Hello Crew, I wanted to post a thread like this before with regards to people we meet that "rip up" on us for being model railroaders.
The "Why do model trains get such bad raps" thread is a good one, but guys if you are indeed put down or "dissed" by relatives, coworkers, or brain-cell-deficient snobs.....then stay cool and don't sweat it!
This or a similar approach may likely work for us. I've posted the following before:
My favorite approach is to calmly smile at the offender......name a few famous people that are or were model railroaders.......and then tell him/her that by a mile this hobby beats going to a bar or night club several times a week, smelling expensive perfume and cologne mixed in with unspeakable body odors, and dumping hard earned money on alcohol laden drinks that are going to wind up in a toilet within the hour. (Funny, but that's what Hollywood says is cool!). In most cases he/she actually thinks about it......and agrees!
My wife's cousin used to spend money like water going to strip clubs. He told me that he finally woke up one, day over a decade ago, and realized that HO locomotives and rolling stock provided far more satisfaction and were much cheaper. Now he often talks about the joy he gets out of this hobby.
If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them.
Guys, feel pity for healthy people who are so shallow that they spend countless hours watching that tube, smoking weed, or getting plastered on booze. Many of them won't routinely work on things, big or small, that help the mind expand its horizons, make one a more alert person, and become a person that is an excellent source for creative ideas! I've had my disagreements with some of you here, yet I think I would enjoy running into you at a convention or train show.
Haven't some of you noticed that many talented "hot shot" architects put together impressive models of buildings out of cheap prefabricated or raw materials? Another fact: Hobbiests have far lower rates of depression! How many of us have heard the doctor's cliche': Get a Hobby!
Guys, wake up! Model railroaders are among the most creative people that you will meet. That's you! If you doubt that, then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer.
Being in this or other scale hobby indicates that you all are sharper than you probably realize......
Peace and High Greens
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Antonio--
If there's ever an opening for Emperor of the World, I think I'll nominate you.
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!
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I think being a model railroader is like holding your wife's purse. As long as you have confidence, no one's going to give you crap.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I've never had to use them, but I've got a choice of 2 responses worked out.
No.1 I model the transition era and what scenery I have is a "big city" area complete w/ a downtown and steel mill. If ever challenged, I plan to ask if, instead of a 3 dimensional, kinescetic, multi-media representation of America at its industrial peak, I'd chosen to paint a mural in acrylic on the same area (49 ft of wall) and subject would they still have considered it "Playing with toys"? If not, is the problem my activity or their perception?
No.2 If they just can't get away from the idea that it's a "silly waste of time", I'll point out that that's true for almost any recreational activity. When you get right down to it that description fits any nimber of activities. Tennis, swatting a fuzzy ball back and forth over a net; golf, knocking a little ball into 18 consecutive holes in the ground in the minimum number of swats; collecting used stamps that can't be used to mail a letter....the examples are endless. The value of recreational pursuits lies not in the activity, but in the recreation.
Yes, my point exactly! Whoever says model railroaders are all nerdy losers and anti-social send them my way! I'll get them straightened out!
Posh and piffle on all this debate, its dark outside and that is a GREAT time to run a garden railroad. See you guys in the morning, I've got a fast freight and passenger tourist run on the track. Lights, steam, action!
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
loathar wrote:I personally wouldn't mind having a hotty give me a lap dance while I was detailing my Mikado.
Off topic, but I wonder if that's why I have 5 kids?
