“Mind you, I’ve cunningly dodged making any comment on the contents of these multifarious postings. ;)”
Yeah, right. 
tac Foley said:
On the other claw, if it’s in four figures, that’s a pretty darn serious poster
Or they are full of crap and hot air…I mean I am a four digit poster and I don’t know squat and like to talk a lot.
by the way that was a self deprecating joke aimed only at me
Thats OK Devon, my wife says I’m full of crap all the time (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Funny I see the big wigs chastising Lionel for the wide gauge…
Devon,
Don’t let the numbers fool ya, you have a lot of catching up to do. You’ve given a bunch too, it all works out.
John
John Caughey said:
Funny I see the big wigs chastising Lionel for the wide gauge…
Devon,
Don’t let the numbers fool ya, you have a lot of catching up to do. You’ve given a bunch too, it all works out.
John
Lionel? May Polks for too narrow for 1:29.
Lionel, according to some wag in the late 40’s or early 50’s, measured all the Lionel he could get his hands on, figured it was really 1:52 to 1:53, NOT 1:48.
However…0 scale/gauge…the gauge is wide for 1:48. Almost 5’. The original fix was 17/64ths scale, but the nmra didn’t like multiple scales on one gauge, and such items “do not meet nmra standards”, so it went away.
20-30 years later, some nmra working group decided the “fix” was Proto48…with oh, roughly 1-1/8" gauge instead of the 1-1/4".
That’s who gets chastised…not Lionel.
TOC
I was replying to:’ he prolly taught Mr Lionel all he knows…’
Not correcting all the ills in the hobby, but thanks.
John
tac Foley said:
Pete Thornton said:
Q: how is a “newbie” supposed to know that the dude posting all these (possibly unwelcome) comments is actually a respected veteran ? If you haven’t been around as long as we have, you’d have no idea that TOC knows what he is talking about, even if he doesn’t sugar-coat any of it.
Look at the left-hand side of the post - pay attention to the post count…if it’s in triple figures, that’s a fairly serious poster. On the other claw, if it’s in four figures, that’s a pretty darn serious poster, and if it’s getting on for FIVE figures, well, he prolly taught Mr Lionel all he knows…
Mind you, I’ve cunningly dodged making any comment on the contents of these multifarious postings.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Post count might be an indicator, but in my case it’s not and indicator of knowledge, it’s an indicator of spending way too much time behind the keyboard (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif)
Daktah John said:
Post count might be an indicator, but in my case it’s not and indicator of knowledge, it’s an indicator of spending way too much time behind the keyboard (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif)
Yeah that’s what I was thinking about myself also. John is right I have more posts than a lot of people on here that are far more experienced and knowledgeable than I when it comes to railroading in general and large scale in particular. One reason I have so many posts (besides having to much computer time) is because I am asking, learning, and gaining knowledge.
But in reality that would be the sign of a pretty darn serious poster also, one who is earnestly seeking knowledge. I hope I am contributing back and yeah some of you guys can kinda be rough on the new guy (eh John…it might all still be a pipe dream, I will let you know) but your knowledge base has been crucial to my learning.
What they don’t show on this iteration of the forum is join date. makes a difference. If you have 1500 posts in a month…or 3181 in 10 years.
I joined this group the week it started, when LySOL took it’s leave of us all the first time.
I’ve been around the block once or twice.
I don’t spend much time on these forums anymore. Too much drama. Like this thread.
I come when called or alerted.
I’ll probably disappear here again in a while.
TOC
Another answer to the “how did I know”…
First, issuing a personal comment should be independent of whether the person is new, experienced or a jerk (although that takes patience).
Insulting someone because you think $30 is too little to worry about is an insult, a personal comment not allowed on this forum (well, at least Bob has said so).
Another comment on the “how did I know…” … do what I did, READ the forums for a few years before posting… then you KNOW who is experienced, who is a newbie, what kind of response to get from your post.
Did not take me long to identify people llike George Schreyer, TOC, etc. They had answers, and their answers worked.
It’s not rocket science, but patience and courtesy is required.
Greg
Greg Elmassian said:
Another comment on the “how did I know…” … do what I did, READ the forums for a few years before posting… then you KNOW who is experienced, who is a newbie, what kind of response to get from your post.
