Forum Etiquette Help for New Members

@p51 posted:

I think this speaks to an appreciable percentage in the hobby that tend to be quite "Sheldon Cooper*"-ish and probably operate somewhere in the Autism spectrum. You only have to go to a big train show to see it in action.

I think one of the reasons people end up like this is because they are teased and bullied incessantly as children.

I just looked at him with the same look NCOs would give me when I was saying something stupid as an Army 2nd LT. I then asked that he not stand so close and made it really clear that the only thing preventing me from offering to meet him out back to give him an attitude adjustment he'd remember in his old age was his clear lack of faculties. I then walked away, leaving him to ponder what I'd just said.

*"The Big Bang Theory" show writers clearly weren't big fans of train people and the ravaged us generally for the run of the show, never missing the chance to make train/model train fans appears nuts, lacking in any social skills or pathetic overall. "Pathetic" and "Sad" were words actually used to describe us on a few episodes I remember, one I saw last night on syndication. I'm still a fan of the show regardless. Sadly, their depictions of train folk 100% meet those like them I've met over the years.

The depiction is sad, but do you really think that complaining about this person you met on here is doing anyone any good?  Or the veiled threat of violence?

Why not explain to the young man why you find his attitude unacceptable and maybe coach him how to better himself.  I’d expect more of a former military officer.

TOOG: "There's Only O Gauge" at least that is what I thought someone called it.

Also, I am really surprised that this thread has not been either locked or deleted by now!

@rplst8 posted:

The depiction is sad, but do you really think that complaining about this person you met on here is doing anyone any good? 

It addresses the incorrect assumption brought up here that people in this hobby won't say things to your face that they would be expected to only type online.

Other than train fans, I agree with that assumption, but I've seen what appears to be a lack of social skills (which is pretty prevalent in this hobby) allowing some people at train show to say stuff to people's faces you wouldn't really expect from those in other hobbies (not without losing some of your favorite teeth in response, anyway; Try doing that at a motorcycle or gun show).

That'd be the height of irony - the "Forum Etiquette Help for New Members" thread being shut down for lack of etiquette displayed by its posters !!

@p51 posted:

It addresses the incorrect assumption brought up here that people in this hobby won't say things to your face that they would be expected to only type online.

I think this speaks to an appreciable percentage in the hobby that tend to be quite "Sheldon Cooper*"-ish and probably operate somewhere in the Autism spectrum. You only have to go to a big train show to see it in action.

Your assertions about my post may be true of your experience, but not of mine.  See this is the problem with social media.  I told you this was about my experience, but you assert yours in an attempt to undermine what I know is true for me.  Then you go on and make a broad brushed statement about those on the autism spectrum in our hobby.  I'll tell you what, I know a few people on the spectrum...Happy to know them and have them participate in the hobby.

As on any forum, there's always a few people whose personalities cause issues like this.

• That guy (not being sexist; they're usually guys) who feels they are the first and last word on anything. No matter how obscure the topic, he has to jump in with his rarified opinion to tell you how wrong you are (because, well, he says so). We have a couple of those on this forum; most of you know who I mean
• The type who look for something to be offended by so they can 'school' others
• I call them "forum cops", but they are the ones who must correct others for the most trivial things (such as hyphenating PRR engine classes that was brought up earlier in this thread). You know the guy asking a question on a PRR road numbers 3750 or 1361 meant K4 when he typed K-4. Does it really matter he put the hyphen there? And do we really need to beat people up over small spelling errors?
• Let's not forget the "I know this, so you shouldn't ask the question" types. Someone asks a question because generally, they don't know the answer. Must people beat up on them for asking? Just because you know the answer doesn't mean they already do. Would they be asking otherwise?
• Also, the "this isn't the answer you asked for," type. On another forum, someone asked what kind of equipment would be on a stateside 1952 military train. I posted what I know about the era and what the military equipment by models would likely be, and how they would be painted, grouped together and secured on flat cars. Yet so many others went into the stuff they saw (or heard of) in much later eras. They probably mean well, but wouldn't it better to just not post a non-answer to the question? He had been specific about the time and load types he was looking for, what good does it to do going into something 20 years (or more) later or on another continent?

@p51 posted:

As on any forum, there's always a few people whose personalities cause issues like this.

• That guy (not being sexist; they're usually guys) who feels they are the first and last word on anything. No matter how obscure the topic, he has to jump in with his rarified opinion to tell you how wrong you are (because, well, he says so). We have a couple of those on this forum; most of you know who I mean
• The type who look for something to be offended by so they can 'school' others
• I call them "forum cops", but they are the ones who must correct others for the most trivial things (such as hyphenating PRR engine classes that was brought up earlier in this thread). You know the guy asking a question on a PRR road numbers 3750 or 1361 meant K4 when he typed K-4. Does it really matter he put the hyphen there? And do we really need to beat people up over small spelling errors?
• Let's not forget the "I know this, so you shouldn't ask the question" types. Someone asks a question because generally, they don't know the answer. Must people beat up on them for asking? Just because you know the answer doesn't mean they already do. Would they be asking otherwise?

Which type are you?

This being a train Forum Can't we all just talk about TRAINS. This Thread Should Be Closed. Myself I have read enough.