AntonioFP45 wrote: Hello Crew, I wanted to post a thread like this before with regards to people we meet that "rip up" on us for being model railroaders.The "Why do model trains get such bad raps" thread is a good one, but guys if you are indeed put down or "dissed" by relatives, coworkers, or brain-cell-deficient snobs.....then stay cool and don't sweat it!This or a similar approach may likely work for us. I've posted the following before:My favorite approach is to calmly smile at the offender......name a few famous people that are or were model railroaders.......and then tell him/her that by a mile this hobby beats going to a bar or night club several times a week, smelling expensive perfume and cologne mixed in with unspeakable body odors, and dumping hard earned money on alcohol laden drinks that are going to wind up in a toilet within the hour. (Funny, but that's what Hollywood says is cool!). In most cases he/she actually thinks about it......and agrees!My wife's cousin used to spend money like water going to strip clubs. He told me that he finally woke up one, day over a decade ago, and realized that HO locomotives and rolling stock provided far more satisfaction and were much cheaper. Now he often talks about the joy he gets out of this hobby.If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them. Guys, feel pity for healthy people who are so shallow that they spend countless hours watching that tube, smoking weed, or getting plastered on booze. Many of them won't routinely work on things, big or small, that help the mind expand its horizons, make one a more alert person, and become a person that is an excellent source for creative ideas! I've had my disagreements with some of you here, yet I think I would enjoy running into you at a convention or train show. Haven't some of you noticed that many talented "hot shot" architects put together impressive models of buildings out of cheap prefabricated or raw materials? Another fact: Hobbiests have far lower rates of depression! How many of us have heard the doctor's cliche': Get a Hobby!Guys, wake up! Model railroaders are among the most creative people that you will meet. That's you! If you doubt that, then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer. Being in this or other scale hobby indicates that you all are sharper than you probably realize......Peace and High Greens
Antonio, did you create this thread just to make me feel better about my sister's put down ?.
Actually, there are a lot of people out there that don't understand us railroaders - or any other hobby for that matter. Like you said, if they can't drink it, drive it, eat it or smoke it, it's stupid in their book... I'm not much of a people person anymore, and have as of yet to come across a steam or diesel loco that's lied to me, stollen from me, tried to scam me, etc. All they've ever done is bring me joy which is something I haven't known much of in my life.
Tracklayer
Antonio,After 56 years in the hobby it doesn't matter what others think..After all most have beer guts and are couch potatoes and whizzing their life away doing absolutely nothing while listening to their arteries harden...What type of life is that?
Tracklayer.90% of my friends are modelers..5% are slot car racers and the last 5% are fisherman..
Birds of a feather you see.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Here's another check...I was manning the NMRA Clinic booth at the Olympia Lion's Club RR Swap Meet this past Saturday. I had the usual safety brochures, World's Greatest Hobby handouts, give-away key chains and the maps for the local Home Layout tour taking place that day.
Wonderful people were coming by all morning and while not selling anything, we were in a good spot for the crowd coming around the end of one of the rows of vendors. Kids were asking for the coloring book, the adults were interested in the layout tour and the Amtrak brochure.
This one man came up and started looking through the WGH handout and he asked me how come they call it the World's Greatest Hobby? I asked him what hobby or sport he did in his spare time. He told me snow mobiling. I said ok.
Then I told him, "When you go snow mobiling, you have to purchase or rent a snow mobile at X dollars, drive to a (usually) restricted place to do the snow mobiling, limit yourself to doing your hobby only during a certain time of the year. So the hobby, while fun, has it's limitations.
Model railroading, however, involves many different things: carpentry, electrical and/or electronics work, kit building, equipment maintenance, scenery, planning, space useage, budgeting, painting, possible computer work and several other activities that help you enjoy the hobby. You get to do it at home or in a club with your contemporaries. Yes, you can spend big bucks; but you don't HAVE to. For vacations, you are not limited to one activity, you can go anywhere and include railfanning along the way, or even do dedicated research into your favorite road.
By this time, there were two or three other people listening in to our conversation. One guy added that there are a number of national magazines that help the model railroader and provide resources to help you build your layout. The man was nodding affirmatively and thanked me for the thoughts. Maybe we have another convert?! Who knows.
After the day was over, the NMRA group met at the super's house for pizza and several of the tour locations told us they close to 100 visitors that day.....so the interest MUST be there!!
So, if someone rips you for doing a hobby you like....no big deal. I'll bet they just never THOUGHT about it.
Quote-as of yet to come across a steam or diesel loco that's lied to me,
Guess you haven't bought any IHC diesels.(OK, maybe it was the actual ad that lied.)
I get a kick out of the people that shake their heads about how expensive and dumb our hobby is and then try and justify owning a $15k bass boat or a pricey quad runner and hunting gear to "feed their family"
Wow, no one has ever given me crap about model railroading.
