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Re: warning to all forum readers...

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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:54 PM
 davidmbedard wrote:

Fact-Teachers are underpayed.



This statement has more holes in it than a spaghetti colander!!!

All publically employed people are underpaid; if you don't believe this ask all publically employed people! This is one of them things put out by the AFT designed to generate political support during elections.  After all, no teacher can be a good teacher if they are underpaid!!! Here son! let's bury our posteriers here on the couch and watch inane movies or comedy shows for the next three hours!!!

GOOD SPELLERS ARE GOOD READERS!!! Get your offspring to bury his nose in a book and see how fast his spelling improves. Note: I misspelled a word in an email to my daughter awhile back and got called to task for it; my kids read and spell very well because I turned the TV off for almost four years in the late-'60s and early-'70s!  They had a fit; then I couldn't get their noses out of a book.  PRAISE THE LORD!!! 

If you were to announce that the complete federal budget will go to education and all teachers will be paid a million dollars a year the AFT would whine that "teachers are underpaid!!!".  The AFT deliberately left this off the screaming session during the 2004 election because Bush II had increased the federal education budget 37% in four years!!!

Now I've wetted my appetite for spaghetti tonight!!!

Oh yeah! and by the way I don't know how many people spotted it but I deliberately misspelled 'publicly' twice in the second paragraph of this monograph.

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by Canondale61 on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:53 PM

I agree with what Jon168 saying about this one kid having some serious issues. But any one who replies or responds to outragous statements are giving him what he craves and is looking for; Attention. When kids are troubled or ignored, they may act out in order to get the attention they need, negative attention is better then no attention. Some of the foster children that come thru our home do this repeatedly. They try to create arguments and fights because they are uncomfortable with "normalacy". So as many have said proper response when he asks reasonable questions, and ignoring him when he "acts out" is the best thing we can do. Continuously badgering him gives him what he craves.

KevinMy 2 cents [2c]

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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:33 PM
 jeffrey-wimberly wrote:
Quit passing the buck to teachers. Good teaching starts at home.


Another one of them thar good points!!!

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:27 PM
 jeffrey-wimberly wrote:
Anybody can be destructive. Try being constructive for a change. I read UPChuck's posts and however I felt about them was how I replied. If I thought he was lying I didn't give it the time of day. On the other hand, if I thought he had a good question, I gave advice accordingly. The ONLY TIME I called him an outright liar was when he posted a pic of one of Yardbird's loco's and claimed it as his own. Additionally, I never took a swipe at him just to be spiteful or hateful.


Good point there, jeffrey-wimberly; you always make good points.

A month or so back unionpacificchuck ask a question and I gave it a (serious) answer.  Then a whole bunch of people came up on the forum and said that he was pulling everyone's chain.  I came back and reponded that I didn't care whether he was pulling everyone's chain or not; his question had been a good one and I answered it accordingly.

I have occasionally pointed jibes at questions or answers here on the forum; I have always tried to avoid being outright abusive - and I have been called to task a couple of times myself sometimes abusively.  I spent twenty years and a few days in the Air Force and I learned very early in my career how easy it was to transport myself beyond the orbit of mars and let all the yelling and screaming and criticism float around in the vacuum around me!!! I got along great ignoring people.  

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by JON168 on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:23 PM

I didn't get to see first hand the last postings of upchuck, I did get them sent to me via email........along with some of the replies.

 I was also there when upchuck got banned at Bachmann, and if any of you think this is type of behavior is ok and we should just offer ''brotherly guidance'', MAN DID YOU MISS THE BOAT!!! this kid has some serious issues, this type of acting out is a red flag, unless something is done to stop the pattern of lies and outrageous behavior, this kid is going to land himself in real trouble.

 Several posters were chastised by others for ''hasseling'' [i.e. guiding him], now you say we should ''guide'' him.....make up your mind....do nothing or do something?? which do you want???

 If you allow this type of behavior to continue, then later on you will have problems that can't be solved. I agree with the post about using shame as a deterrent, it works.

 I know that not all of the younger posters are like upchuck, and I don't group them in with him, he is a special case, and when you say ''kids'' or ''young members'' it sounds like you mean all of them, if you have issues with one particular member then use that members name....that way the other ''kids'' won't feel picked on because they're young.

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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:22 PM
 TrainManTy wrote:

My 2 year old brother now loves Thomas. He also loves the "twains in basement" as he calls them!Big Smile [:D]

That's cute. Another model railroader in the making. Wink [;)]

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:16 PM
 Azure wrote:

Hrmmm....

