Trains.com

Long-time members as well as those in the habit of causing trouble

3767 views
77 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Traveling in Middle Earth
  • 795 posts
Posted by Sterling1 on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Bergie,

Arriving at the office with ten hours of work to finish by a 5pm deadline and then finding e-mails about trash on the forums doesn't sound like much fun. I wouldn't oppose a modest fee for myself, but I would hate to see that knock out some, especially the school age kids that show genuine interest in railroads.

As far as the moderating function-heck, shoot and ask questions later. If someone felt that you weren't fair you have a mailbox, let them contact you.

Jay Eaton


My relation and I are avid railfans, but I know that both of us would be disheartened to pay for something such as this!!!
"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,431 posts
Posted by Bergie on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:16 PM
Thanks to everyone who has responded. Let me assure you that the “pay for forum use” has not come up in any Trains.com meeting. That was simply my idea this morning for a way to help assure quality. I knew I’d get constructive feedback, and I have. Thanks again.

Bergie
Erik Bergstrom
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,431 posts
Posted by Bergie on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1



There are some who don't access their inboxes too often, or sometimes there are system glitches, so the time day thing may not work. However, how does one unlock an account?


Tell me the account, and I'll take a look and let you know why it was locked.

Bergie
Erik Bergstrom
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Traveling in Middle Earth
  • 795 posts
Posted by Sterling1 on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:24 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Well, well, well....

Be waiting for something like this for a while...was wondering when the pay to play idea would kick in...

First, it will not keep the trolls out, especially the multi named one...he, or she, is here for a personal reason, and wont mind paying a small fee to cause trouble, in fact, once they pay, they will use that fact as a justification to be allowed to do so....

As for me, off the top of my head I can name three members who dont use a made up screen name, myself, Mark Hemphill, and Dan Harmon...

Cant speak for them, but for myself, I figured that if I had an opinion or story I didnt mind sharing in public, then I shouldn't mind my name going with it.

What you see in my profile is real, the railroad where I work is real, my name and email adress are real and correct...you got a beef with what I say here, either respond here, or email me and chew me out to your hearts content.

I dont believe in censorship, but I do believe basic common courtsey, good manners, and respect towards others, no matter how far from my point of view they might stand.

Not to say my slate is pristine.

And yes, there are some, not to name names, well, ok, some like Clevelandrocks, who show up here, and stick out their chins, begging someone to pop them a good one, and it would appear there are quite a few who don't mind to oblige them.

Then there are the trainfinder, kissmycaboose, hot and itchy, cinderdick...those who sole purpose was to take the enjoyment out of this place...they succeded quite well at that.

With that in mind, it now appears I will have to pay to read garbarge posted by the trolls...hummm....

They already have managed to drive a few good posters away, and have succeded in making this place no where near as much fun as it was a year ago.

It used to be I logged on to see who was here, and have a good time discussing the hobby and industry which I make a living at...
but now, the first thing I see is the moron page, you know, page 1, where the trolls have managed to creat enough problems and enough dissent that their postings and threads have almost the entire front page to themselves, and the interesting stuff, you know, the real reason most of us came here, are two pages back.

Anyone see wabash1 here?
How about Scottydog? He got tired of it last year and left, hasnt been back since....

If you think about it, quite a few members, who contributed a lot, have quitely left, and not returned, and for good reason.


Remember when Mookie had a whole bunch of interesting questions, and got a whole bunch of interesting replies?
Remember when Matt and Mookie "fought" over the chocolate cake, and both of them won?

When was the last time one of Mookies questions was on the top of page one?

Not for a while, because before anyone got around to answering her question, they would run off to bite on troll bait.

Guess it tasted better than the cake?

Remember when we came here to talk about trains and the people who run them, not tripe and the people who write it?

We, by responding to the bait the trollers throw out, have allowed them to degrade this forum to the level of a teenage chat room, where the only thing of interest is is who is slamming who, and what new insults can we come up with.

