Boy, after reading some of these posts, I'm glad that I've never run into a lot of the people we've mentioned.
For instance, my sister has always liked my hobby--so does her son and my grand-nephew. Every time they're down, the first place they head is to the garage to see what's new and run a train or two (sister included!).
Most of my friends think that my hobby is really NEAT!
Interesting story--at my high school, last year, some of my students and I were discussing Websites--you can Google up YOUTUBE on the school computer--and they asked me if I had one. When I said yes, one of them asked me what it was. I told him, and within three days, it had spread around the choir that Mr. White had the COOLEST website with the COOLEST trains!
So I've never really run into a lot of this other stuff.
But then, as I said in my previous post, I don't watch much TV, either.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Bill H. wrote: Virginian wrote:If you had been to a train show lately, you would see where they get their inspiration for model railroaders as deviants. I am not kidding.I completely agree. It's almost as if the only time these people come out of the cellar is for train shows...The same was true when I attended Ham Radio affairs in the past. Some of the attendees were downright scary.I still enjoy both hobbies, but months can pass without even thinking of trains or radios, especially in the nice weather. GET OUTSIDE!Golf, vintage cars, boating, motorcycling, camping, etc., and not in any particular order...
Virginian wrote:If you had been to a train show lately, you would see where they get their inspiration for model railroaders as deviants. I am not kidding.
I completely agree. It's almost as if the only time these people come out of the cellar is for train shows...
The same was true when I attended Ham Radio affairs in the past. Some of the attendees were downright scary.
I still enjoy both hobbies, but months can pass without even thinking of trains or radios, especially in the nice weather. GET OUTSIDE!
Golf, vintage cars, boating, motorcycling, camping, etc., and not in any particular order...
I also agree. I have had the same experience with the people at train shows and many hobby shops that I've been to. Some (not all) of them fit the stereotypes of grumpy, obese, aloof, know-it-all, scruffy characters with a vest full of railroad buttons whose world revolves around model railroading to the exclusion of everything (and everyone) else. Unfortunately, this stereotypical minority is the most visable group within the model railroading community thus showcasing our hobby in a negative manner.
The same could be said of most special interest groups. I love Lost In Space , Star Trek (both the original series), old scifi shows and movies, obscure vinyl (and shellac) records, etc. Unfortunately, at these types of conventions there are the same group of fanatics whose whole purpose in life revolves around their particular special interest thus giving outsiders (and many insiders) a very negative view of something interesting and enjoyable.
I also agree most shows on primetime television are geared toward the lowest common denominator.
Tracklayer wrote: You want "real life" bad raps... I took my oldest sister and little nephew out to my train room to check out my layout a couple of years ago. My nephew was very impressed, and enjoyed wearing the engineer's cap and pushing the horn button each time the train approached a crossing. After about five minutes, my sister told my little nephew - Okay, that's enough of watching uncle Mark's train go round and round the track over and over again. Let's go. I was like, what's up ?. My sister replied that she didn't want him interested in such things, and hoped that he would focus his life on more important and serious ambitions!. That's the day I found out what my sister thought of me and my train hobby, and yes, it hurt because in her eyes model railroaders are losers... Tracklayer
You want "real life" bad raps...
I took my oldest sister and little nephew out to my train room to check out my layout a couple of years ago. My nephew was very impressed, and enjoyed wearing the engineer's cap and pushing the horn button each time the train approached a crossing. After about five minutes, my sister told my little nephew - Okay, that's enough of watching uncle Mark's train go round and round the track over and over again. Let's go. I was like, what's up ?. My sister replied that she didn't want him interested in such things, and hoped that he would focus his life on more important and serious ambitions!. That's the day I found out what my sister thought of me and my train hobby, and yes, it hurt because in her eyes model railroaders are losers...