Greg, correct me if I am wrong in my understanding of this part of your post and if I am off base, but you have told me on more than one occasion that you mean exactly what you state. I have developed respect for your input and am in agreement with most of what you said in you last post except the above. While I know your not saying this should be a rule, or even that everyone should do this, but I can’t imagine being new to a hobby or a community within that hobby where I would sit for two years and not interact but merely listen to the elders. I would not imagine joining my local railroad club and showing up to meetings and not talking or interacting with other members for two years. I would not pay my dues annually for two years and not participate beyond just listening. I join the club specifically to interact and be a part of something and converse and in doing so learn as I go.
I feel this site is no different. I did not join so I could merely listen to what other have to say for two years without participating in the community. I did not pay my annual dues so that I could listen to what only the old timers had to share. This is a club and or community to me. I come here to socialize, communicate, share, and learn, and maybe even impart some knowledge about a hobby I love.
Since being here for 6 months or so I have listened and learned much. But had I not posted and asked questions it would not have spawned conversation that lead to my personal learning. It would not have provided a place for others to learn from my questions as well. I would not have learned from other new comers asking rookie questions and getting answers from the knowledgeable old timers. It would not have given you old timers a chance to impart the knowledge necessary because no rookie questions would be asked because the rookies would be quiet.
I am not being critical. I am just saying that a site where only the few old timers were talking would be stagnant because you all wouldn’t have anything to talk about because you have all already been there. New comers would quickly leave because there would be nothing for them to learn. I have been to sites where only the old timers are talking and not much is being said and there isn’t much new activity.
So while I respectfully give you credit for your opinion I also hope no one takes that particular piece of advice. I hope no one new shows up and waits two years to post their first post.
I certainly hope I misunderstood your suggestion.
I really read for a few years before posting.
I actually read all the posts on LSOL, and a couple other forums.
I found that I had VERY FEW ORIGINAL questions. Many things I wanted to know about were not only already on the forum, but there were extensive discussions.
By the way, on most forums, listed with the rules, is that as a newbie you should search the forum first before asking.
I read George Schreyer’s entire site THREE times.
Not everyone has the patience to do this, most people are too impatient or, well, lazy (to search before asking). When I finally started posting, you can be pretty sure I did not ask the elementary questions… I had some good knowledge not only of answers, but the fundamentals underlying the answers.
I did not tell anyone to emulate me, I just recounted another way to get knowledge, and literally, answer the question “how would I know…”
Greg
Greg Elmassian said:
…Not everyone has the patience to do this, most people are too impatient or, well, lazy (to search before asking).
How very true…think its called hand holding… (I think - - well, lazy - - should read too lazy!!)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
I agree with Greg as I read a lot in forums and I also read George’s site before posting.
Only thing I would suggest to newcomers is when laying track outdoors look at what is being done in your area as different materials are available in different parts of the world as members like Greg are near salt water in a dry/warm state, and I am nowhere near water in a very wet cold state with snow, but sand and gravel for great drainage.
I wrote a big long response and erased it. It sounded like I was whining.
I will ask this instead. Is the above response from Greg, Ross and Dan a general consensus of the people on this forum? That new comers should, before asking there questions, research the forum archived posts exhaustively before asking their questions? And post only when no answer can be found? Are repetitive elementary questions from rookies that have been addressed before many times, unwanted?
If we were getting answers from a paid staff, then anything goes, but it’s all voluntary. How many times do you answer the same question before suggesting there are complete answers already in the archives…? That’s a personal call.
John
If you read the different headings of the various fora on LSC it seems that only one of them actually mentions ‘ask a question’ and that is the one entitled Problem Solving. Most of the others use the words discuss or talk about. The interesting parts of this place, to me anyway, is what the others guys are achieving - or trying to achieve - plus the good modeling threads which are often inspirational. If you want to fight then maybe the social sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. are good places to visit. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
In answer to your question, Devon, no, I don’t mind answering the same question, multiple times. What I might do, though, is provide a specific link for the noob to look further. I suspect that most here, are of the same mind.
I don’t have the time nor energy to dig through the archives or search. Most of the results are not the answer I’m seeking anyway. So if I need some hints or advice, I’m going to ask outright in a new post. I will always receive good hints or advice.
John Bouck said:
I don’t have the time nor energy to dig through the archives or search. Most of the results are not the answer I’m seeking anyway. So if I need some hints or advice, I’m going to ask outright in a new post. I will always receive good hints or advice.
And this is most often the case. My question may be similar to what has been asked before, but I can always find a new twist.