I think we should do away with the derogatory term “Foamer” when speaking of railfans. Knowing how birds will gather on signal wires along the right-of-way, “Rail Bird/s” at least to me, seems to be a much more friendly term.
Pardon me but I think you are being much too sensitive.
It’s not the name, it’s the connotation.
“Rail Birds” will be spoken with the same level of digust by some folks as “foamer.”
Best thing to do is make the connotation obsolete…
I think that most of the people who use the term “foamer”, fully intend for the implied meaning to be derogatory
I don’t take any offense at the name. As long as I am not tresspassing or being a nuisance, they can call me whatever they want. I will gladly return the favor.
[#ditto]
I suspect that we railfans don’t really get a choice as to what “they” call us anyway.
Still fascinated with that word, eh, Big Jim?
Personally speaking, I could care less what someone calls me. Unless it is to my face.
That a person would refer to someone else as a “foamer” tells me a lot about that person.
Call me anything but ‘Late for dinner’.
Art: You can’t be insulted without your permission. (Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt)
[#ditto]
This is exactly what my thinking is. And by the way, can anyone tell me where and how the term “foamer” came into use?? That’s a new one to me.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816.
To describe the easily amused-“foaming at the mouth” enthusiast.
There is also a rumor alleging it has to do with a comparison to boiler foam, but I think that is just legend.
You are right about the source of the term Foamer. There are other terms floating around, none of which are suitable for this site!
Looks like a duck…walks like a duck…quacks like a duck.
The term “foamer” is fitting and appropriate.
I completly use it as a derrogatroy term. I use it to describe a photographer up here, takes GREAT pictures, but the guy tresspasses and got SCREAMED at by a DMIR trainmaster for removing a red flag because it was in his picture. I have no respect for him. I mean, the man went railfanning on CHRISTMAS!
I prefer the term rail enthusiast.
I like that or Train Enthusiast. I don’t mind being known as a railfan, but if someone doesn’t like this and thinks of me as a foamer that’s just too bad for them now, isn’t it? I have always been fond of the ever popular spanish based term “Ferroequinologist”. There’s always train buff also.
You don’t.[:D]
Sounds like he has a very understanding wife.
But in all seriousness, you’re right. Has that guy no sense of time and place?? On Christmas, of all days, he had no business railfanning. He ought to have been spending it down in the basement running in the new locomotive he got from his understanding wife for Christmas.
Regards
Ed
Everybody’s a foamer about one thing or another,some more than others,some to extremes that makes you wonder about their sanity,common sense,or both or lack thereof.Foamer=Foaming=Foaming at the mouth=Hoof in mouth disease(I know what the term means,but where the heck did they come up with that?If cattle had intelligence,what would they think of that?).
Have a good one.
Bill B
Lets face it. We’re all nuts. And wouldn’t have it any other way.[:D]
In my life I have engaged in 3 kinds of “clubbish” activity that are a mystery to outsiders.
First I was, for 30 years, a volunteer auto racing official and track worker for a couple of road racing organizations, including the Sports Car Club of America. For a really close view (sometimes way too close) of the racing action I was willing to stand out in the CA high desert about 20 miles SW of Mojave from 7 AM to dark with an hour break for lunch. In July! For no pay except a box lunch and some beer at the end of the day. And I paid all my own expenses. Now that, by any measure, is nutty!
Also, for 20 years, I sang with a classical choir based in Cypress, CA. Once again, we paid for our own expenses; music, clothing, and travel. And we did unending fund-raisers to finance our activities. Long rehearsals and grueling tour schedules galore.
Now, in retirement, I am a rather relaxed railfan. If someone characterizes me as a “Foamer” I care very little. I just think how sane it all seems compared to a winter race at Riverside with the wind whistling off the snow-covered San Gabriels.
Jack