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Foamers

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:57 PM

  Would this thread fall into the old sticks and stones saying from my youth? For the youngsters on this site that was "Sticks and stones can break your bones but names will never harm you"

  Call me what you want but dont call me late for dinner.

    Pete
 

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Ely, Nv.
  • 6,312 posts
Posted by chad thomas on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:29 PM

I wrote this a few years ago but I though some that haven't seen it might get a laugh:

 

This might help you understand what a foamer is:
==============================================================================
Railfan vs Foamer

Definitions:

Railfan...An otherwise normal person that enjoys the persuit of railroad related activities.
That could be one or more of many sub intrests includeing but not limited to observing,
photographing,reasearching,studying,discussing,modeling or just plain following the railroads
of both past,present or future. These people are hard to spot in other circles as they are
functional in normal society.

Foamer...One that aparently looses all mental controll when one or more of the following occure:
1) they are in the presence of a: A) a train B) railroad tracks (and in some places railroad
property(s)) C) a piece of railroad memorabilia or D) a conversation or any other communication
related to the subject of railroading. They are easy to detect as most of them are social
disaster areas anyway.

Railroader (non railfan)...One that couldn't care less what the rest of us falling into the
other categorys think(s) about them or there company. They are the ones that are there to do
a job, earn a liveing and make it home safely every day till retirement.


Railroader (closet railfan)...One that typicaly enjoys there job wether they admit it or not.
They are most likley to be industry insider participants of railroad related forums. they are
fairly easy members to spot as they typicaly use aliases (to protect the innocent of course)
but are otherwise forthright with there experiences and opinions,reguardless of what the foamers
think.

Railroader (and railfan)..one that enjoys there profession and is willing to share there
experiences and/or wisdom with the rest of the railfan community. They are easy to spot due
to there honesty,integrity and passion for railroading and railroad related subjects while
feeling no need to hide there identity.

**********************************************************************************************

relationshps:

railfan-Foamer....The railfan will tolerate the foamer either out of pitty or compassion for
the mentaly challenged that enjoy the same hobby, even when it may damage there reputation....
the foamer will generaly cling on to the railfan because they are not just willing to talk to them
but are also socialy acceptable members of society.

railfan-railroader(non railfan)...The railfan typicaly feels self concious when a railroader gives
that look that says "get a life"...The railroader usually gives the railfan that "Get a life look"
that comes so naturaly to them.

Railfan-railroader(closet railfan)...railfans typicaly cater to the closet railroader's ego when
they feel they will not have there cover blown and therefore are paid back in special favors in
many varying ways in which railfans tend to exploit but not abuse...Closet railfan railroaders
are a goldmine for the railfan because when they know they can get away with it they will show
off for the railfan in a multitude of ways that are always benificial and thoughly apriciated by
most all railfans. This is typicaly a most benificial relationship as long as the railfan does
not take the closet foamer down front street.

Railfan-railfan/railroader...This tends to be the best kind of relationship as each party tends to
have a level head and doesn't get to inflated about who or what they are and for the most part are
intelegent,wise and compassionate members of society.

Foamer-non railfan railroader...The worst possable match. The Foamer is typicaly a "social disaster
area" an is likley to represent a hazzard to the railroader in a multitude of ways in which the
non railfan railroader will be most intolerant of... the non railfan railroader will look at the
foamer like they are the most socialy unacceptabe lifeform on the face of the planet, and not
know wether to be irratated by them or take pitty on them. bottom line: bad blood.

Foamer-closet railfan railroader...Although not the worst mix it does have perrils all it's own.
the foamer will tend to taunt the closet railroader to give them access or special favors... Meanwhile
the closet railroader will constantly worry about the foamer takeing them down front street and
risking them looseing there job. A very unbalanced relationship.

Foamer-railroader railfan...the foamer typicaly worships the ground the railroader walks on.
The railroader typicaly spends his time wondering why those loosers worship the ground they walk
on.The relationships in this catagory could potentialy fill books and is way beyond the scope of this
peice.

Trolls-(all of the above)...Trolls are generaly misfits of society looking to disrupt normal society
in any way they can (for whatever reason) and there presence in the forum is a side effect of society
more then a railfan catagory and will furthermore be ignored,
 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,074 posts
Posted by Erie Lackawanna on Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:14 AM
 chad thomas wrote:

I wrote this a few years ago but I though some that haven't seen it might get a laugh:

 

This might help you understand what a foamer is:
==============================================================================
Railfan vs Foamer

Definitions:

Railfan...An otherwise normal person that enjoys the persuit of railroad related activities.
That could be one or more of many sub intrests includeing but not limited to observing,
photographing,reasearching,studying,discussing,modeling or just plain following the railroads
of both past,present or future. These people are hard to spot in other circles as they are
functional in normal society.