It used to be, when you turned on my computer, Trains.com was the front page, it came up automaticly on default...not any more, I replaced it with Google, because a blank search engine holds more promise of fun...I have to look for this page now.

Why?

Because I noticed I dont bother to look as often as I used too, and post even less, after reading Bergies posting on Classic Trains, I realized why.

The trolls have won, if not by sheer numbers, by assimilation...we are becomming them.

I used to come here to have fun, enjoy discussions with people of like interest, and read the intelligent, often funny comments about my industry...it was a well kept secret, a place with a good group of smart people who enjoyed each others company...not anymore....

I was going to say if Kalmbach can add their forum fee to my subscriptions,(I take three of their magazines) fine, but after a few minutes thought, I dont think it is worth even that, after all, I can see adults act and speak like children all day long at work, for free.

If the fee idea does happen, then I dont see the sense of paying to have a forum membership on a forum I chose to not read regular anymore...because the people who made it interesting and fun, have all been run off.

I know of at least one person who dosnt have a computer at home, she logs in here from work, so the pay to play wont work, the accounting dept most likely will kick it back at her...so one of the most interesting people here will be gone.

Sad it comes to that.

For what its worth, it was a pretty fun ride, I made some good friends, met a few of you in person, enjoyed it a lot, and, when this was a forum, not a verbal train wreck, I learned a lot I didnt know, about trains, people, and myself..

Sooo...guess I will see ya on the next run, you guys have a safe trip and a good Christmas...stay cut in.

Ed



My slate wasn't all that clean either until Hemphill and Limitedclear showed that I needed the maturity indeed.

By the way which Matt are you refereing to with the chocolate cake fight?

My sceen name derives from a pinniped(seal) that I've named for a long time. If I used my real name, I could have identitiy theft by these __________ trolls. If one needs to vent, do so at the thickest wall that one can find. . .
"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Traveling in Middle Earth
  • 795 posts
Posted by Sterling1 on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:36 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by FThunder11

Just remeber, you have teenagers and younger people, who, first, dont have credit cards, and second are only here to learn about trains. Yes my parents subscribe to Trains and Modle Railroader, but I know if you make us pay, I'm outta here, because i sure as heck dont have aredit card, and my parents aren't giving it out over the net, so if thats the way its gonna be, then once that comes into play, I'm gone.


You got it there too (I'm a teen currently), but do your other fellow teenagers a big favor, just spell and take the time to type a little slower to correct the spelling problems. It's just a tip, just in case you end up working for some one who desires a person who can spell well. Remember it is only a tip.
"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Traveling in Middle Earth
  • 795 posts
Posted by Sterling1 on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1



There are some who don't access their inboxes too often, or sometimes there are system glitches, so the time day thing may not work. However, how does one unlock an account?


Tell me the account, and I'll take a look and let you know why it was locked.

Bergie


Bergie, I wasn't seroious, I was just having a what if moment if I ended up with a sudden shutdown.
"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Traveling in Middle Earth
  • 795 posts
Posted by Sterling1 on Friday, December 17, 2004 10:53 PM
Just looking at all the posts makes me wonder if i am being a hog with all the messages . . .
"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,026 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, December 17, 2004 11:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

Just looking at all the posts makes me wonder if i am being a hog with all the messages . . .

Nah - You've just got a lot to say.

I guess the bottom line is to recognize the baiters early and just ignore them. I can usually pick them out. Instead of asking "Why is green on top on some signals?", they tend to ask things like "IS THE GREEN LIGHT OF SIGNALS ON TOP BECUASE THE IRISH HAD SO MUCH TO DO WITH BUILIDNG THE RAILROADS?" Note, please, the capitals and the veiled accusation. Never mind the spelling. The body of their message will be a lengthy rant on some topic that may or may not be related to the subject, and will most certainly be something that simple logic or historical knowledge could answer. If they don't get a reply, they'll usually post one of their own wondering why nobody on the forum cares about how the Irish were treated (now it's our fault.) And if nobody takes the bait then, they'll post a new thread complaining about how lousy the people on this forum are.

