500th Post and some observations.. Read if you want, otherwise, move on..

[rolleiman]

Well, when I joined the forum back in August, it was to ask a simple question and I figured I wouldn't be spending much time here.. My past experience on USNET and on Camera forums (too many psuedo artists there for my liking) and pretty much soured me on discussion groups.. Like any other place on the net, I've seen all sorts.. There are the experts, the therapists, the cheerleaders, the pecimists, the optimists, selfish people, helpful people.. well, let me repost the link to the flame warriors.. They're all here in one form or another (and yes, a few fit me too)..

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/index.htm

Every once in awhile, though not to often, a troll shows up for a few seconds and causes 3 days of havoc.. I've seen the posts from people claiming to know the business practice and intentions of our host when in fact they probably know very little about the subject. I've seen the threads where there's always at least one charmed person who, no matter what the problem being discussed is, has never experienced such an issue (so everyone else must be doing it wrong).. I've seen people complain, within a thread, that it needs to be reported to Bergie (rather than just writing Bergie quietly) and thus perpetuating the very thread they are complaining about.. These are the moderator wannabes [xx(].. I've noticed at least 5 of them.

For the most part however, I've found this to be an interesting and usually pleasant group of people.. I know the start of my post may not sound like it, but I Would like to take the single opertunity of my 500th post to thank the people here for keeping this forum a generally pleasant experience.

Jeff
[8D]

[dgwinup]

Congrats, Jeff.

Not having much experience outside of model railroading forums, I can't knowledgably comment. On railroad forums, however, there are, as you say, a varied mix of people and personalities. Part of that characteristic is what makes these forums fun. We like to laugh at each other, poke fun at each other and help each other.

Occasionally, a social deviate will show up with bad intentions. I have no problem ignoring them and never feel compelled to respond to them and feed their sick perversion. Ignored, they slink off to their private sanctuary to lick their wounds and search for another site to disrupt. And they will always find someplace where someone will respond to them.

Glad you survived to 500 posts. You have offered helpful suggestions to questions in the true spirit of this forum. Hope to see more of your posts.

Darrell, quiet...for now

[trainboyH16-44]

Good call, man! I was trying to make my 2000th post that meaningful, but alas no matter how I tried, it didn't work.
Congrats on getting your greens, keep the good stuff coming.

[selector]

Rolleiman, you have earned those stars many more times than your post count. I have always found your contributions to be sensible, sensitive, and informative. I add my voice to those hoping you'll tough it out for at least another 500. [:)]

-Crandell

[Anonymous]

Congrats on your 500th! Like you, I've been following Usenet for quite some time now, long before moderated forums such as this one. The model railroad newsgroup has never been very bad, but as mentioned, the photography ones and some others are full of real wackos and other freaks. Because such newsgroups are in fact not moderated and the anonimity offered by the Internet, some of these guys can really wreak havoc.

Just this past week on a scale modeling newsgroup, one persistant troll or troublemaker posted something like 27,000 messages!!!! All total nonsense with the goal of disrupting the group. Of course these gutless wonders have exploited the Internet by using anonymous mailers, thus no one can do anything about them. The only minor defence is to "plonk" them - put them in your newsreader's ignore list. But they keep changing their info so this doesn't always work.

Forums like those operated by MR, Atlas, some private ones and YahooGroups that are moderated are the only way to exclude such disruptive behaviour.

Bob Boudreau

[ereimer]

congratz !

i loved the flame warriors link [tup]

[ARTHILL]

Thanks for sharing. I too enjoy reading the good posts from people like you and ignoring the others.

[rexhea]

Congratulatons Jeff. Your 500 have been good and meaningful.

A comment about your list. Isn't it scary to realize that these characteristics exist in the people of our everyday life and we deal with them unknowingly? At least the electronic pen exposes their hidden personalities.[;)]

REX

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Congratulatons Jeff. Your 500 have been good and meaningful.

A comment about your list. Isn't it scary to realize that these characteristics exist in the people of our everyday life and we deal with them unknowingly? At least the electronic pen exposes their hidden personalities.[;)]

REX

Congratulations from me too, Jeff. Your posts have indeed been useful and it is fun to have you here on the forum.

