What do you think a “Serious Participant” or another description “Hardcore”
Model RR builder is?
[:p][8D]
It is whatever you want it to be. Person “a” may not think that person “b” is a serious participant, but person “b” may very well think he/she is.
If a person thinks that he/she is a “serious participant” that’s good enough for me.
What’s your point?
[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][banghead]
I have a lot going on outside of model railroading, so count me out. There is more to life than trains, I think…
I define it as someone who posts messages trying to define who’s “serious” and who is “not,”
I’ll go hang out with the “nots” just on that basis.
If I’m anything, I am a committed model railroader, and that’s sufficient. And the kid who passes up time playing X-box to mess around with a completely non-prototypical and toylike 4x8 loop is committed too. I’ll take him over a “serious” model railroader any day.
I can’t take my hobby seriously. I find that people who are “serious” are over-involved for my taste; they are contrary about your likes and dislikes, make no effort to learn about you…it’s all about them, their road, their locos, their way of modeling, etc. You have nothing to teach them, they want nothing from you, and all they want to talk about, every time you meet them at a social, is trains…their trains. I would call them “hardcore”, but keep such labels to myself. Labeling people is frought with difficulties.
I do other things, and take them at least as seriously as I do my trains. For example, She wants the basement finished, and since we have the process underway, would you expect that I am serious about it? How about compared to my trains? [;)]
-Crandell
WHY?
Are you an occasional participant or a once in a while participant?
Do you model railroad most of the time or a great part of the time?
How high is up?
What’s the meaning of life?
I love trains! But there is more to life than Model RR.
I think it is someone who needs to smile more, loosen up, and have fun with the hobby. I love this hobby, but I try my best NOT to take it or myself seriously!! [8D][8D][:I][:D]
A few questions and answers.
Am I interested in anything that runs on steel rails? Yes.
Am I an active model railroader? Yes.
Am I reasonably knowledgeable about the skills involved? Yes (if I don’t know, my reference library does.)
Am I reasonably knowledgeable about prototype practices? Yes. (Same comment as above.)
Am I a nitpicker? No.
Am I obsesso about my railroad to the total exclusion of anything else? No.
Do I have a life outside of model railroading? I like to think so. So do the people who sell me tickets to sporting and other events.
Am I a serious model railroader? Who cares? I’m having fun.
I don’t get overly attatched to anything anymore - including model railroading. I’ve had things snatched away from me one way or another so many times in life that I no longer take anything seriously…
Tracklayer
<What’s your point?>
<Why?>
I’m just asking the question, to get different peoples opinions, to create a discussion exactly like the one that is going on here.
It’s good for everyone.
So perhaps you could explain the difference between the two choices?
Bob Boudreau
One who doesn’t have any fun [V]
That let’s me out - when this hobby stops being fun I’ll do something else.
Enjoy
Paul
I have no life except for trains and these forums.(maybe that’s just seriously sad)
So perhaps you could explain the difference between the two choices?
Bob Boudreau
[/quote]
“Serious Participant” and “Hardcore” mean the same, in the way I described them.
Six posts a day (average) isn’t “overly attached”? Admit it. You are as hooked on model railroading as the rest of us![:D] We’re all choo-choo junkies!!!
Jeff
I love my R/C car racing but when I have to spend hundreds of dollars per each time I go out and race just to keep my car in the middle of the pack becomes no fun really fast. Am I serious about racing those cars Yes till it became no fun trying to keep up and not going anywere.
I then took up model railroading. Why… Cause as a child I had a train and loved it (I still got it after 25+ years) and it is a hobby that I can enjoy at home with my family and at my leasure. There are no times when I can use the track and when I cant I own the track and it is MINE!!! the R/C race tracks were not the same. I dont model a specific prototype and operate the way they do. I have locomotived from Southern and B&O(2-8-0 consolidations) NW, BN, BNSF, CSX, NS, CEFX, and my own fictional shortline the South Massey. I have all these different roadnames cause I like them and I use them all, why because it is what makes me happy and that is why I do a hobby to be happy and to relax. Am I “hardcore” nope… I love trains but trains are not my life. but I do consider myself serious about model railroading, I have learned a ton I have alot more books now then I did 2 years ago. I got some history about railroads and about america under my belt now and want to learn more. I have dedicated a room in my small apartment to a layout. Again this is to have some fun and to relax as well. That is what this hobby is to me, not a title nor a label.
Judging from the number of people who have read this thread, which is after all, titled: “Serioud Participants in Model Railroading Only” there are fewer than 300 serious model railroaders on this forum.
Not that it matters very much.
-Ed