Tracklayer
I was stuck in a doctors office yesterday reading a copy of Entertainment Mag. They had the top 20 TV shows list. I can honestly say I've never seen a single episode of 19 of them. Scrubs is the only one of the 20 that I watch. So I a guess I am voting by not watching the trash that's being put out. I'm just real anti Hollywood brain washing these days. Does anyone think Goldmez Adams portrayed model railroading in a bad light?
PS-The "class action lawsuit"comment was just a joke.
Midnight Railroader wrote: jasperofzeal wrote: Midnight Railroader wrote: jasperofzeal wrote: I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. No one said ALL video gamers participated in criminal activity.That's exactly my point. The same way that not all model railroaders (or any if that) are pedophiles or serial killers. That's the damage that stereotypes do and because of such stereotypes, music, movies, tv, video games and such are seen in a bad light. It all boils down to good parenting and education to break stereotypes (as somebody previously stated).I am fairly certain that the proportion of young people who have been influenced to commit crimes after playing video games involving crime is substantially greater than the number of people who commit crimes after building a model railroad.
jasperofzeal wrote: Midnight Railroader wrote: jasperofzeal wrote: I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. No one said ALL video gamers participated in criminal activity.That's exactly my point. The same way that not all model railroaders (or any if that) are pedophiles or serial killers. That's the damage that stereotypes do and because of such stereotypes, music, movies, tv, video games and such are seen in a bad light. It all boils down to good parenting and education to break stereotypes (as somebody previously stated).
Midnight Railroader wrote: jasperofzeal wrote: I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. No one said ALL video gamers participated in criminal activity.
jasperofzeal wrote: I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like.
I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like.
That's exactly my point. The same way that not all model railroaders (or any if that) are pedophiles or serial killers. That's the damage that stereotypes do and because of such stereotypes, music, movies, tv, video games and such are seen in a bad light. It all boils down to good parenting and education to break stereotypes (as somebody previously stated).
How about the people that get influenced by watching "police wildest chases" and "columbine revisited" (not 100% sure on title) which they are going to air soon? I'm guessing that these kinds of shows probably stir up the "I bet I can do it better than them" attitude. Besides, reading about how some of you guys come accross problems building your layouts, I'm surprised that I don't hear about some train guy shooting up an LHS. (bad taste joke, I know)
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
How bizarre, here we sit offended, and abused and then the words "Class Action Suit" spring from the lips of some of us, when a far more potent weapon exists! I was "exposed" briefly to "Desperate Housewives" for the first time this weekend since it is one of my eldest daughter's favorites. Had I watched it long enough to be offended, I might have taken the time to note who was providing this "entertainment", done a little bit of on line research to get the E-Mail addresses of the sponsors and written them of my displeasure with their sponsorship of their portrayal of me and my fellow hobbyists. Those who pay for this "entertainment" might well have some impact on the story lines that are acceptable to their target audiences. Television like this is after all "commercial" and if the commercials are not forth coming, the cutesy portrayals of customers might change.
I believe that the Disney organization implimented training to identify their "customers" as "Guests" in order for their people to understand how to treat customers. I am sure that if "scrapbookers" were portrayed as serial killers or pedophiles that the advertisers would be a little more careful of their support of some of these story lines. Perhaps we could do a little more active promotion of our hobby that posting videos on "U-Tube" as another tread has promoted recently.
Perhaps it is time to let commercial television that "we are mad as hell" and we aren't going to take it any more! I, for one, am outraged that there has not been a criminal investigation into the pet food poisoning beyond the identification of the "rat poison" identification by the State of New York, but taht is just me!