Foamer...One that aparently looses all mental controll when one or more of the following occure:
1) they are in the presence of a: A) a train B) railroad tracks (and in some places railroad
property(s)) C) a piece of railroad memorabilia or D) a conversation or any other communication
related to the subject of railroading. They are easy to detect as most of them are social
disaster areas anyway.

Railroader (non railfan)...One that couldn't care less what the rest of us falling into the
other categorys think(s) about them or there company. They are the ones that are there to do
a job, earn a liveing and make it home safely every day till retirement.


Railroader (closet railfan)...One that typicaly enjoys there job wether they admit it or not.
They are most likley to be industry insider participants of railroad related forums. they are
fairly easy members to spot as they typicaly use aliases (to protect the innocent of course)
but are otherwise forthright with there experiences and opinions,reguardless of what the foamers
think.

Railroader (and railfan)..one that enjoys there profession and is willing to share there
experiences and/or wisdom with the rest of the railfan community. They are easy to spot due
to there honesty,integrity and passion for railroading and railroad related subjects while
feeling no need to hide there identity.

**********************************************************************************************

relationshps:

railfan-Foamer....The railfan will tolerate the foamer either out of pitty or compassion for
the mentaly challenged that enjoy the same hobby, even when it may damage there reputation....
the foamer will generaly cling on to the railfan because they are not just willing to talk to them
but are also socialy acceptable members of society.

railfan-railroader(non railfan)...The railfan typicaly feels self concious when a railroader gives
that look that says "get a life"...The railroader usually gives the railfan that "Get a life look"
that comes so naturaly to them.

Railfan-railroader(closet railfan)...railfans typicaly cater to the closet railroader's ego when
they feel they will not have there cover blown and therefore are paid back in special favors in
many varying ways in which railfans tend to exploit but not abuse...Closet railfan railroaders
are a goldmine for the railfan because when they know they can get away with it they will show
off for the railfan in a multitude of ways that are always benificial and thoughly apriciated by
most all railfans. This is typicaly a most benificial relationship as long as the railfan does
not take the closet foamer down front street.

Railfan-railfan/railroader...This tends to be the best kind of relationship as each party tends to
have a level head and doesn't get to inflated about who or what they are and for the most part are
intelegent,wise and compassionate members of society.

Foamer-non railfan railroader...The worst possable match. The Foamer is typicaly a "social disaster
area" an is likley to represent a hazzard to the railroader in a multitude of ways in which the
non railfan railroader will be most intolerant of... the non railfan railroader will look at the
foamer like they are the most socialy unacceptabe lifeform on the face of the planet, and not
know wether to be irratated by them or take pitty on them. bottom line: bad blood.

Foamer-closet railfan railroader...Although not the worst mix it does have perrils all it's own.
the foamer will tend to taunt the closet railroader to give them access or special favors... Meanwhile
the closet railroader will constantly worry about the foamer takeing them down front street and
risking them looseing there job. A very unbalanced relationship.

Foamer-railroader railfan...the foamer typicaly worships the ground the railroader walks on.
The railroader typicaly spends his time wondering why those loosers worship the ground they walk
on.The relationships in this catagory could potentialy fill books and is way beyond the scope of this
peice.

Trolls-(all of the above)...Trolls are generaly misfits of society looking to disrupt normal society
in any way they can (for whatever reason) and there presence in the forum is a side effect of society
more then a railfan catagory and will furthermore be ignored,
 

 

I LOVE THIS.... I'm going to keep a copy!  Thanks, Chad.  Really funny (because it's so true).

Charles Freericks
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Along the BNSF "East End"... :-)
  • 915 posts
Posted by TimChgo9 on Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:44 AM

Once, I was asked by someone why I shoot photos of trains.  I simply replied "I am who I am, and I do what I do."  

I don't feel that I have to offer anyone an explanation as to what my hobbies are, as I don't ask them to explain their's.  

I have known knitters, coffee can collectors, label collectors, Star Wars action figure collectors, collectors of antique glass, games, toys, whatever...  I just figure if someone enjoys it, and it helps them keep their sanity, then, who am I to criticize?

 

"Chairman of the Awkward Squad" "We live in an amazing, amazing world that is just wasted on the biggest generation of spoiled idiots." Flashing red lights are a warning.....heed it. " I don't give a hoot about what people have to say, I'm laughing as I'm analyzed" What if the "hokey pokey" is what it's all about?? View photos at: http://www.eyefetch.com/profile.aspx?user=timChgo9
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:05 AM

A good example of a "foamer" happens in the movie "The Station Agent" where Peter Dinklage pays a railfan (non-foamer). Theres a scene though where he's at a club meet and there showing film of a steam excursion where the foamer cameraman is showing and narrating a movie, he's filming out of a window and can bearly see the locomotive, but he keeps filming even when the train is in a tunnel, "it was a very long tunnel" he says about a full minute into the dark screen. That is a foamer. Wink [;)]

   Have fun with your trains

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