Many people are surprised when they find out I'm doing it, but then invariably, they say that either they or a family member used to, or they're interested in getting into it.
Even my so-called "cool" friends think it's neat that I do this.
If people are giving you guff about it, you need to associate with different people!
Few, if any, hobbies are as wholesome as ours.
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
I don't think I could have said it better myself. Well done, Well done!!!!
I think we as model railroaders have the most talent of almost any hobbiest. The model railroad world has become so realistic that I almost can believe it. Thanks for pitching in your time to explain this.
Happy railroading
James
BRAKIE wrote: Antonio,After 56 years in the hobby it doesn't matter what others think..After all most have beer guts and are couch potatoes and whizzing their life away doing absolutely nothing while listening to their arteries harden...What type of life is that? Tracklayer.90% of my friends are modelers..5% are slot car racers and the last 5% are fisherman..Birds of a feather you see.
I hear you BRAKIE. The problem for me is that I live in a farm and ranch area where very few people have any kind of hobby at all, and spend the biggest part of their time working. That's why I'm always either out in my train room messing with my layout or trains, reading a train book, watching a train video or on the forum here pestering you folks...
AntonioFP45 wrote: If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them.
Hoople wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them. YAY!!! Another house fan!!!
Yah, I like House, and like Antonio, I also like Law and Order. I think that basically, we're all pretty damned INTELLIGENT people, right?
Most of my friends are like me, musicians. And most of my musician friends think that my model railroad is really COOL! (Yes, we still use that great Jazz term, because it works!). Funny thing, though, as I said on another post, a lot of my high school students have discovered my Website, and THEY think it's Cool, also. "Yo, dude, you seen Mr. White's TRAINS? WOW!"
Hey, when it works, it WORKS, LOL!
Tracklayer wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: Hello Crew, I wanted to post a thread like this before with regards to people we meet that "rip up" on us for being model railroaders.The "Why do model trains get such bad raps" thread is a good one, but guys if you are indeed put down or "dissed" by relatives, coworkers, or brain-cell-deficient snobs.....then stay cool and don't sweat it!This or a similar approach may likely work for us. I've posted the following before:My favorite approach is to calmly smile at the offender......name a few famous people that are or were model railroaders.......and then tell him/her that by a mile this hobby beats going to a bar or night club several times a week, smelling expensive perfume and cologne mixed in with unspeakable body odors, and dumping hard earned money on alcohol laden drinks that are going to wind up in a toilet within the hour. (Funny, but that's what Hollywood says is cool!). In most cases he/she actually thinks about it......and agrees!My wife's cousin used to spend money like water going to strip clubs. He told me that he finally woke up one, day over a decade ago, and realized that HO locomotives and rolling stock provided far more satisfaction and were much cheaper. Now he often talks about the joy he gets out of this hobby.If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them. Guys, feel pity for healthy people who are so shallow that they spend countless hours watching that tube, smoking weed, or getting plastered on booze. Many of them won't routinely work on things, big or small, that help the mind expand its horizons, make one a more alert person, and become a person that is an excellent source for creative ideas! I've had my disagreements with some of you here, yet I think I would enjoy running into you at a convention or train show. Haven't some of you noticed that many talented "hot shot" architects put together impressive models of buildings out of cheap prefabricated or raw materials? Another fact: Hobbiests have far lower rates of depression! How many of us have heard the doctor's cliche': Get a Hobby!Guys, wake up! Model railroaders are among the most creative people that you will meet. That's you! If you doubt that, then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer. Being in this or other scale hobby indicates that you all are sharper than you probably realize......Peace and High Greens Antonio, did you create this thread just to make me feel better about my sister's put down ?.Actually, there are a lot of people out there that don't understand us railroaders - or any other hobby for that matter. Like you said, if they can't drink it, drive it, eat it or smoke it, it's stupid in their book... I'm not much of a people person anymore, and have as of yet to come across a steam or diesel loco that's lied to me, stollen from me, tried to scam me, etc. All they've ever done is bring me joy which is something I haven't known much of in my life.Tracklayer
Tracklayer--
I really should introduce your sister to MY sister--the Straightening Out Process would take about two minutes (without any violence) and your sister would be one of your best promoters. She's been one of my biggest fans for over forty years, and so is her son and grand-son. Every time they're down--which is frequently--we're all in the garage, running trains. Now, THAT'S family! The lady is worth her weight in Platinum.