Will .... off my soap box for now!
tstage wrote: jasperofzeal wrote:I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. I know that many people out there who play games have the same results as myself. The reason I don't get brainwashed by tv, movies, and games is because I know that they are not real, only a form of entertainment. I have common sense and a good head on my shoulders that let me distinguish between right and wrong. This is because I had good upbringing and parents that taught me to stay clean even if I played in the dirt (so to speak). I'm willing to bet that some of you out there with kids have a child that plays video games. Does that mean the your child will grow up to be a serial killer, a high school shooter, or a rapist? No. Why, because you guys probably have decent morals and are teaching your children to not be dummies and realize that games and tv are not real. Yes, model railroading doesn't simulate what video games simulate, and that's the beauty of this hobby, you can filter out the unpleasantries that real life has. Cops being shot, murder, rape, and other violent crimes have been around since the early days of human life. It's not like it's a new thing brought on by TV and music and other media. If we're to believe all that these so called "studies" tell us, then I guess I better quit playing video games and modeling trains or I might become a "cop shooting, road raging, high school shooting pedophile".Tony,Would you agree that watching - albeit violent and suggestive video or TV programs - can and does "de-sensitize" the person watching them after a while? Whether you do or don't carry out what you actually watch, you have to admit that becoming numb to those sorts of visual stimuli can't really be a good thing in the long run.Tom
jasperofzeal wrote:I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. I know that many people out there who play games have the same results as myself. The reason I don't get brainwashed by tv, movies, and games is because I know that they are not real, only a form of entertainment. I have common sense and a good head on my shoulders that let me distinguish between right and wrong. This is because I had good upbringing and parents that taught me to stay clean even if I played in the dirt (so to speak). I'm willing to bet that some of you out there with kids have a child that plays video games. Does that mean the your child will grow up to be a serial killer, a high school shooter, or a rapist? No. Why, because you guys probably have decent morals and are teaching your children to not be dummies and realize that games and tv are not real. Yes, model railroading doesn't simulate what video games simulate, and that's the beauty of this hobby, you can filter out the unpleasantries that real life has. Cops being shot, murder, rape, and other violent crimes have been around since the early days of human life. It's not like it's a new thing brought on by TV and music and other media. If we're to believe all that these so called "studies" tell us, then I guess I better quit playing video games and modeling trains or I might become a "cop shooting, road raging, high school shooting pedophile".
I've played all kinds of video games ranging from the Mario games to the very popular ones that depict all that violence and gore. I have not shot any cops (my brother happens to be one), I have not crashed a car (other than your regular accident and I'm sure you mean crash a car on purpose), I have not commited armed robbery, or any of the like. I know that many people out there who play games have the same results as myself. The reason I don't get brainwashed by tv, movies, and games is because I know that they are not real, only a form of entertainment. I have common sense and a good head on my shoulders that let me distinguish between right and wrong. This is because I had good upbringing and parents that taught me to stay clean even if I played in the dirt (so to speak). I'm willing to bet that some of you out there with kids have a child that plays video games. Does that mean the your child will grow up to be a serial killer, a high school shooter, or a rapist? No. Why, because you guys probably have decent morals and are teaching your children to not be dummies and realize that games and tv are not real. Yes, model railroading doesn't simulate what video games simulate, and that's the beauty of this hobby, you can filter out the unpleasantries that real life has. Cops being shot, murder, rape, and other violent crimes have been around since the early days of human life. It's not like it's a new thing brought on by TV and music and other media. If we're to believe all that these so called "studies" tell us, then I guess I better quit playing video games and modeling trains or I might become a "cop shooting, road raging, high school shooting pedophile".
Tony,
Would you agree that watching - albeit violent and suggestive video or TV programs - can and does "de-sensitize" the person watching them after a while? Whether you do or don't carry out what you actually watch, you have to admit that becoming numb to those sorts of visual stimuli can't really be a good thing in the long run.
