via Google or some other search engine...
Simon
I lurked for many months, perhaps longer. I was learning things, so I was happy.
Then I saw a question that no one had yet answered, that I felt able to answer, so I did.
Now I answer more, but there are others with more knowledge on most topics in here.
snjroyI don't post questions very often. Is there a term for those? When I have some kind of problem or challenge, I either find the solution through online searches (99% of the cases), or I ask someone at the club. Maybe I should post questions more often, I haven't really thought about it...
I think many people are just not comfortable writing in general. Having an automated spell check might help... Some are probably hesitant to contribute because they lack confidence, or are affraid to be "shut down", as mentioned by others. I must say that forum members are very civil in general. Nasty comments are generally exchanged between the regulars . It can be very unpleasant and I sometimes find it hard not to reply to some of the really nasty comments I read. Moderation could be more proactive in my opinion.
In my professional life, "brainstorming" is not only acceptable but also encouraged. I am therefore used to speak up, suggest things, and yes, I will be wrong in some instances. I think most of us non-lurkers are in the same group: most of their contributions add content, with some mistakes caught by others. What I find a bit annoying is when some members insist on the one-way to do things, not realizing that others might not have the skills or financial resources to do so.... In any case, if this forum was only populated by "experts", a lot of questions would be left unanswered. I *do* appreciate the contributions of those who are highly knowledgeable. Sometimes I wonder what would happend if 4 or 5 of them left the forum...
I don't post questions very often. Is there a term for those? When I have some kind of problem or challenge, I either find the solution through online searches (99% of the cases), or I ask someone at the club. Maybe I should post questions more often, I haven't really thought about it...
maxman virtual rail fan? They have live stream video at multiple locations.
virtual rail fan? They have live stream video at multiple locations.
OK, not something I'm into. I see plenty of real trains in person by "acedent" where I live, and I'm far too busy to spend time watching real trains that I havd no interest in modeling.
I have spent a minute or two watching the live feed from the Strasburg Rail Road, but even that only holds my attention for short time considering I go there in person 2-3 times a year.
Sheldon
I'm sorry but if I answer then I might just lose my statis as a "lurker".
I don't know sometimes I lurk more here than other forums. I think that is a little more when it comes to photo threads. I am a member in several forums and a group owner for one in FB. I am probably more active in FB ones because of ease of use and posting photos as well as more concentrated interests on specific railroads.
I'm pretty active on here, and sometimes outspoken and controversial, but even at that I read more than post, and I skip over more than I read.
I think some are just overwhelmed by the amount of jnfornation available to be processed.