"How often have you have seen a motorcycle parked in from of a psychiatrist's office?"
AntonioFP45 wrote:Hello Crew, I wanted to post a thread like this before with regards to people we meet that "rip up" on us for being model railroaders.The "Why do model trains get such bad raps" thread is a good one, but guys if you are indeed put down or "dissed" by relatives, coworkers, or brain-cell-deficient snobs.....then stay cool and don't sweat it!This or a similar approach may likely work for us. I've posted the following before:My favorite approach is to calmly smile at the offender......name a few famous people that are or were model railroaders.......and then tell him/her that by a mile this hobby beats going to a bar or night club several times a week, smelling expensive perfume and cologne mixed in with unspeakable body odors, and dumping hard earned money on alcohol laden drinks that are going to wind up in a toilet within the hour. (Funny, but that's what Hollywood says is cool!). In most cases he/she actually thinks about it......and agrees!My wife's cousin used to spend money like water going to strip clubs. He told me that he finally woke up one, day over a decade ago, and realized that HO locomotives and rolling stock provided far more satisfaction and were much cheaper. Now he often talks about the joy he gets out of this hobby.If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them. Guys, feel pity for healthy people who are so shallow that they spend countless hours watching that tube, smoking weed, or getting plastered on booze. Many of them won't routinely work on things, big or small, that help the mind expand its horizons, make one a more alert person, and become a person that is an excellent source for creative ideas! I've had my disagreements with some of you here, yet I think I would enjoy running into you at a convention or train show. Haven't some of you noticed that many talented "hot shot" architects put together impressive models of buildings out of cheap prefabricated or raw materials? Another fact: Hobbiests have far lower rates of depression! How many of us have heard the doctor's cliche': Get a Hobby!Guys, wake up! Model railroaders are among the most creative people that you will meet. That's you! If you doubt that, then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer. Being in this or other scale hobby indicates that you all are sharper than you probably realize......Peace and High Greens
Although I've never had any negative reactions when I tell people I'm into model railroading (heck, that's one reason why I like living in the San francisco Bay Area where there's a high tolerance and acceptance for non-mainstream interests) I agree it's MUCH cheaper than going to bars and nightclubs. In the past I used to waist more money in bars in a week than the cost of one brass steam loco (in HO).
As for the shows Law and Order and House, I like those shows too.
AntonioFP45 wrote:then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer.
Antonio: I fully agree with you on this topic. Also where is this famous model railroaders thread?
P.S. House rules
SpaceMouse wrote:I think being a model railroader is like holding your wife's purse. As long as you have confidence, no one's going to give you crap.
If I ever have to carry or hold my wife's purse for some reason, I usually either tuck it under my arm or hold onto the flap like I would a lunch bag. If anyone says to me, "Hey, I like your purse", I usually smile and pleasantly respond back by saying, "Thanks. My blue one actually looks nicer with this outfit...but I left it at home."
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
bb4884 wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote:then look at the names on the "famous model railroaders" thread and mention them next time you meet a naysayer. Antonio: I fully agree with you on this topic. Also where is this famous model railroaders thread? P.S. House rules
tstage wrote: SpaceMouse wrote:I think being a model railroader is like holding your wife's purse. As long as you have confidence, no one's going to give you crap. If I ever have to carry or hold my wife's purse for some reason, I usually either tuck it under my arm or hold onto the flap like I would a lunch bag. If anyone says to me, "Hey, I like your purse", I usually smile and pleasantly respond back by saying, "Thanks. My blue one actually looks nicer with this outfit...but I left it at home." Tom
ROFLMAO!!!! Anyway, I must say, like anything, if you carry a big stick and walk softly, there are no problems. Really, I have NEVER been put down (beyond a raised eyebrow) about my hobbies (from flyfishing to model railroading)... granted, I live in the Pacific NW which is a pretty tolerant area, but I think if you are confident and express the pleasure and positive aspects, it is kind of hard to knock this hobby. I actually get lots of fun requests at work from the nurses asking me about my model railroading and how it is going (including requests for pictures!). Of course, my first year at my new job, they gave me a shirt at the Holiday party saying "Still plays with TRAINS"... I laughed and WEAR it with PRIDE... of course, in context, I am a pediatric doc, so it is kinda cool to have an inner child at work. Plus, it coulda been worse... my bald colleague who started at the same time got a book about hair.... LOL...
