This is a public service announcement. This message is for every member, and not aimed at any individual in particular, but applies equally to both old and new members.
This is OUR hobby!!
There is NO right or wrong way to do things!!
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but personal attacks will not be tolerated. It is acceptable to disagree with other members, it is not acceptable to attack other members by name calling or ill wishing.
This forum is not moderated in the traditional sense, and it is not censored. It is however monitored by the sponsors and the members. The purpose is to provide a pleasant and fun way for people interested in trains, to communicate and share, experiences and ideas.
If you find yourself getting angry over something that you see here, instead of responding with more anger, simply take a break. Step away from the keyboard, or write an email to a friend, but do not “fire” a post in anger.
Your help in this matter will make this forum more fun for everyone!
Those of you reading this message may wonder “who does this guy think he is, and what gives him the right to tell everyone else how to behave?”
The answer is that I am just another member like everyone else. The only difference is that I have more experience in this particular forum. Many other people have been members longer than I have, and some have more posts on other forums, but few have spent as much time participating and contributing to this one.
I have met a lot of people here over the last few months, and made a number of new friends, and look forward to meeting everyone as time goes on.
The impending changes in the OGR forum have presented this forum with some interesting challenges. This transition period will be awkward for for
And to think, 100 years from now, this could be one of those 100th Anniversary Cars Lionel does… “Smokey_Boy_4005 says Only You Can Prevent Forum Fires.” [:D]
Gosh, never mind if Lionel is around in another 100 years. Can you imagine what the list price on that would be!!! [:0]
Part of the problem is the medium of internet forums. I would bet just about everyone would not be this “uncivil” face to face. Unfortunatly just typing words on a screen gives people courage(kind of like beer muscles) and for some people this is a dangerous thing. If this behavior continues then there probably will be some kind of moderator or if there isn’t things will just get worse. So like I tell my 5 and 7 year olds" you better clean up or I will do it for you and you will not like my way."
Also just because there are alot of new people (myself included) does not mean it gives anyone the right to act badly. Everyone knows the etiquette if they have been online for any length of time so there really is no excuse for bad behaviour.
Finally I don’t really care one way or the other about using big bold letters in a post. For me it is actually easier to read!!
We use E-mail a lot at work. Biggest problem with it is miss-reading peoples attitudes. Try looking at it from the other persons view once. Then go play with your trains for an hour.
Oh, and Willrothfuss, I consider this to be your pond too. You and I may not be as far apart in our philosophy as you might think. I have read almost all of your posts, but I don’t honestly expect you to have read all of mine. When you do run across mine, I do hope that you will read them, then you will see what I mean.
Please don’t think of me as a snob, or a bully but as an advocate for this forum.
Actually, I think of you as an advocate for trains in general, both toy and scale. Your membership in both the TCA and NMRA speaks to that. Your posts are one of the things that started me coming to this forum in the first place.
For those of you who want to get to know Elliot a little better, check out Volume 6 of TM’s Great Toy Train Layouts of America. I especially liked his comment about what he did in his teenage years!
Thank you Chris!Though I’ve tried to remain humble about it, people are beginning to figure that fact about me out. I have tried to build my reputation here without leaning on my past, but won’t deny that I do enjoy when people discover the connection.[bow][swg]
Good words and recommendations. So far it looks to me like we new posters on this forum are getting along fine, both with CTT veterans and OGR refugees. I seems to me that most of us OGR guys are spending more time here because: 1) we object to additional fees that are being implemented by OGR; 2) we think there’s a bit of a heavy hand on OGR with respect to forum moderation; and 3) we’re not as rigid about scale as many OGR posters are.
For me personally, I find this forum to be more laid back than the other one and a lot of fun to read. If everyone enjoys his model trains as much as I do, even though my layout is small and undeveloped, then we’ll have a great bunch here who have much in common and much to share.
Hey, Big Boy— After I learn how to make the print bigger I’ll just say that your time is done, and WE’RE TAKING OVER. That’s not a “challenge” that’s a FACT. Odd-d
“Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat.”
– Theodore Roosevelt, 1899
I had paid my 18.00 on OGR and came here to try it out just in case the new look doesn’t pan out. I am going back to the OGR forum. People there are much friendlier and there is more of a sense of comaraderie. It seems that some on this forum feel like you have to ask their permission before you can post. I have seen many " Since you guys came here I see…" comments. Read the K-Line yuch post to see what I mean. So if OGR decides to charge 50.00 I will stay there. See you CTT. I wish I can say its been a pleasure
I agree – especially in the case of this thread started by some guy flexing his “beer muscles.” I hope he’s an exception to this place and not the norn. [V]