So what do you do when you see one of those? Pass it by. It'll sink down the forum faster than {Name a sunken ship here}. I suspect that the bulk of our trouble recently has been caused by just one or two pests. Ignore them, and they will more than likely fade into our collective memory.

Mookie - How are those dwarfs getting along?

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 17, 2004 11:23 PM
As one of my old Erie conductors used to say." 'tis the high harp, lad. Track's clear ahead an' alls right with the world..."

A good man and fun to run with too. I'll always remember the summers on the local with our unit holding the controlled siding while we had an ice cream at the stand a few feet away. Those were the days...

LC
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 725 posts
Posted by Puckdropper on Saturday, December 18, 2004 12:10 AM
Sterling1,

Just a bit of netiquitte... Rather than replying to everything and quoting more than a few sentences, summarize or refer back to what you're replying to. That way, users don't have to scroll through screenfuls of posts they've already read.

Ed, a comment on your "real names" post. Puckdropper is my Internet name, so chances are if you see Puckdropper somewhere else that's me. It helps sometimes to keep Internet and Real life seperate.

Bergie,
The pay-for-access idea is one I believe is best forgotten. If you feel the forum needs more moderation, then ask members you respect and trust to do the moderation job. Provide a specific set of rules, and don't ask for volunteers. To paraphrase one of the points on an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9: The best leaders do not seek power. All most forums I've seen have needed is two or three ACTIVE moderators.

In my opinion, a confirmed email address system is effective in reducing the amount of "throw-away" usernames. It requires some action that takes a bit of time and thought to do. One has to be careful, though, as something that requires too much time or thought will often keep legitimate users away. (Such as blocking free email providers.)

Sad... We're no longer in the information age. We're in the information abuse age.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Rock Springs Wy.
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by miniwyo on Saturday, December 18, 2004 1:45 AM
I still do not like the idea of disallowing free email provider users. I do not have a ISP email as it belongs to my dad. So, this is the only arrangement I can make. I enjoy coming here and reading and learning, but I have started to not enjoy it becase of all the trollers and bogus arguements and threads. I am on this forum at least once a day and I enjoy reading about trains and learning about trains. miniwyo is my internet name as well i also believe that home life and net life should be seperate. My profile is or will be shortly, as personal as i care to get with everyone. But anyone who wants to say somthing ot me will be able to reach me through my email. miniwyo is the only screen name i have ever had and as with puckdropper, if you see miniwyo on the net it is most likley me.

We need to learn to ignore trollers and the problem will go away. let thime figure it out in thier own demented heads. People who like to cause trouble have serious issues and should be dealt with. I do like the suggestion of making a couple of regular visiting, well trusted members moderators, it will allow this place to stay clean as there are more people here to take out the trash.

RJ

"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling

http://sweetwater-photography.com/

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 18, 2004 5:22 AM
most of the trouble with "unwanted threads" is due to offended members bothering to respond to them.

please, ignore vexatious comments.

the offenders probably will not go away, but they will lose their energy if not engaged in debate...and at least the rest of us can easily sort through the debris. as it stands now to read a thread a person needs to scan the trash and then scan all the responses to the trash. there is more ink wasted on asking/demanding others to conform than there is ink wasted on silly remarks from trouble makers.
the site has gotten into a vicious cycle of "stop sayiing that/ no i won't" garbage. the folks being asked to behave are not going to do it. will not happen. in fact, they will feel set upon and consequently become more troublesome. meanwhile, everybody else needs to suffer the back and forth exchanges of pleas and mandates.
this is not a church...we are not all required to believe and conform on peril of our souls.

please, just ignore contrary opinions. love the other guy. leave him alone.