Rex, "deal with them unknowingly?" I know many people that are far worse in real life than any of the regulars here. This has been, for the most part, a very informative, friendly, and fun place to talk model railroading and I thank Model Railroader Magazine for giving us this place to chat, and the moderator(s) bergie and company for keeping it a great place!

[cwclark]

this is one of the few forums where (most of the time)..trains are discussed like they should be..yes, there are the occasional trolls and others with personalities that I don't think i'd like to be best of buds with, but in all..it's a great forum for those in love with this hobby..I've been to different forums and an occasional chat room...(by the way.. yes, i'm happily married, and no i don't want to go out with you to meet at a secret rendezvous spot)...I just keep coming back because it's a really good forum for the model railroader in me...chuck

[tjsmrinfo]

i dont have 500 yet but am working on it. i admit im not that knoweledgeable on mr stuff but if theres a question that i MIGHT have an idea about ill reply to it, and sometimes 1 will back me up or correct me on a mistake, or improper informaton and im always appreciative of all information and/or ideas.

tom

[rexhea]

QUOTE: Rex, "deal with them unknowingly?" I know many people that are far worse in real life than any of the regulars here. This has been, for the most part, a very informative, friendly, and fun place to talk model railroading and I thank Model Railroader Magazine for giving us this place to chat, and the moderator(s) bergie and company for keeping it a great place!

howmus:
I was simply pointing out that these same traits in personality exist with people of our everyday lives and some of these are not positive. Here, we can immediately recognize the negatives where in life it may not be so obvious. Yes, these exist on all forums and it is not just the newbies, but the regulars as well.
This forum is probably the best to find answers, compare ideas and methods, or just to post new developments. Is it Perfect? No, but the plus's certainly outweigh the minus's. BTW: Sending flowers to MR will not get you a free subscription. I already tried that.[:D]

REX

[trainfreek92]

Congratulations on making the 500 posts now onto 1,000!![:D] Tim

[cnw4001]

One thing I've noticed lately is a lot of new folks or posts with folks who have single digit replies.

Let's encourage them to keep coming with valid information. Also when something is in need of a bit of "direction" if it can be done to the person's email it might have better impact than the flames.

Still a way from 500.

[rolleiman]

Just taking the opertunity to say thanks everyone and answer a couple comments.. I'm glad to know my written advice has been of use to someone so I'll keep it coming where appropriate.

Bob, The camera groups Were moderated forums but were pretty much allowed to run unchallanged.. For the most part they stay pretty civil but there were just some personalities there I couldn't stand. You want to talk about Brand loyalty... Make the statement that the Canon DSLR is better than the Nikon and then Duck!! (Not that I ever did that, it's just an example. I use a Panasonic FZ20 btw).. So I chose to follow my own advice and quietly leave.. I'll tell ya, time once was I didn't like moderated forums because I felt they were somehow limiting my right to 'free speech'.. I use to participate on the RecModelsRailroad newsgroup quite a bit.. So much in fact that if I had invested the same time into my layout, it would be near 95% complete right now rather than the plywood prarie it still is. My participation ended when I gave up my cable-modem and with it my newsgroup subscription.. The google access is just to slow to actively participate so I don't bother with it anymore.. Point is, the moderated forums at least for the most part, stay on topic and remain civil. For awhile, I was participating in the Yahoo Fine Scale Miniatures forum.. There, I was accused of being everything from a weenie to a nazi.. Not always the most friendly group of people, especially when something bad was said about King George. Not that they were all like that but enough to end my particiaption. It's all part of the online experience I guess..

Chuck, I don't EVER mess with Chat Rooms.. When ever I've even thought of it, this picture comes to mind that I found somewhere on the net many years ago (Rated PG16)

http://www.rolleiman.com/trains/CyberSex.jpg

Probably not the most appropriate for younger viewers but anyone considering a "hookup" online might do well to consider this image.

Rex, I've met most of the flame warriors in everyday life.. Train related Too! At a local monthly meeting of a division of the NMRA.. BIG DOG, ME TOO and THE SWARM were most evident..

Anyway, Thanks again folks. I look forward to learning from you and hopefully teaching a few things..

Jeff