Yes I agree 100% with that, Tom. Unfortunately we can't control what is brought to us by media such as news and radio. I am up to my limit on what's going on in Iraq (and I'm sorry if this upsets some of you). Not that I don't care what our poor soldiers are going through, but since CNN and others are constantly telling us that this got bombed, and these people got killed, it's no wonder that a lot of people are turning a blind eye to our guys and gals over there. I'm sure you know that violence and s-- (I'm not sure if I can put the 3 letter word) sells, so all we can do is limit what we take in to our homes and ultimately into our heads.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tangerine-jack wrote: "Because like it or not, the fact is that millions of people tune into TV shows or go to movies every week which allows a vocal minority to perpetuate a negative stereotype to the mainstream."This has never changed in the history of mankind, ever. The amphitheaters of Rome were built for this purpose, and TV has been called the idiot box since its inception. I agree with you 100%, but what can we do about it? Education works wonders in destroying stereotypes, and don't be a negative role model, ensure that what we do as individuals is positive to society.
"Because like it or not, the fact is that millions of people tune into TV shows or go to movies every week which allows a vocal minority to perpetuate a negative stereotype to the mainstream."
This has never changed in the history of mankind, ever. The amphitheaters of Rome were built for this purpose, and TV has been called the idiot box since its inception. I agree with you 100%, but what can we do about it? Education works wonders in destroying stereotypes, and don't be a negative role model, ensure that what we do as individuals is positive to society.
I agree that the will of the vocal minority has always been an issue throughout history, but with the advent of more efficient and effective communication technologies, I think we have been seeing this occur on an unprecedented scale over the past 100 years. With what is available these days, it has essentially allowed these morons to trade in their allegorical musket for a nuclear weapon.
I also realize that Model Railroaders are just a small part of a very long list of people, races, religions, etc. that the Hollywood brain trust (I use that term very loosely) have victimized with bad stereotypes over the years. It's tough enough to overcome the ‘geek factor' that has commonly been associated with our hobby for a long time, now we face being linked with far more revolting attributes like pedophilia and serial killers. Yikes.
We can easily dismiss what's on TV or in the movies as garbage and nonsense. I agree that most of it is. I've followed this industry with great interest for a long time now with aspirations to get into it someday. It's a very powerful medium, and in my opinion is often grossly underestimated over how much influence it really has on people. I hope not to be just another monkey chained to a keyboard, but someone who will be able to use this tool a bit more responsibly. Sure, it's all entertainment, but at the same time it's wields an uncanny influence.
So if you someday see a TV show featuring a normal character running trains on their nicely done layout, maybe I finally made it...
Midnight Railroader wrote: jasperofzeal wrote: I think that video games are good because they can help develop good hand/eye coordination, and that's something that I've carried over to this hobby. Video games also give you an alternate escape when you really don't want to do anything else, just like many of you find trains to be that escape. Model railroading does not "allow" me to simulate shooting cops, crashing cars, armed robbery, and the like. YES, I knows there are lots of video games that do not involve those things, but look at the list of the games that sell the best...those are frequently the most violent games.
jasperofzeal wrote: I think that video games are good because they can help develop good hand/eye coordination, and that's something that I've carried over to this hobby. Video games also give you an alternate escape when you really don't want to do anything else, just like many of you find trains to be that escape.
vsmithMisterBeasley In my neighborhood, more of the ladies look like Maggie Thatcher than like Terry Hatcher. Given that reality, I'll stay in my train room, thank you. As for the "killer asteroid" scenario, go read "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A bit dated Sci-Fi, but still the best description of that nightmare. By the way, I'm a real-world rocket scientist. The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton. Ha! I read that...all I can remember is the surfer on the ultimate ride of his live, riding the 3000 foot tidal wave created by the impact...off the coast of SoCal of course.... PS need to redirect an asteroid, takes surprisingly little, maybe only coating one side with white powder to increase the pressure of solar photons to alter its orbit. Fun stuff science...totally uncool to the Paris Hilton crowd though.
MisterBeasley In my neighborhood, more of the ladies look like Maggie Thatcher than like Terry Hatcher. Given that reality, I'll stay in my train room, thank you. As for the "killer asteroid" scenario, go read "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A bit dated Sci-Fi, but still the best description of that nightmare. By the way, I'm a real-world rocket scientist. The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton.
