From the last thread I started I’m wondering if it would help us if we had some bumper stickers with a phrase something like this:
I’M NOT A TERRORIST, I’M A RAILFAN
Let me explain to you how the frightened, paranoid, mind works.
“If I was a terrorist and didn’t want anyone to know what would I say?”
If I put a bumper sticker on my car that says “I’m cute”, does that make it true? (Hope hope hope!)
I like that idea…but you won’t get many railfans to adopt it. And there are many who don’t realize that they are railfans and that there are others.
But being a member of a recognized fan organization and wearing the hat or the shirt or decal or bumper sticker is available to all by being a member.
How about:
I’m a TERRORIST; but I play a Railfan on TV… [:-^]
Sign me up for 2, if you can keep the price for each under $10. I’d suggest instead this slight modification:
"I’M JUST A RAILFAN (TRAIN NUT)
TAKING PICTURES, NOT A TERRORIST !"
- Paul North.
This is where I had my bumperstickers printed… prices start @ $4.95 for 1 sticker… good discounts for multiples.
(Std disclaimer applies, I am not financially or otherwise involved with them; except I sent them money and they sent me the stickers I designed on their website.)
The only problem I had was the big red Heart on the “I <3 Live Steam” sticker needed to dry a week before I stuck it on my car, it smeared ever so slightly when I pressed and rubbed to really stick it down.
Yeah, I get that - welcome to the ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where nothing is as it seems . . . .[:-^]
[:-,] But here’s one way how you can ‘smoke out’ the al Quaeda [sp ?] types:
“Hey, buddy - want a nice pork sausage sandwich and a beer ?” [swg]
- Paul North.
Hey, I’ve got an idea. Suppose we get about 40 to 50 railfans together, load ourselves up with cameras, then put on turbans and fake beards and show up at a rail “hot spot”. Wouldn’t that give certain paranoid types coronarys! Might be fun!
Re: “frightened, paranoid minds.”
There’s a lot more of them than there are of us. Definitely don’t put a MoPac buzz saw on the sticker. It looks too much like a target.
Around here that could get someone shot!
You know, in all seriousness, “Wild Bill” O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren’t happy unless they’re terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there’s any “Johnny Laws” out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren’t the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie?
Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up.
Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It’s called DD2(ret), AKA military ID.
Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF
I don’t need a bumper sticker. Without a need to know, you will know nothing.
And you have either first hand experience, or credentials?
Indeed. A few years ago I was refurbing an incident command board (basically a big HO town) for the county. Part of the project included coming up with models of rail cars carrying hazmat typical for the line that runs through the county.
So I was trackside, taking pictures and notes on the hazmat cars. Imagine the possibilities…
No offense intended Top, I was just trying to make a point, sorry you misunderstood. The thing is, the guy operating out in the open, without guile, not hiding from anyone isn’t the guy the authorities should be worried about. Like most of us I can’t understand why some of them can’t figure that one out. But hey, we’ve all heard of old ladies being shaken down at airports, can’t figure that one out as well.
Wayne, former 1st/Lt USMC(R)
[quote user=“Firelock76”]
tomikawaTT:
Firelock76:
You know, in all seriousness, “Wild Bill” O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren’t happy unless they’re terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there’s any “Johnny Laws” out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren’t the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie?
Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up.
Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It’s called DD2(ret), AKA military ID.
Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF
No offense intended Top, I was just trying to make a point, sorry you misunderstood. The thing is, the guy operating out in the open, without guile, not hiding from anyone isn’t the guy the authorities should be worried about. Like most of us I can’t understand why some of them can’t figure that one out. But hey, we’ve all heard of old ladie
OK gentlemen, now I REALLY stand corrected. Can we agree we don’t have to worry about little old ladies? At least until they start packin’ RPG’s?