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Posted by Bergie on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 11:02 AM
Want the official Trains.com stance on this topic? There really isn't one. But simply put, the "off topic" conversations amoungst our users help create the best group of forum users on the Internet, in my opion.

(The only thing I will crack down on is poor language, personal attacks, etc.)

While we would prefer you talk about railroad-related subjects, we also understand that we're all tied together by the bond of a love for railroading. Many discussions don't relate to railroading, but that's OK. Just imagine if we were all together in person. After a certain amount of time together, we'd eventually stop talking about trains and start talking about other things. It's only natural, and that's what makes our community so strong. Our users know a lot about each other, and something tells me there will be a lot of holiday greeting cards exchanged between our users. Friendships are built through more than "on topic" discussions alone.

I firmly believe that we have the best group of railroad knowledge and insight on the Internet. Our community is only strengthened by the personal relationships that have been built here. Those relationships keep us coming back for more.

I want to thank you all for your input in our forums. You guys are the best, and I truly appreciate all of your contributions. I wish you all a happy holidays and look forward to meeting more of you in person in the future. (Why don't we plan a Trains.com family reunion for this summer? Pick a centrally-located railroad event like Galesburg Railroad Days and get together. What do you think?)

See... there I go changing the subject. [:o)]

Erik
Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by Bergie on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 10:44 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

Or maybe:
"Forums for boring people with no sense of humor"
I know a couple of people who would be glad to use them.
I have about 361 posts, and in only about 200 of them I have actually answered or asked some train-related questions. People don't seem to hate me for that, neither they are thinking about kicking me out of here.
Some who rememeber Missouri : what was he talking about? From what I read mostly railroad related stuff. His posts lacked humor and concern for other members. But he got kicked off.
Sir, if you choose to go against the crowd, consider this: they will treat you how you treat them.
Why do people even bother to complain about this? Gosh, get a life.


To all who weren't familiar with the user "Missouri," let me make one thing perfectly clear: Missouri was not kicked off of Trains.com because of a lack or humor, nor because his opinion differed from others.

He was kicked off because he repeatedly, habitually posted topics that dealt with the same subject (railroad crossing safety) and often twisted the truth to support his point of view. He was not kicked off for a lack of humor, or because others didn't like him. He was kicked off for starting riots and twisting the truth, over and over again.

I'm happy to say he's the only person we've ever had to take severe action against. I appreciate that.

Erik
Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 10:31 AM
I double checked my Guide this morning and thats definitly what it says...



Gotcha Jim!

Hey, being included in the Guide has to be a compliment! Even if it does contain much that is apocryphal or at least wildly inaccurate...

Whatching out for them Bugblatter Beasts, Vic



   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by zardoz on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 9:24 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

And, since you (sort of) asked for it, vsmith:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!


For those who have never hitchhiked off the Earth before..

From the Guide....

"Vogon poetry is of course the third worst in the Universe. The second worst is that of the Azgoths of Kria. During a recitation by thier Poet master Grunthos the Flatulent of his poem "Ode To A Small Lump Of Green Putty I Found In My Armpit One Midsummers Morning", four of his audience died of internal hemorrhaging, and the President of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Coucil survived by gnawing one of his own legs off. Grunthos is reported to have been "disappointed" by the peoms reception, and was about to embark on a reading of his twelve-book epic entitled "My Favorite Bathroom Gurgles" when his own major intestine, in a desperate attempt to save life and civilization, lept straight up through his neck and throttled his brain.
The very worst poetry of all goes by the nickname of Zardoz and lives in the frozen northern area of the continent known as North America. Vogon Poetry is MILD by comparison."
Well, Jim, thats what MY COPY of the book says....maybe you haven't recieved all the electronic Sub-etha updates yet ...


vsmith--I'm not sure if I've been insulted or complimented.[;)]
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Posted by michaelstevens on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 8:41 AM
[8D]

That's a definite Roger, Jen.