  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 18, 2004 7:32 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cbt141

most of the trouble with "unwanted threads" is due to offended members bothering to respond to them.

please, ignore vexatious comments.

the offenders probably will not go away, but they will lose their energy if not engaged in debate...and at least the rest of us can easily sort through the debris. as it stands now to read a thread a person needs to scan the trash and then scan all the responses to the trash. there is more ink wasted on asking/demanding others to conform than there is ink wasted on silly remarks from trouble makers.
the site has gotten into a vicious cycle of "stop sayiing that/ no i won't" garbage. the folks being asked to behave are not going to do it. will not happen. in fact, they will feel set upon and consequently become more troublesome. meanwhile, everybody else needs to suffer the back and forth exchanges of pleas and mandates.
this is not a church...we are not all required to believe and conform on peril of our souls.

please, just ignore contrary opinions. love the other guy. leave him alone.






Thats a good way to put it. If they can't behave, just ignore them. Because this thing with a credit card number, I think thats a little much. Because my mom is very strict about giving out her credit card number to people.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 67 posts
Posted by spodwo on Saturday, December 18, 2004 7:53 AM
If I had a subscription to CTT or any other Kalmbach publication - then the site should be free....

I prefer the free email sites now as they actually control the spam better than before. My "internal" email is only for those close few.

A lot can be done to keep the alleged evil doers out. But the ONE thing that stops of fool from talking is to ignore the fool.

"DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!"
Stephen "Pod" Podwojski LiZarD AtTiTuDe RailRoaD http://LiZarDAtTiTuDe.homestead.com
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Saturday, December 18, 2004 8:42 AM
Yes, I've said quite a few times to some people on here (in private emails)
to just Ignore these idiots; they are not worth any of us getting upset
to the point where we are boiling mad.

Ignore their posts by not viewing or replying, and hopefully, they will get
the message that decent people here on these forums WILL NOT
TOLERATE
their childish, babyish behavior.
Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: roundhouse
  • 2,747 posts
Posted by Randy Stahl on Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Well, well, well....

Be waiting for something like this for a while...was wondering when the pay to play idea would kick in...

First, it will not keep the trolls out, especially the multi named one...he, or she, is here for a personal reason, and wont mind paying a small fee to cause trouble, in fact, once they pay, they will use that fact as a justification to be allowed to do so....

As for me, off the top of my head I can name three members who dont use a made up screen name, myself, Mark Hemphill, and Dan Harmon...

Cant speak for them, but for myself, I figured that if I had an opinion or story I didnt mind sharing in public, then I shouldn't mind my name going with it.

What you see in my profile is real, the railroad where I work is real, my name and email adress are real and correct...you got a beef with what I say here, either respond here, or email me and chew me out to your hearts content.

I dont believe in censorship, but I do believe basic common courtsey, good manners, and respect towards others, no matter how far from my point of view they might stand.

Not to say my slate is pristine.

And yes, there are some, not to name names, well, ok, some like Clevelandrocks, who show up here, and stick out their chins, begging someone to pop them a good one, and it would appear there are quite a few who don't mind to oblige them.

Then there are the trainfinder, kissmycaboose, hot and itchy, cinderdick...those who sole purpose was to take the enjoyment out of this place...they succeded quite well at that.

With that in mind, it now appears I will have to pay to read garbarge posted by the trolls...hummm....

They already have managed to drive a few good posters away, and have succeded in making this place no where near as much fun as it was a year ago.

It used to be I logged on to see who was here, and have a good time discussing the hobby and industry which I make a living at...
but now, the first thing I see is the moron page, you know, page 1, where the trolls have managed to creat enough problems and enough dissent that their postings and threads have almost the entire front page to themselves, and the interesting stuff, you know, the real reason most of us came here, are two pages back.

Anyone see wabash1 here?
How about Scottydog? He got tired of it last year and left, hasnt been back since....

If you think about it, quite a few members, who contributed a lot, have quitely left, and not returned, and for good reason.


Remember when Mookie had a whole bunch of interesting questions, and got a whole bunch of interesting replies?
Remember when Matt and Mookie "fought" over the chocolate cake, and both of them won?