Im actually really happy that some younger people are on here. Yep, they are young. Who cares? I was young once. I miss it. The model railroading hobby isnt anywhere near as popular among teens or young adults now because of video games, cable tv, etc. as it once was. The fact that several of the posts on here are from younger people is kind of encouraging!

A couple of things to consider, before trying to run anyone away, especially younger modelers.

Kids have money. Money attracts businesses. Businesses make us model trains to play with! Thomas and Friends is a way to attract young children to trains (and a great one it is, lead paint and all) But when they are past the Thomas age, and want to move on to something more realistic...where do they go? Ahh, the internet! And many will probably find their way to a forum with as many posts and users as this one. How would you have responded when you first got into modeling, if all the people you encountered were extremely rude and critical? I used to LOVE antique cars. After a few years in that hobby, and dealing with every form of scumbag and ripoff artist and jerk that came along with it, i sold my 1968 Buick and never looked back.

Lying, claiming to know it all, etc...yeah, i can remember doing that. Im 30, so it wasnt so long ago for me i suppose, so maybe my memory is clearer. I dunno. I have no problem pointing out that you caught someone in a lie, but starting a post just to hack the kid down is kinda...wrong.

Thanks! I was in love with the Thomas stuff, then I switched to HO, but wen I was between my 1st layout and my 2nd I used the old Thomas stuff, and I figured out that it's hard to do realistic operation with Thomas! I am now on my 7th layout, which actually has scenery!Big Smile [:D] My 2 year old brother now loves Thomas. He also loves the "twains in basement" as he calls them!Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:12 PM
 davidmbedard wrote:

I think part of the perception of young people can been seen in how some young people post in these forums.  The posts are composed of many, many spelling mistakes (not that I am perfect, but I try to have correct spelling), run-on sentence fragments and unclear ideas.

Trying to 'decode' these posts can be difficult at times and unfortunately responses tend to reflect this difficulty.

As an example.....(sorry Jake)

"I AGREE! everyone thinks because were "younger" we arn't as responasbile can't do things right can't listen! well we can't pefectly because were kids but there are some of us out there who are good kids and it's just not fair to generalize (sp?) like that"

I had to read his post 3 times to make sure I understood what he meant.  But his post just seems like he didn't care how it was written.  He didn't take time to make sure his ideas were clear.  Hence, why I posted.

I hate to generalize, but this seems to be the norm for younger persons (and of course, there are exceptions). 

As per UPchuck, he is a dead horse.  Do we really need to keep kicking?

David B

I have better grammar than you.

Alex Czajkowski
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:46 PM

Hrmmm....

Im actually really happy that some younger people are on here. Yep, they are young. Who cares? I was young once. I miss it. The model railroading hobby isnt anywhere near as popular among teens or young adults now because of video games, cable tv, etc. as it once was. The fact that several of the posts on here are from younger people is kind of encouraging!

A couple of things to consider, before trying to run anyone away, especially younger modelers.

Kids have money. Money attracts businesses. Businesses make us model trains to play with! Thomas and Friends is a way to attract young children to trains (and a great one it is, lead paint and all) But when they are past the Thomas age, and want to move on to something more realistic...where do they go? Ahh, the internet! And many will probably find their way to a forum with as many posts and users as this one. How would you have responded when you first got into modeling, if all the people you encountered were extremely rude and critical? I used to LOVE antique cars. After a few years in that hobby, and dealing with every form of scumbag and ripoff artist and jerk that came along with it, i sold my 1968 Buick and never looked back.

Lying, claiming to know it all, etc...yeah, i can remember doing that. Im 30, so it wasnt so long ago for me i suppose, so maybe my memory is clearer. I dunno. I have no problem pointing out that you caught someone in a lie, but starting a post just to hack the kid down is kinda...wrong.

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Posted by Midnight Railroader on Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:39 PM
 davidmbedard wrote:

Fact-Teachers are underpayed.

Fact: Everyone says they are underpaid.

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Posted by Midnight Railroader on Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:37 PM
 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
Who knows, I could even know more than you.

Or maybe you don't. And suggesting you do negates your previous line about respect.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:51 PM
 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
 DingySP wrote:

I'm new here too...

But the answer to your question is: kids

Why because I'm a kid I can't be good modeler?

A good communicator?

A good information source?

Stop discriminating us, for our age.

