Do we have an(y) obligation to look beyond ourselves and/or our immediate friends, to support and bolster the GR hobby [indoor or outdoors, operating or running], for the future young [Engineers], by participating in Clubs, Public displays, Tours, Shows, dedicated Forums, and possibly purchasing magazines dedicated to our under-rated hobby?
JimC.
Everybody has an obligation to do what they are asked or called to do.
My little corner is making dang sure the products that come out are the best they can be.
Spent 10 years now doing it, don’t get paid a dime, but what we get from at least one manufacturer is not even comparable except in name to the junk 10 years ago.
Someday you’ll find out about the latest escapade.
Do what you can to encourage, and to make sure they don’t get DIScouraged with junk.
Probably the biggest failing of “How Ordinary” or “Half Zero” in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s anyway.
Jim Carter said:
Do we have an(y) obligation to look beyond ourselves and/or our immediate friends, to support and bolster the GR hobby [indoor or outdoors, operating or running], for the future young [Engineers], by participating in Clubs, Public displays, Tours, Shows, dedicated Forums, and possibly purchasing magazines dedicated to our under-rated hobby?JimC.
I’m with HJ on the yes, no, and maybe response. I don’t see that anyone has any obligation to join any club or participate in any trade show or any displays or anything else. But if you do participate, then you have an obligation to support that organization or event to the best of your ability. I’m of the firm belief that what ever you do you should give it your best…or step aside so others can fill the gap and accomplish the goals that have been set out.
My answer covered life in general.
If you are called and refuse, well, that’s your problem.
I don’t do clubs anymore.
No time for politics.
But, the young-uns that come around here, we show them, enlighten them, and do our part for the hobby as a whole.
Probably the worst is folks who feel that any commentary on a product has to be “bashing” and loudly proclaim stuff, trying to drown out the reporter.
And, then they get problems.
There is a lot to this, not just clubs.
Well, from a purely selfish POV, my ex-USAF pal Broos and I run evening sessions of our portable large-scale stuff up on the nearby base at least three times a year. We use a couple of joined-up open-plan classroom and LOTS of tables to get a good viewing height - and manage to arrange pretty wide-radius curves as well, which helps with my Accucraft stuff. We do it for the delight of it, and to show the kids that life is not all full of teeny thingies you hold in both hands while looking at a TV screen…
We do the same thing for a couple of local Brit schools and cub-scout troops, as well.
I am secretary and part-owner of a moderately large 7.25" gauge NG train operation not far from where I live. We have Welsh slate quarry-style live-steam NG locos as well as my 3" scale Ffestiniog Railway diesel switcher that some of you may have seen over the years. Although we are a private Society, we open the gate every month to the public and have two running days a year where we hand over every penny to a local charity of one kind or another.
As for running at home, and opening the doors to the public, there is no way on earth that I would ever do it here in yUK. It’s a pretty good bet that you would be robbed or vandalised - maybe both - within the week. In any case, the local kids, many of who MUST have heard the noise of the trains over the years, as well as seen them from their windows, have never once come knocking asking to see the trains, no matter how loud I have turned up the volume…
I reckon that between us, Broos and I must see over 500 kids of impressionable age every year, and if that doesn’t make any impression, then it’s not down to us if they don’t follow up the interest. I stopped living other folks’ lives for them almost three years ago when our disabled daughter left home.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
The answer is…
Whatever YOU want to do.
Its a personal choice as to how involved you want to become. Personally I help out at a booth at the Big Train Show each year, I enjoy it and get to met some interesting people.
But I feel no obligation to evangilise my interests. Its been my experience that most people could care less and while they might enjoy walking past a free public display would never equate said display to doing something like that on their own. Trainshow crowds are different, as they had to pay to get in, and likely have some experience in other scales and are usually more open minded to trying large scale.
I was at a train show pulling back issues of the Gazette out of a box when I got into a conversation with a couple about narrow gauge, when they asked what scale I modeled they stated that they were thinking about LS, we talked a good while and I answered as many questions as I could and later that day they left with a Bachmann set and plans to get some brass track and give it a whirl.
I seriously doubt that series of events would have occured at a local mall display.
(reposted from GR…)
You have an obligation to yourself to do whatever makes you happy. If being in a club makes you happy for the companionship of like-minded fellows, then do it. However, if you decide to join a club, I think that you must be active, and not wait on the sidelines for your fellows to set up the layout at the show, arrive with your locomotive and cars and expect to run on the layout, and then leave before tear-down time. If the club has a fundraiser, you must participate. If you can’t do those things and others, then why bother? I think that by joining a club, you take on an obligation to support that club as much as you are able.
If you can’t stand the “politics” of a club (and I can certainly understand that, I have been in some Duzzies) then being in a club is probably not for you and you should not take on that obligation. There are other ways to serve our hobby. (BTW, I define “politics” as the art of getting along with others.)
On the other hand, if all you want to do is run your trains at home, and take from your contemporaries and those who have gone before, what kind of person does that make you? You will soon be found out, and don’t be surprised if people react accordingly.
A certain Rabbi (teacher) who had been a carpenter some 2000 or so years ago said it best, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”
Jim Carter said:
Do we have an(y) obligation to look beyond ourselves and/or our immediate friends, to support and bolster the GR hobby [indoor or outdoors, operating or running], for the future young [Engineers], by participating in Clubs, Public displays, Tours, Shows, dedicated Forums, and possibly purchasing magazines dedicated to our under-rated hobby?JimC.
Reading the replies in other fora to the same question sure put this one in perspective - LSCers are a pretty tame group ;)!