When was the last time one of Mookies questions was on the top of page one?

Not for a while, because before anyone got around to answering her question, they would run off to bite on troll bait.

Guess it tasted better than the cake?

Remember when we came here to talk about trains and the people who run them, not tripe and the people who write it?

We, by responding to the bait the trollers throw out, have allowed them to degrade this forum to the level of a teenage chat room, where the only thing of interest is is who is slamming who, and what new insults can we come up with.

It used to be, when you turned on my computer, Trains.com was the front page, it came up automaticly on default...not any more, I replaced it with Google, because a blank search engine holds more promise of fun...I have to look for this page now.

Why?

Because I noticed I dont bother to look as often as I used too, and post even less, after reading Bergies posting on Classic Trains, I realized why.

The trolls have won, if not by sheer numbers, by assimilation...we are becomming them.

I used to come here to have fun, enjoy discussions with people of like interest, and read the intelligent, often funny comments about my industry...it was a well kept secret, a place with a good group of smart people who enjoyed each others company...not anymore....

I was going to say if Kalmbach can add their forum fee to my subscriptions,(I take three of their magazines) fine, but after a few minutes thought, I dont think it is worth even that, after all, I can see adults act and speak like children all day long at work, for free.

If the fee idea does happen, then I dont see the sense of paying to have a forum membership on a forum I chose to not read regular anymore...because the people who made it interesting and fun, have all been run off.

I know of at least one person who dosnt have a computer at home, she logs in here from work, so the pay to play wont work, the accounting dept most likely will kick it back at her...so one of the most interesting people here will be gone.

Sad it comes to that.

For what its worth, it was a pretty fun ride, I made some good friends, met a few of you in person, enjoyed it a lot, and, when this was a forum, not a verbal train wreck, I learned a lot I didnt know, about trains, people, and myself..

Sooo...guess I will see ya on the next run, you guys have a safe trip and a good Christmas...stay cut in.

Ed



My slate wasn't all that clean either until Hemphill and Limitedclear showed that I needed the maturity indeed.

By the way which Matt are you refereing to with the chocolate cake fight?

My sceen name derives from a pinniped(seal) that I've named for a long time. If I used my real name, I could have identitiy theft by these __________ trolls. If one needs to vent, do so at the thickest wall that one can find. . .
I am waiting for someone to steal my identity. It will likely result in an improvement for me an a major headache for the thief. I don't use a screen name , I have nothing to hide. My favorite word in the english language is FREE. Free E Mail, free forums, etc. I don't like paying for something I don't want ( ex wifes etc.) I use the free forums to connect with people who have similer interests but when this becomes tedious I don't want the hassle of begging for my money back. I don't participate in the crap posts or the posts that are outside the scope of my knowlage. I stick with what I know.
Randy
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 18, 2004 10:21 AM
Randy-

To use a favorite old line from Moonstruck...

"You know everything..."

LC
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
  • 1,482 posts
Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, December 18, 2004 1:53 PM
We seem to be at a crossroad.

Like Ed said, I wouldn't come here if it was a pay site because then I would be paying to read the same stupid comments that certain people would LOVE to pay to make.

Remember our buddy with a certain state as his name? Whatever we did to get rid of him should be done again.

I put my first name in my user name but added something to make it railroady (also works for the truck forums i visit :) ) Dont really feel like havin my full name out there.

It would be a sad day indeed if more people left in the effort to try to prevent morons from posting.

Adrianspeeder

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Saturday, December 18, 2004 4:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD

If I have to pay to communicate....I'm out of here.

FREE speech!



DITTO, unfortunately. Hope it never comes to that!
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:18 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

Sterling1,

If you feel the forum needs more moderation, then ask members you respect and trust to do the moderation job.


"Member Moderators" is REALLY a bad idea... It invariably devolves into a "good ol boy" network that's fun for a few, but substantially less fun for many others.