I respect you older guys because you are wiser and have more experience (most anyways).

Who knows, I could even know more than you.

So, stop right there.

I agree. I have found everybody great here, I'm probably one of the youngest members here; 13, and I have never been insulted or anything.

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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:41 PM

It's clear that the original poster has been trying to goad and cajole UPChuck into further flame wars, based on this thread and his comments in others. If he's this bored with summer vacation already, perhaps he needs Mom & Dad to plan something constructive, like 3 months of boot camp.

CPRail, GROW UP!

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Posted by simon1966 on Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:34 PM
Being one of the largest and most visible of the MRR forums on the web this place will always attract trolls and folks determined to stamp their particular brand of behaviour of others.  We would all do well to simply ignore these individuals.  Threads like this simply give them the attention they desire.  Better to let them fade into oblivion, they are not worth the effort.

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

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:24 PM

I'm away from these particular forums for several months, and I return to the same nonsense that I left from.

Dunce [D)]

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Posted by stokesda on Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:16 PM

~yawn~

There's been too much philosophizing, criticism, over-analysis ad nauseum, etc on this forum in the past couple of months, IMHO. (For those of you who are not IM-savvy, that means "in my humble opinion"... I think. I'm not exactly IM savvy myself Tongue [:P]).

Life is too short. I'm going back to my trains (or at least daydreaming about them for the moment).

mmmmm..... traaaains....

Now, where's that thread on ballasting I was looking for...

Dan Stokes

My other car is a tunnel motor

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Posted by selector on Saturday, June 16, 2007 11:40 AM

You guys are running in sixteen different directions.  Tom is saying, if he will permit me to paraphrase, "Address the behaviour, not the person doing it."  If you find what this clearly troubled young fellow says to be objectionable, then deal with what is objectionable, but don't deride the person.  It is un-Christian (if you feel that pertains), unethical, and just bad logic.

Also, modeling good behaviour involves addressing the issues, not taking the argument to the person...as in an ad hominem. 

Thirdly, many folks, from the ages of about 8-58 are using text messaging in increasing numbers, and that form of communication is expensive.  So, they use an alternative to fully grammatical and fully spelled text...not out of ignorance or disrespect, but because it is efficient.  If you want him to understand that you find it difficult to communicate with him because his cryptic text is too problematic for you...say as much.  Let him do what he feels is necessary to engage you.  If he declines, you can also decline to have anything more to do with him.  But the attacks here, frankly, are puerile and do nothing for the forum.  They also do him not one bit of good.  If you do it to beat him down, then it says much more about you than it does about him, in my opinion.

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, June 16, 2007 11:29 AM
Quit passing the buck to teachers. Good teaching starts at home.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 11:25 AM
 davidmbedard wrote:

I think part of the perception of young people can been seen in how some young people post in these forums.  The posts are composed of many, many spelling mistakes (not that I am perfect, but I try to have correct spelling), run-on sentence fragments and unclear ideas.

Trying to 'decode' these posts can be difficult at times and unfortunately responses tend to reflect this difficulty.

I hate to generalize, but this seems to be the norm for younger persons (and of course, there are exceptions). 

David B

Part of the problem is the loss of proper english writing classes.

In the internet age, proper english had rotted to:

LOL, OMG!, BYOB, BBL etc...

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Posted by DingySP on Saturday, June 16, 2007 11:14 AM

Sorry Jake.

I was referring to the kid who started this thread, not to kids in general.

Keepin' it Dingy
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Posted by bighead on Saturday, June 16, 2007 10:58 AM
 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
 DingySP wrote:

I'm new here too...

But the answer to your question is: kids

Why because I'm a kid I can't be good modeler?

A good communicator?

A good information source?

Stop discriminating us, for our age.

I respect you older guys because you are wiser and have more experience (most anyways).

Who knows, I could even know more than you.

So, stop right there.

  I AGREE! everyone thinks because were "younger" we arn't as responasbile can't do things right can't listen! well we can't pefectly because were kids but there are some of us out there who are good kids and it's just not fair to generalize (sp?) like that

-jake

 

What do you call a freight train full of bubble gum? A chew chew train! :] T.R. quote: "A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." visit: http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s74/bighead98565/
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Posted by pcarrell on Saturday, June 16, 2007 9:23 AM

Tom (tstage),

Thank you for being the voice of reason in this difficult situation.  It's not always easy to give another chance to someone and to be there for them, especially when they sometimes don't respond in a positive way.  I applaude your attitude and support all that you've said.