Brian
loathar wrote:I get a kick out of the people that shake their heads about how expensive and dumb our hobby is and then try and justify owning a $15k bass boat or a pricey quad runner and hunting gear to "feed their family"
$15K? Maybe 25 years ago when I bought mine. Hate ta tell ya this but a middle "grade" BBoat pushes $30K and the ones like many of the pros use are now pushing $60K.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
Left Coast Rail wrote:One of my other hobbies is riding motorcycles. I'll borrow a quote often used by motorcyclists:"How often have you have seen a motorcycle parked in from of a psychiatrist's office?"Think about it. I think the same can be said about most of the vehicles (2, 4 and more wheel) that we all drive.
More correctly it's " How often have you seen a TRIUMPH motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist's office" I've seen plenty of Hogs there, must be because of the payments.....
Back to topic, I had a blast last night running my garden RR. NOTHING better than a cool evening lit by a warm headlight from a locomotive. Cup of hot coffee on the lawn chair and my wife to keep me company (and to shoo the cat away from the train), dudes and dudettes, life cannot possibly be better than this.
Tracklayer wrote: BRAKIE wrote: Antonio,After 56 years in the hobby it doesn't matter what others think..After all most have beer guts and are couch potatoes and whizzing their life away doing absolutely nothing while listening to their arteries harden...What type of life is that? Tracklayer.90% of my friends are modelers..5% are slot car racers and the last 5% are fisherman..Birds of a feather you see. I hear you BRAKIE. The problem for me is that I live in a farm and ranch area where very few people have any kind of hobby at all, and spend the biggest part of their time working. That's why I'm always either out in my train room messing with my layout or trains, reading a train book, watching a train video or on the forum here pestering you folks...Tracklayer
Tracklayer,I understand you situation all to well.You see after being laid off of CSX I lived in a very small town in Kentucky for a year..I was isolated from any club or fellow modelers..The nearest hobby shop was 65 miles away.
I don't think you pester anybody on this forum.
tangerine-jack wrote: Left Coast Rail wrote:One of my other hobbies is riding motorcycles. I'll borrow a quote often used by motorcyclists:"How often have you have seen a motorcycle parked in from of a psychiatrist's office?"Think about it. I think the same can be said about most of the vehicles (2, 4 and more wheel) that we all drive.More correctly it's " How often have you seen a TRIUMPH motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist's office" I've seen plenty of Hogs there, must be because of the payments.....Back to topic, I had a blast last night running my garden RR. NOTHING better than a cool evening lit by a warm headlight from a locomotive. Cup of hot coffee on the lawn chair and my wife to keep me company (and to shoo the cat away from the train), dudes and dudettes, life cannot possibly be better than this.
twhite wrote: Hoople wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: If you watch tv, tune into shows that you get something positive out of. Sometimes I do watch Law and Order and House since the characters have personalities with some realistic "depth" and "flaws" to them. YAY!!! Another house fan!!!Yah, I like House, and like Antonio, I also like Law and Order. I think that basically, we're all pretty damned INTELLIGENT people, right? Most of my friends are like me, musicians. And most of my musician friends think that my model railroad is really COOL! (Yes, we still use that great Jazz term, because it works!). Funny thing, though, as I said on another post, a lot of my high school students have discovered my Website, and THEY think it's Cool, also. "Yo, dude, you seen Mr. White's TRAINS? WOW!"
I just hit them with it.
Take that you big brute you!