Plus, having to be a moderator actually makes forum participation "less fun" for the individual in the long run,...been there done that. For one, the portion of the members who are willing to kiss up to you for influance, no longer tell you the way they really think , for fear of offending you (and ruining their gig) For another, if you are actually intent upon doing the job properly, you have to remain mindful at all times that opinions you express have a direct reflection upon the official entity (in this case Kalmbach), putting you in the position that some of your own opinions are better left unexpressed
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,358 posts
Posted by csxengineer98 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 4:41 AM
this place goes pay-per-view...im outa here... and you lost someone that has real railroad experiance that he is willing to share for free....even with some of the bull that pops up here form time to time...im willing to put up with a little bickering form time to time to keep it a free sight... i understand that im just as guilty once in a while for being a hot head...but i also do contribut a lot of usefull info to eveyone in here.... besides... going pay-per-view might eliminat some of it..but the hard core trouble makers wouldnt care..... i live the the policy that is....if you dont like it... dont read it..look at it...or listen to it... that always seems to work the best in the long run..insted of trying to force regulat.. things most of the time work out on thier own.... i know at times someone of a higher power needs to step in..but thats why i said most of the time....
well..just my thougths..
csx engineer
"I AM the higher source" Keep the wheels on steel
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Sunday, December 19, 2004 7:16 AM
...Again, my opinion is for Bergie to seriously monitor the ongoings on here and when someone prints off color, or obnoxious writings, out of the mainstream language, bomb throwing utterances...simply warn that writer once, and the next time it occurs, pull the plug on that writer. The "writer" then can discuss the situation with Bergie priviately on email and settle the issue and the forum can go on and operate in a normal fashion.

Quentin

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: L A County, CA, US
  • 1,009 posts
Posted by MP57313 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:50 PM
I enjoy this site, and would appreciate being able to continue using my "free" email address as a reference. I use Hotmail, and it has greatly improved its spam-screening ability.

I agree with the general theme of the comments above...that is, ignore the rude posts...and alert the moderator about any really awful ones.

{FWIW I also belong to TO, where you pay-to-play. As has been mentioned above that does not prevent rudeness or callous remarks over there. What I like about TO is that the fee helps pay for server space, and you can attach jpeg images to threads to tell a story. The images work like email enclosures (you do not need to have the images posted on an internet site).

MP
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,537 posts
Posted by jchnhtfd on Monday, December 20, 2004 9:52 AM
Hmm... sticky. In general, I tend to agree with those who suggest that the best approach is for folks to ignore the occasional nitwits -- and certainly not to reply to them. I really would rather not have to pay... although this is one of the few (like: very few!) web sites for which I would pay as part of the registration, if I had to, as in general I find it so informative and interesting. The idea of having it tied in to a Kalmbach magazine subscription might work, too.

Please don't encourage volunteer moderators! Very bad idea! However, having said that, I recognise that being a moderator, particularly of a very active forum like this one, is, if not a full-time job, a very demanding one -- and my hat is surely off to Bergie for the work he does for us! This is one of the arguments for requiring a fee; someone has to pay the piper...
Jamie
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 2,434 posts
Posted by gabe on Monday, December 20, 2004 10:11 AM
Somehow, the post got deleted; but, I could have solved this whole problem for the price of a subscription to a second-class railroad magazine.

The person who (I think solely) is responsible for all this muck and is prompting these suggestions said he was not going to pay for the price of applying and drop his Trains subscription for a subscription of one of Trains’ competitors.

I told him I would personally buy him a subscription if he agrees to stop posting. He sent me an e-mail saying he would be interested, now his post has been deleted and I haven't heard anything.

Pity, I would have gladly bought him two subscriptions to his desired magazine to put all of this behind us and to move on.

Gabe
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,621 posts
Posted by dehusman on Monday, December 20, 2004 10:22 AM
Having a "pay for use" will not end off color remarks or flamewars or inappropriate posts, other than to weed out the few causual spammers. It will weed out the multiple ID folks. It will not stop the people using bogus e-mail ID's.

