Yeah, Larry, but in the fire business can the foam be put to good use?
True story, one time I was down by the CP line here and a trackside fire occurred, but was put out by another foamer and myself.
I’ve heard the term for at least 20 years. One theory is the “foam at the mouth” one; another is that it comes from a fire extinguisher called I think “foamite” and apparently commonly called a “foamer”…or something like that, never quite understood the connection.
In the UK a common railfan (excuse me, “railway enthusiast”) term was/is “anorak” from a common (and not very becomming) raincoat that railspotters supposedly wore while waiting for trains in the rain.
OK, true enough…your point is now well taken.
Okay lets beat this thing to death…railroads need customers…so are customers who like trains foamers?
Very possibly, but not necessarily.
I like being called a railfan, or a train buff, even a fanatic (hey, if the shoe fits…), but I would find the term Foamer to be a bit degrading. However I have always been of the opinion let them say what they want, I’m willing to take one on the chin for my hobby.
Hated to listen to Eleanor Roosevelt, her voice grated upon my nerves, but she wrote a good column. Her quote, ‘You can be insulted only with your permission.’ is very good advice, and remembering it has kept me from flairing up at some perceived (by me) insulting retort.
So you can call me a foamer, shortie, a honky, a wimp, four eyes, etc. No problem.
Art
On the plus side…if you have to ask, there’s a good chance your not one.[;)]
…all things in Moderation ya know [:-^]
So when has being interested in something become a liability?
It becomes a liability when the activities associated with “interest” become perceived as a liability to others, especially when the activity is performed in public. I recall a elderly member of the old model railroad club where I learned things as a “junior member”. I went to his apartment one time and it was almost impossible to walk through any of the rooms due to the piles of “train stuff”. It was beyond eccentric, yet since it was in his own private space it didn’t attract much attention from anyone. Railroad photography is done in public and so is inherantly subject to more attention and protential criticism from anyone without the same level of interest. The extremes of “foaming” have been witnessed by most - and the worst I have seen was the fellow who constructed a “sling” to suspend himself from highway overpasses to hang below the bridge and film the oncoming J611. Such activities that are beyond the pale in terms of safety and rationality and word of such things among railway employees and law enforcement have had some effect in “crimping” things for those who try to obey the rules and get good photos while staying out of everyone’s way.
I haven’t been too concerned with what labels folks apply to me for many years. I do mentally “step back” once in awhile and assess my photo location in terms of how non-hobbiests would view it, but more importantly in terms of whether or not it constitutes trespassing or presence in an area and at a time where it could understandably be seen as a threat. If someone wants to think my hobbies are strange, that is fine. If folks don’t want to see my collection of railroad lanterns, they shouldn’t come into my garage.
Worrying about&n
Would this thread fall into the old sticks and stones saying from my youth? For the youngsters on this site that was “Sticks and stones can break your bones but names will never harm you”
Call me what you want but dont call me late for dinner.
Pete
I wrote this a few years ago but I though some that haven’t seen it might get a laugh:
This might help you understand what a foamer is:
Railfan vs Foamer
Definitions:
Railfan…An otherwise normal person that enjoys the persuit of railroad related activities.
That could be one or more of many sub intrests includeing but not limited to observing,
photographing,reasearching,studying,discussing,modeling or just plain following the railroads
of both past,present or future. These people are hard to spot in other circles as they are
functional in normal society.
Foamer…One that aparently looses all mental controll when one or more of the following occure:
- they are in the presence of a: A) a train B) railroad tracks (and in some places railroad
property(s)) C) a piece of railroad memorabilia or D) a conversation or any other communication
related to the subject of railroading. They are easy to detect as most of them are social
disaster areas anyway.
Railroader (non railfan)…One that couldn’t care less what the rest of us falling into the
other categorys think(s) about them or there company. They are the ones that are there to do
a job, earn a liveing and make it home safely every day till retirement.
Railroader (closet railfan)…One that typicaly enjoys there job wether they admit it or not.
They are most likley to be industry insider participants of railroad related forums. they are
fairly easy members to spot as they typicaly use aliases (to protect the innocent of course)
but are otherwise forthright with there experiences and opinions,reguardless of what the foamers
think.
Railroader (and railfan)…one that enjoys there profession and is willing to share there
experiences and/or wisd
[quote user=“chad thomas”]
I wrote this a few years ago but I though some that haven’t seen it might get a laugh:
This might help you understand what a foamer is:
Railfan vs Foamer
Definitions:
Railfan…An otherwise normal person that enjoys the persuit of railroad related activities.
That could be one or more of many sub intrests includeing but not limited to observing,
photographing,reasearching,studying,discussing,modeling or just plain following the railroads
of both past,present or future. These people are hard to spot in other circles as they are
functional in normal society.
Foamer…One that aparently looses all mental controll when one or more of the following occure:
- they are in the presence of a: A) a train B) railroad tracks (and in some places railroad
property(s)) C) a piece of railroad memorabilia or D) a conversation or any other communication
related to the subject of railroading. They are easy to detect as most of them are social
disaster areas anyway.
Railroader (non railfan)…One that couldn’t care less what the rest of us falling into the
other categorys think(s) about them or there company. They are the ones that are there to do
a job, earn a liveing and make it home safely every day till retirement.
Railroader (closet railfan)…One that typicaly enjoys there job wether they admit it or not.
They are most likley to be industry insider participants of railroad related forums. they are
fairly easy members to spot as they typicaly use aliases (to protect the innocent of course)
but are otherwise forthright with there experiences and opinions,reguardless of what the foamers
think.
Railroader (and railfan)…one that enjoys there profession and is willing to share there
experiences and/or wisdom with the res
Once, I was asked by someone why I shoot photos of trains. I simply replied “I am who I am, and I do what I do.”
I don’t feel that I have to offer anyone an explanation as to what my hobbies are, as I don’t ask them to explain their’s.
I have known knitters, coffee can collectors, label collectors, Star Wars action figure collectors, collectors of antique glass, games, toys, whatever… I just figure if someone enjoys it, and it helps them keep their sanity, then, who am I to criticize?
A good example of a “foamer” happens in the movie “The Station Agent” where Peter Dinklage pays a railfan (non-foamer). Theres a scene though where he’s at a club meet and there showing film of a steam excursion where the foamer cameraman is showing and narrating a movie, he’s filming out of a window and can bearly see the locomotive, but he keeps filming even when the train is in a tunnel, “it was a very long tunnel” he says about a full minute into the dark screen. That is a foamer. [;)]