Metro Red Line wrote:Most people are boring sheep that only follow what others are doing.
Most people are boring sheep that only follow what others are doing.
i think this is probably the answer. most people dont do anything rewarding as a hobby in their lifetime and thus can't understand how much fun we have with ...gasp... trains... they have no frame of reference to understand our ability to enjoy what we do and can only muster a response of "jeez.. you play with toys?". .. maybe if we asked them back what their hobbies were we might get the "going out" or "seeing movies" as the response... to which we most of us could acknowledge that our hobby doesnt prevent us of these joys either..
People get mental images (based on only their past experiences and own imagination) and make up their minds in a matter of a few seconds. Thus, they think they already know exactly what we do, even though most have never researched it, participated in it or even seen it. That is true about nearly everything. Most go no further than their own mental picture, because they have no interest, no time or are just lazy.
It is a shortcoming in our society, I think. Call it jumping to conclusions. Seems like most people are interested in the quantity of activities over the quality of people's efforts in them. How many people do you see driving around with 4 or 5 magnets on the back of their vehicle, trying to impress others with how many activities in which their kids participate? Those magnets do not indicate whether the child enjoys the activities or is learning anything from them. And it probably was not the kid that put them on the vehicle.
- Mark
Adelie wrote:People get mental images (based on only their past experiences and own imagination) and make up their minds in a matter of a few seconds. Thus, they think they already know exactly what we do, even though most have never researched it, participated in it or even seen it. That is true about nearly everything. Most go no further than their own mental picture, because they have no interest, no time or are just lazy.
So true.
Well, I did my part to dispel some misconceptions today. I had a group of friends over to see the layout (HO, mid-large size, 1/4 finshed). There were five adults, two teenagers and a four year old.
Of the adults, one knew someone in England who had a small layout, one had a family Christmas only layout in O27 where Brittian soldiers were the focal point, and the others just had some general interest in trains.
The four year old lost interest first, seemingly because no one was paying attention to him.
The rest were very impressed and more important, very interested. Everyone had intelligent questions about how things were done; from wiring to every aspect of scenery. Even the "playing with trains" guy changed his tune from toys to "models" and "very sophisticated toys". Over two hours passed in the blink of an eye.
They all left with a better appreciation of what comprises this hobby and (if the enshusiasm lasts) something new in the world that brought them wonder and joy.
... and that, Charlie Brown is what railroad modeling is all about.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net