In my neighborhood, more of the ladies look like Maggie Thatcher than like Terry Hatcher. Given that reality, I'll stay in my train room, thank you.
As for the "killer asteroid" scenario, go read "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A bit dated Sci-Fi, but still the best description of that nightmare. By the way, I'm a real-world rocket scientist. The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton.
Ha! I read that...all I can remember is the surfer on the ultimate ride of his live, riding the 3000 foot tidal wave created by the impact...off the coast of SoCal of course....
PS need to redirect an asteroid, takes surprisingly little, maybe only coating one side with white powder to increase the pressure of solar photons to alter its orbit. Fun stuff science...totally uncool to the Paris Hilton crowd though.
Mister B. Consider the relative impact on history of the two ladies you mentioned. Teri Hatcher reads lines from a prepared script. The Iron Lady scripted the actions that kicked an aggressor out of a far-away possession (and, indirectly, toppled a less than wonderful dictator.)
As for asteroids - the Discovery Channel or one of its offspring did a show in which there was a lot of hand-wringing about some asteroid that could impact Earth 800 years from now. Give me a break!!! 800 years ago the horse cavalry didn't even have stirrups on their saddles. Or don't those Chicken Littles realize how much farther human technology is likely to advance in 800 years?? (Asteroid on collision orbit? Send the mining fleet out. We'll re-process it into spaceship components and fuel - and maybe some widgets to sell to consumers to finance the business. By the time it reaches Earth, all that'll be left is a memory and a handful of pebbles.)
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - when not reading SF)
MisterBeasley wrote: The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton.
The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton.
MisterBeasley wrote: In my neighborhood, more of the ladies look like Maggie Thatcher than like Terry Hatcher. Given that reality, I'll stay in my train room, thank you.As for the "killer asteroid" scenario, go read "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A bit dated Sci-Fi, but still the best description of that nightmare. By the way, I'm a real-world rocket scientist. The Liberals who say "Well, we'll just re-program all those nasty nuclear missles and just blow it up." just never did get Isaac Newton.
Have fun with your trains
I used to play a lot of Flight Simulator. In fact, I was addicted to it, and the main reason my wife wanted me to pull the trains out was to get me away from the computer. (She expected one of those Martha Stuart Santa's Village things. Subways and coal weren't even on her radar.) A few weeks ago I heard about a study that indicated that action-packed automobile video games are actually turning participants into aggressive, dangerous real-world drivers.
SpaceMouse wrote: Around my house, there are varmint hunters. They make great sport of lying in the grass with high velocity scoped .22s and blowing the brains out of a ground hog at 400 yards.
Send 'em to my house. Have them bring silencers, though. Hunting isn't allowed in town. Not enough people have had that mind-altering experience - "Bambi is so cute." "Hey, Bambi just ate all my broccoli plants!" "Bambi tastes great."
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Ouch! And that's coming from your own sister?!
Well, one of the reasons that I got into this hobby was beause my dad took me and my brother into a LHS and bought us some model planes when we were younger. And we are interested in building model kits at a ery young age and continue till now. However, when we were about 12 or 13, all of a sudden my dad decide that building plastic models is becoming too childish for us and I remember he got very angry at one stage because we are spending too much time building models rather than studying. The point is, he got us started in it and then change his mind and the thing is, most people don't realise that hobby such as modelrailroading has evolved beyond toys these days but in most people's mind, it's still kid's toys and if you are a grown man palying with kid's toys, you must be sick and that's the real underlying problem. My dad didn't know I got back into model railroading and I am sure if he knew, he would be worried if I am mentally sound.
Anyway, all I can say is, everyone enjoying doing difference things and have different interest just like there are different religions and whatever and you can choose what you believe in and/or what you do with your spare time but I think it is only fair that people don't stereotype other people's interests and/or hobbies. And I think that's also the problem in today's society, people are enjoying a new found levels of freedom but at the same time, they also think they can do whatever they want including stereotyping other people and descriminate against others.