I've not had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman in question myself, but should that happen, I hope to model the same attitudes that you have here.

I should hope that we would all hold such grace for one another.

Thank You!

Philip
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 8:44 AM
 TrainManTy wrote:

What is going on? Why is everybody so mad at UPChuck?

I've been busy all week, I guess I missed a lot. 

Oh, nothing much. Just a few lies, some truth and a little bit of fatherly advice from some on these forums followed by the Moderator's Deletion.

Some apparently want the drama to never end.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 16, 2007 8:28 AM

What is going on? Why is everybody so mad at UPChuck?

I've been busy all week, I guess I missed a lot. 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, June 16, 2007 5:45 AM
Anybody can be destructive. Try being constructive for a change. I read UPChuck's posts and however I felt about them was how I replied. If I thought he was lying I didn't give it the time of day. On the other hand, if I thought he had a good question, I gave advice accordingly. The ONLY TIME I called him an outright liar was when he posted a pic of one of Yardbird's loco's and claimed it as his own. Additionally, I never took a swipe at him just to be spiteful or hateful.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by twcenterprises on Saturday, June 16, 2007 4:10 AM

Where is the "Delete Thread" button?  Oh, wait, I'm not a moderator...... sorry, never mind.

Brad 

EMD - Every Model Different

ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil

CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts

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Posted by DingySP on Saturday, June 16, 2007 3:03 AM
 MilwaukeeRoad wrote:
 DingySP wrote:

I'm new here too...

But the answer to your question is: kids

Why because I'm a kid I can't be good modeler?

A good communicator?

A good information source?

Stop discriminating us, for our age.

I respect you older guys because you are wiser and have more experience (most anyways).

Who knows, I could even know more than you.

So, stop right there.

Well, my post was directed at the OP, not you. Do you think this was started for any reason other than to start a fight?

Keepin' it Dingy
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Posted by MilwaukeeRoad on Saturday, June 16, 2007 2:09 AM
 DingySP wrote:

I'm new here too...

But the answer to your question is: kids

Why because I'm a kid I can't be good modeler?

A good communicator?

A good information source?

Stop discriminating us, for our age.

I respect you older guys because you are wiser and have more experience (most anyways).

Who knows, I could even know more than you.

So, stop right there.

Alex Czajkowski
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Posted by steemtrayn on Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:56 AM
If you are so annoyed by his posts, you can always just skip over them and read something else. I, on the other hand, find the whole thing amusing.
Moderator
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Posted by tstage on Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:39 AM
 CPRail modeler wrote:
 tstage wrote:

CPRail,

In the wee hours of Thursday AM, UPChuck initially stated that he was leaving the forum.  After some public discourse and a bit of hard nose father-to-son lecturing by a few of us, he changed his mind.  The thread apparently was deleted late Thursday AM by Bergie and I haven't seen UPChuck since.

I think we need to purpose to:

  1. Continue to keep a brotherly eye on UPChuck,
  2. Encourage him in his modeling endeavors,
  3. Allow him to "grow up" and mature as a young man,
  4. Be lovingly stern with him when he does fall back into his old habits and ways, AND...
  5. Lay off (stop) deridding him at every opportunity.
We need to build this young man up rather than continually tear him down.

Tom

so what your saying is lay off the guy? have you read some of his threads? search "UnionPacificChuck" on this site and maybe you will see what i am talking about.

CPRail,

No.  Reread points 1 through 5.  When you have finished doing that, reread them again.  What I'm saying is: Take a proactive and productive approach to dealing with UPChuck instead of looking for every opportunity to verbally and publicly take a punch at him. 

It's almost uncanny that there are a certain number of forum members who surprisingly only seem to show up and post when UPChuck comments about something.  When he does, they pounce on him like a pack of hungry dogs and seem to find much enjoyment and glee in stirring him into a frenzy.  CPRail, I'm NOT saying you are one of them.  I'm merely stating an observation that I've been making during this whole ordeal.

I'm VERY aware of UPChuck's (UPNut, etc.) past antics and failures over the last couple of months here on this forum.  I'm also aware that he has a previous track record on other venues, like the Bachmann forum.  What I don't care for is the incessant railing on the kid every chance some get.  I see this as just another way of taking a shot at UPChuck.

As I said in the thread on Thursday, tearing something down (destruction) is easy.  Building something up (construction) is much more difficult and takes more effort...but the end results are worth it.  Keep in mind the old verse:

"He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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