Do you think that some interstate extraditions, could be urgently arranged ?

[:D][:D]
British Mike in Philly
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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 8:12 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

And, since you (sort of) asked for it, vsmith:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!


To be truely appreciated, Vogon poetry should be experience while being placed into Poetry Appreciation Chairs and tighty strapped down, while a battery of electronic devices, image intensifiers, rhythmic modulators, alliteration residulators, and simile dumpers, all designed to heighten the experience of the poem and make sure that not a single nuance of the poet's thought is lost on the listener.

The nearest earth equivelant is the Electric Chair...
which, by the way, we do still use here in Nebraska! We always thought it was inhumane, but now I am beginning to see that maybe this is the ultimate experience!

Mookie

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by vsmith on Monday, December 15, 2003 11:13 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

And, since you (sort of) asked for it, vsmith:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!


To be truely appreciated, Vogon poetry should be experience while being placed into Poetry Appreciation Chairs and tighty strapped down, while a battery of electronic devices, image intensifiers, rhythmic modulators, alliteration residulators, and simile dumpers, all designed to heighten the experience of the poem and make sure that not a single nuance of the poet's thought is lost on the listener.

The nearest earth equivelant is the Electric Chair...

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by vsmith on Monday, December 15, 2003 11:01 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

And, since you (sort of) asked for it, vsmith:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!


For those who have never hitchhiked off the Earth before..

From the Guide....

"Vogon poetry is of course the third worst in the Universe. The second worst is that of the Azgoths of Kria. During a recitation by thier Poet master Grunthos the Flatulent of his poem "Ode To A Small Lump Of Green Putty I Found In My Armpit One Midsummers Morning", four of his audience died of internal hemorrhaging, and the President of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Coucil survived by gnawing one of his own legs off. Grunthos is reported to have been "disappointed" by the peoms reception, and was about to embark on a reading of his twelve-book epic entitled "My Favorite Bathroom Gurgles" when his own major intestine, in a desperate attempt to save life and civilization, lept straight up through his neck and throttled his brain.
The very worst poetry of all goes by the nickname of Zardoz and lives in the frozen northern area of the continent known as North America. Vogon Poetry is MILD by comparison."

Well, Jim, thats what MY COPY of the book says....maybe you haven't recieved all the electronic Sub-etha updates yet ...

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 8:50 PM
Kevino is so shmlost
his wordums are prettyus funnuys like yoursums are
how ams isa doingus?
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Posted by zardoz on Monday, December 15, 2003 8:47 PM
And, since you (sort of) asked for it, vsmith:

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!
  • Member since
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Posted by zardoz on Monday, December 15, 2003 8:40 PM
Darn it, I've been busted by vsmith.

I should have known better than to plagiarize a Vogon!

[;)]
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, December 15, 2003 4:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

KP-
Your baggage is floating down a hillside. The costumed allegro teases the polygon, where it cons picnic umpires. Irreverent nomadic bachelors ride sparrows into the quagmire, where they overdraw conclusions. To demonize sneakers tampers with passe shrouds. Homesick envelopes bipolar magnetons, with unarmed hybrid woodchucks distilling geology. The lampposts are fabled oval hegemonies, while nude shepards thrip upon mattoid boulders.

Get my drift?


DAMMIT ZARDOZ, LAY OFF THE VOGON POETRY!!!

My head durn near exploded! And I think I have internal injuries...

Thats almost as bad as Grunthos the Flatulent's "Ode to a small green lump of putty I found under my armpit one midsummers morning"

Dont make me have to break out my copy of "Zen and the art of going to the Lavatory"

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by edblysard on Monday, December 15, 2003 3:34 PM
Zardoz,
If the Jaberwockie is in the hedgrow, did she ever buy the stairway?
If so, then wind on down the road.
Ed

23 17 46 11

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 1:46 PM
We ALL find humor refreshing

If you can't laugh

A) your Job will suck
B) you'll make other people's life at the job Suck

so, my advise

Stop sucking, start laughing

[:D]

mind you i like the aliens thing

[:D]
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Posted by zardoz on Monday, December 15, 2003 1:42 PM
My tin of pineapple tidbits analyzes your reference." [:D]

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, December 15, 2003 1:29 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

I find statements clearly made and that DO NOT DEVIATE from a topic discussion theme to be refreshing, and show skill and insight on the part of a forum contributor. Perhaps some find scatterbrain irrelevancy appealing, but I sure don’t. Post brevity (when possible) also demonstrates thoughtfulness, and is a courtesy toward attracted readers.
Well, Bud - did you get the reaction you wanted? I think there is a lot of clarity, brevity and we sure didn't deviate from the topic! Not everyone can or should try to explain something in 2 or 3 sentences for the sake of someone who doesn't have the time to read another's rambling.

I find the humor refreshing and while sometimes a little silly, it is all in good fun. These are real people and it takes all kinds to make this forum a success. If you want to read lectures, go to school!

If you want a good cross-section of both blue and white collar workers, read the forum. We have the young and the old and everyone in-between. Don't put parameters on these people - don't inhibit them so they will never want to post for fear of upsetting an insignificant few.

Maybe you should let your watch unwind sometime, take a deep breath and see how really charming and kind and even funny the world can be - especially with situations in the world and with everyone going as fast as possible....you know - all stressed out and nowhere to go!

Jen!

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 1:12 PM
yes... well.. uhm.. don't mind me as i slowly back away
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, December 15, 2003 1:10 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

KP-
Your baggage is floating down a hillside. The costumed allegro teases the polygon, where it cons picnic umpires. Irreverent nomadic bachelors ride sparrows into the quagmire, where they overdraw conclusions. To demonize sneakers tampers with passe shrouds. Homesick envelopes bipolar magnetons, with unarmed hybrid woodchucks distilling geology. The lampposts are fabled oval hegemonies, while nude shepards thrip upon mattoid boulders.

Get my drift?
[:0] Oh Zardoz - you speak so eloquently - you just send shivers up and down my fur coat! Where is my fan? I am having vapors!

Madame La Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 11:31 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

KP-
Your baggage is floating down a hillside. The costumed allegro teases the polygon, where it cons picnic umpires. Irreverent nomadic bachelors ride sparrows into the quagmire, where they overdraw conclusions. To demonize sneakers tampers with passe shrouds. Homesick envelopes bipolar magnetons, with unarmed hybrid woodchucks distilling geology. The lampposts are fabled oval hegemonies, while nude shepards thrip upon mattoid boulders.

Get my drift?



zardoz [:)] [}:)] [:p] [;)] [:D]

huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


Somewhere between allegro . . . and . . . I just became dazed, confussed, and totally lost. Someone please point me to the trains, . . . what planet am I on, do we have trains here . . . or should I call for George Jetson to come get me? [:D] [:I] [:o)] [}:)] [:D]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 11:14 AM
It seems that this is the time to quote Jack Kerouac's "On the Road"...
"The only people for me are the mad ones,
mad to live, mad to feel, mad to be saved,
the ones who never say a common thing but
burn, burn, burn, like a Roman Candle exploding like spiders among the stars,
and everybody goes AWWW"
Or something like that...
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Posted by zardoz on Monday, December 15, 2003 10:32 AM
KP-
Your baggage is floating down a hillside. The costumed allegro teases the polygon, where it cons picnic umpires. Irreverent nomadic bachelors ride sparrows into the quagmire, where they overdraw conclusions. To demonize sneakers tampers with passe shrouds. Homesick envelopes bipolar magnetons, with unarmed hybrid woodchucks distilling geology. The lampposts are fabled oval hegemonies, while nude shepards thrip upon mattoid boulders.

Get my drift?
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Posted by dharmon on Monday, December 15, 2003 10:18 AM
Speaking of wrapped tight......Where's Silvio been?


KPH......If it is your desire that we conduct ourselves in a professional manner, then in the future, I will TRY not respond to your threads unless I have something constructive or along the subject lines of the topic that you have started. Or the need to contact my secret alliance with an encoded message arises.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 9:52 AM
I'm sure everyone will agree,

i'm the most serious one around here.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 8:40 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

I find statements clearly made and that DO NOT DEVIATE from a topic discussion theme to be refreshing, and show skill and insight on the part of a forum contributor. Perhaps some find scatterbrain irrelevancy appealing, but I sure don#8217;t. Post brevity (when possible) also demonstrates thoughtfulness, and is a courtesy toward attracted readers.
I will be short and to the point! I don't know that much about any facet of railroading to show any skill and insight. I can only ask silly questions because I can't use terminology I don't know. I like to learn, but I like to be entertained, too.
Ergo, I like this forum. And me thinks you are wound just a little too tight.

Mz Mookie



Scoreboard


Home (Da Mook) . . . . . 1

Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0


Chock up one for the kitty. [:D]
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, December 15, 2003 6:14 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

I find statements clearly made and that DO NOT DEVIATE from a topic discussion theme to be refreshing, and show skill and insight on the part of a forum contributor. Perhaps some find scatterbrain irrelevancy appealing, but I sure don’t. Post brevity (when possible) also demonstrates thoughtfulness, and is a courtesy toward attracted readers.
I will be short and to the point! I don't know that much about any facet of railroading to show any skill and insight. I can only ask silly questions because I can't use terminology I don't know. I like to learn, but I like to be entertained, too.
Ergo, I like this forum. And me thinks you are wound just a little too tight.

Mz Mookie

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 12:25 AM
Or maybe:
"Forums for boring people with no sense of humor"
I know a couple of people who would be glad to use them.
I have about 361 posts, and in only about 200 of them I have actually answered or asked some train-related questions. People don't seem to hate me for that, neither they are thinking about kicking me out of here.
Some who rememeber Missouri : what was he talking about? From what I read mostly railroad related stuff. His posts lacked humor and concern for other members. But he got kicked off.
Sir, if you choose to go against the crowd, consider this: they will treat you how you treat them.
Why do people even bother to complain about this? Gosh, get a life.
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Posted by croteaudd on Sunday, December 14, 2003 10:34 PM
Some that pursue certain topics are totally baffled at what they find, and say so in reply posts. They shake their heads because everyone is discussing everything but the subject topic theme that attracted them!

Within the Trainsmag.com side of this website, there are two forums, namely, (1) Railroads and (2) Trackside Guides. Maybe EVERYONE would be happy if a third forum was put into effect. Perhaps it could be entitled … For Irrelevancy Junkies Only, or The Release Valve, or Stupidity Corner. What about The Engine Wine Cellar?
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Posted by espeefoamer on Sunday, December 14, 2003 5:27 PM
Yah,what he said[8D]
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
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Posted by Willy2 on Sunday, December 14, 2003 1:42 PM
Just try and imagine what the forum would be like if all anyone did was ask questions and answer questions. We need some fun in our lives to keep us all going and happy. If we didn't have any fun in here, eventually we'd get going at each other like cats and mice or cats and dogs! The joking also keeps things from getting to stale. Just wait, you'll get the feel for it sooner or later! But as CShaveRR does and says to do we should spell correctly as often as possible and give good and reasonable answers to questions.

Willy

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Posted by michaelstevens on Sunday, December 14, 2003 1:14 PM
[8D][8D]
As I've said before; Jump Jets and paranoia are not necessarily oxymoronic.
Really KPH, you might want to consider asking the Quack; "whether cat pills would work for you [?] ".
I mean, in my case they haven't cured my little problem -- but I seem to be having a lot more fun !
[;)][:)][:D]
British Mike in Philly

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