I know I am not perfect but I just wish people can be more unerstanding towards each other. See, people are also very smart these days, they all know about the descrimination laws and defmation laws etc. so they find ways around it and try to use sarcasm instead of direct verbal confrontation in today's society. And of course, this is just one aspect of this multi-faceted problem in today's world but I guess that's just life.
So do what I do, laugh at it and keep watching both CSI an Desperate Housewives while I am having dinner on Mondays and Tuesdays. And when I get sick and tired of them all one day, then I watch something else or one of my DVD's! At such time, I think the networks probably know they have lost some steam for a particular show and moved on. Again, that's just another fact of life! ;-)
Regarding midnight's comment: "...look at the list of the games that sell the best...those are frequently the most violent games. "
I recall the news report of the Montreal college shooting a few months back. The killer was inspired by a video game portraying the Columbine High School tragedy. How sick is that!
Model Railroading tends to be much more peaceful than video games, movies, and TV shows.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
When you think about it from an outsider's point of view Model Railroaders are probably a little twisted. I mean we play with toys. We sit in the basement for hours several days a week and come up with a Jordan car or a couple trees.
But then again, Cowboy Action Shooters, my old hobby are a bunch of big boys that like to dress up like idiots and blast stuff.
Around my house, there are varmint hunters. They make great sport of lying in the grass with high velocity scoped .22s and blowing the brains out of a ground hog at 400 yards.
And what is with stamp collecting.
Let's face it. If you don't veg out in front of the TV with your beer, chips and Prilosec OTC, you're a deviant.
So common you losers. Let's have some fun.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Ouch! My brother and his wife are like that. If their not into it, no one else should be either.
I am a 38 year old father of three who has successfully run my own business for 14 years and is interested in spending time with my kids away from just the stuff you all mention is on t.v.; if that makes me a geek or a loser, then I am proud to be one!
john
Jasperofzeal-I get your point about the video games, but you have to admit, most of the popular games out there depict people doing incredibly illegal and immoral things. I personally don't have a problem with that until it crosses the border into real life. You don't see a lot of model railroaders stealing cars and putting the beat down on some home boy to get their bling.
MisterBeasley wrote:Well, yeah. After all, why should a kid learn electronics and structural engineering when he could be developing bad driving habits and sociopathic tendencies by playing Grand Theft Auto?
Before we keep moving on as to how unfair it is that "tv is giving model trains a bad rap", can we look at some of the bad rap that some of you are giving other hobbies? Video games are not all that bad. I happen to still be an active gamer myself, and I'm 31 years old, I also enjoy the hobby that most of you are involved in as well. That being said, why is it that we take offense at what somebody says about our "passion" but then do that same criticizing about someone else's "passion"? I think that video games are good because they can help develop good hand/eye coordination, and that's something that I've carried over to this hobby. Video games also give you an alternate escape when you really don't want to do anything else, just like many of you find trains to be that escape. Also just like trains, video games are something that can be shared with friends and family. I know that there are people that are plugged into the games 24/7, but we can find this type of habit in almost every hobby or activity. The problem is that the kids who are addicted to these games, don't have parents' guidance and control so that these kids don't act out what they see or do in games. Why can't parents tell these kids that what they see in a game is not a thing that should be acted out in real life. IT"S CALLED PARENTING. I get tired of hearing in the media that video games are to blame for shootings, killings, and other crimes and such. What happens is that people don't want to take responsibility for their lack of parenting, so they look for a scapegoat to pin it on. Why do you think that Desperate Housewives did the bit on the pedophile train modeler? I'm sure that there probably has been ONE or TWO pervs in the past that were arrested who happened to like to model trains. So some mom somewhere probably said: "All train modelers are pervs." Does that make all of us pervs? NO. Same goes for video games, I'm sure that there have been incidents that were influenced by some person playing a video game, but does that make all video games bad? NO. Whew...that feels better.