If you want to stop people from using bogus e-mail addresses, have a two step registration, where they apply, the system sends them a registration code and they reply with that code to register. If the e-mail address is bogus, they never recieve the code word and they never complete the registration.

The only thing that will stop flame wars and inappropriate posts is agressive moderating, which is tough for a site with a combined posting of several thousand a day.
Quick and dirty solution, run post through a "content filter" and if it has select derrogatory terms in it, drop it in a queue for the moderator to review.
With the ability to imbed pictures in the text of a post and people using that capability for taglines in their signatures, I don't see any way of controlling inappropriate pictures other than moderation or eliminating the ability to imbed pictures without moderator review(which would cut down on the physical length of the posts tremendously.)
I would personally like to see some cap on the number of lines of text that can be quoted. It is very irritating for people to continuously quote an entire thread, sometimes 3 or four exhanges, only to add one or two lines of new comment at the end.

Dave H.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Monday, December 20, 2004 10:42 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe

Somehow, the post got deleted; but, I could have solved this whole problem for the price of a subscription to a second-class railroad magazine.

The person who (I think solely) is responsible for all this muck and is prompting these suggestions said he was not going to pay for the price of applying and drop his Trains subscription for a subscription of one of Trains’ competitors.

I told him I would personally buy him a subscription if he agrees to stop posting. He sent me an e-mail saying he would be interested, now his post has been deleted and I haven't heard anything.

Pity, I would have gladly bought him two subscriptions to his desired magazine to put all of this behind us and to move on.

Gabe


Just so you know , I did a member search and it appears our rather nutty friend from Cleveland is no longer on the active members listing, Bergie must of had enough of his antic's too... because not only is he gone but ALL of his topics have also been flushed.

Personally I'll stick to my own policy, dont like the topic or the poster, dont reply.

Trolls are like Sharks, if they dont get fed, they leave.

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 10:41 PM
I'm a long-time subscriber to Trains, MR, and CT. And I've done my part in feeding the trolls, on occasion; I tend to take people, and questions, at face value.

My bad luck. I've gone from checking up every couple of days to weekly. Doesn't take long to sift through the - uh - stuff.

I've also had a few weeks working for railroad paychecks. Over the years, I've run just about everything but a track tamper. So I might yet have a thing or two to contribute.

But if this becomes a pay-for-play forum, I'll just go back to reading my magazines.

Old Timer

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 8:05 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe

Somehow, the post got deleted; but, I could have solved this whole problem for the price of a subscription to a second-class railroad magazine.

The person who (I think solely) is responsible for all this muck and is prompting these suggestions said he was not going to pay for the price of applying and drop his Trains subscription for a subscription of one of Trains’ competitors.

I told him I would personally buy him a subscription if he agrees to stop posting. He sent me an e-mail saying he would be interested, now his post has been deleted and I haven't heard anything.

Pity, I would have gladly bought him two subscriptions to his desired magazine to put all of this behind us and to move on.

Gabe
Hey Gabe - I have gotten e-mail from someone who wanted me to cease posting. (Did you know trains is just for railroad employees?) So can we talk? Trains and Classic Trains - renewals are coming up pretty soon! Negotiations can begin immediately.

Mookie

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 8:09 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Old Timer

I'm a long-time subscriber to Trains, MR, and CT. And I've done my part in feeding the trolls, on occasion; I tend to take people, and questions, at face value.

My bad luck. I've gone from checking up every couple of days to weekly. Doesn't take long to sift through the - uh - stuff.

I've also had a few weeks working for railroad paychecks. Over the years, I've run just about everything but a track tamper. So I might yet have a thing or two to contribute.

But if this becomes a pay-for-play forum, I'll just go back to reading my magazines.

Old Timer


Old Timer - I, for one, am glad you are on here. Since you can always shed some light on some old time memories. I use some antiquated terminology every so often and I bet you understand me just fine!

Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy