Dumb questions at Train Shows

kmac,

    Relax, go have a cup of coffee then go to lost and found..........maybe they have your sense of humor.

JohnB

quote:

My club the Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers usually takes 10 to 12 tables at local train shows and it never fails that someone will come up to me and ask "are these your trains" to which I reply " no the true owner is tied up under the table I am just collecting the money". 

In my area, that would have been a very legitimate question. Around here, when a club sets up a bunch of tables, they usually have a mixture of display and sales tables, including a sign promoting the club. More often than not, any trains for sale belong to the club, having been donated as a fund raiser. So they do not belong to the individual watching the table. Only a very few items belong to individuals.

Sometimes folks donate fairly nice stuff, including trains, tools, and supplies. I've purchased plenty of items from their tables.

Actually, since there aren't really dumb questions -- just dumb mistakes by people who don't ask questions, maybe the thread should be renamed "Most common questions at train shows". Just sayin'

Hmm the thread has taken a personal tone... a dumb question implies that person is dumb? On the contrary, I take the post in jest as far what have you heard from the general public... if someones take offense to an answer, maybe they shouldn't  be there in the first place... these are toys and are meant for people to have fun! 

I enjoy the hobby and actively participate, educate, and help repair all scales.

But I cannot help but chuckle at some the people reactions that I come across - thanks for sharing

The only truly stupid things I've seen at a shows involved some crunchy-Vermonty moon-bat mothers.  One was convinced that I was polluting the environment with my train smoke, and the other was convinced I was "promoting war & violence" with my Space & Military train. 

Controversial?  Maybe.  But then why not just wander off to a display that doesn't offend your "precious snowflake" sensibilities instead of making a scene?

Jon

i bought the first O gauge Thomas that Lionel put out (wish they had made it with a more robust motor/ drive) and the only way i could ever get it off the track was to deftly try to slip on his "tired" or "sleeping" face and explain to the kids that Thomas needs a rest.

cheers...gary

I feel for you. Here in the Pacific NW, I found out this is where all the hold hippies left, and imparted their sense of outrage (for anything) to a second generation of people even crazier.

Seriously, protesting stuff is a way of life here, and some people just look for things to be offended by.

Had one of them at the last model train show, standing outside and stewing in their eternal sense of righteous indignation. She declared that trains (of any kind), "foster imperialism."

No, I couldn't get her to explain what that meant, and I did try.

I have zero patience for those of her ilk...

If you're on Oahu, try the Oahu Model Railroad Society. Nice bunch of guys!

https://www.facebook.com/OahuModelRRSociety

Rick

Should,ve asked, "whats wrong with Imperialism?"

That depends on whether you are the imperialistor or the imperalistee.

I don't even engage them anymore. Being into military re-enacting, we get these types all the time, thinking us wearing WW2 stuff has anything to do with current military operations (and all the claimed evils they take part in). I used to argue with them, as I was an Army Captain when I got out and know a great deal about military history, but after a while you just get tired of these people.

I know folks like this are everywhere, but around here, there is a huge community of people just itching for something.... anything... to protest again. And they're not going to let little things like not understanding what they're mad about get in the way of that.

Let's put it this way, Olympia WA (the state capitol) permanently killed the veterans' day parade in 2001 (yes, 2 months after 9/11), yet they never let this parade go down the tubes: http://www.procession.org/

I've seen those folks before........ah yes, now I remember;