On my YES: only in as much as you feel comfortable. If you think people participating in clubs or operating groups are all a bunch of Yahoos, it’s best to stay home with adjustable mirrors to have company if you need some.
On my NO: why waste your time if you don’t enjoy the interaction or just don’t have the personality to communicate. Sour Pusses on display are still Sour Pusses!
On my MAYBE: There will always be those who soak up information like sponges and to get it out of them is like squeezing the proverbial stone. But each of us can decide where to pass on information and by what means; just like we decide where to gather information and by what means.
BTW I see the hobby in a wider way, it is trains that fascinate me. Large Scale is just one segment of a whole wide array of things.
One of the neatest memories from my childhood is the time our Grade 3 teacher had us build transformers for our model railways. Very neat project which involved a lot of different aspects of learning.
Yes, there are many different ways to pass on hobby knowledge - I used to teach a “Basics of Model Railroading” course for the schoolboard back East - and there are people of all ages who are interested. Just like Dave “the Curmudgeon” I emphasize “Don’t buy junk!”, junk comes in many guises!
Amen
Steve Featherkile said:
On the other hand, if all you want to do is run your trains at home, and take from your contemporaries and those who have gone before, what kind of person does that make you? You will soon be found out, and don't be surprised if people react accordingly.A certain Rabbi (teacher) who had been a carpenter some 2000 or so years ago said it best, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”
The Lone Railroader said:
.........................Started in G Scale in 1980…only one brand then…The hobby’s come a long way…and I’ve promoted this hobby for all these years at shows and events around the World…save your Sermons…I’ve done my part!..Now, I rest.
Sorry, but that is just too good to let pass.
May you now rest in peace!
Here we go again .
The question is asked , do we have a responsibility to others ?
Yes , in all aspects of life , we do . Drive on the correct side of the road . Imagine if we decided “today I shall drive on the left”
Do we have a responsibility to behave decently at a railway show ?—a big jump there from the wrong side of the road , I know , but read on .
Yes , of course we do . We don’t shove 230 volts down the track while we go for a pee in the hope it will deter people from touching the layout .
So where do we stop ?
In response to a quote above , define “junk” .Who the blazes is to say what is junk ? That sort of “responsibility” comes down heavily on the side of unwarranted interference in someone else’s enjoyment . If you think something is junk , best keep your trap shut . One man’s junk is another man’s pride and joy . How many of us respomsible people stop to think how we affect someone by saying "Don’t buy that , it’s crap " ?
There are some rail items mentioned on this site which I really do not like . You will never find out , though . Why should I air my superior views ?
I’ve told this story before , it is true , so I shall repeat it briefly , I witnessed an asshole of a bystander in a shop tell a little kid , who had obviously been saving his money to buy this item ,"you don’t want that sonny .It’s rubbish " You should have seen this kid’s face drop , poor little bugger . The ratbag who caused this found the error of his ways when I invited him outside the shop to talk . How dare he ruin the joy of a kid like that ? The shop owner thanked me for getting rid of a total pain in the ass .
Responsibility is thinking before you do anything that is likely to cause distress , it is not just applicable to rail modelling , it applies in life . To all of us .
For better clarity!
hj said:
[b]Just like Dave "the Curmudgeon" I emphasize "Don't buy junk!", junk comes in [i] many guises[/i]![/b]
And who is to define junk ? Evil is in the eye of the beholder . It is best left there , lest the messenger gets hurt along with the buyer of junk .
Let me give you a "for example "
If I show someone a model that I have made , and ask “wotja think of that then ?” and I get the reply “Crap” that is entirely my own fault for asking .
It does not , however , upset me , because the next viewer may go overboard with compliments . So the responsibility there has shifted to myself , entirely .
Unasked for opinions about the desirability of items is irresponsible . It is also very ill mannered . People that offer these gems of their wisdom generally have a deficit of some sort if they get enjoyment out of causing upset over their unasked for utterances . So they are irresponsible ; the question “should we be responsible” requires the answer "Yes " if we are to live in a caring society .
Jim,
I understand what you are trying to say. But, do we have an obligation? I don’t think so. This is a hobby. I don’t want to build a better World because of my hobby. I don’t want to end World hunger because of my hobby. I want to enjoy my toy trains. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, will I share that? Absolutely! Do it all the time. That is part of my enjoyment. Am I obligated? No.
Its just a hobby. A pleasant past time. Something that keeps me out of the bars.
Mike Morgan said:
And who is to define junk ? Evil is in the eye of the beholder . It is best left there , lest the messenger gets hurt along with the buyer of junk .Mike
Junk is quite similar to that.
Those with sufficient experience in any given field will readily advise on what they have found to be “junk” and why it is “junk”.
Of course that does not prevent the enquirer to go ahead and buy precisely that “junk”. Some “junk” is absolutely irresistible.
Beauty ? Ah , you must be an idealist . But “junk” similar to beauty ?
The biggest problem with the junk definers is generally their total lack of experience in any given field . I have had a lot of experience in fields , but would hesitate to advise someone else on whether or not it was junk , even if the junk was irresistable and got me into the field in the first place .
Mike
Hehehe - fun direction this topics taking…
One persons gold is anothers garbage.
I hate cheesy gaudy crappy trains like New Bright produces, but I have had very good success converting Scientific Toys frieght cars by simply adding bogie trucks, new couplers, and painting them into very reasonable narrow gauge cars.
I’ve taken the creme de la creme of crapola from Mr Bachmann, namely the 2-4-2 Columbia, gutted it and made a nifty engine representing a geared Dunkirk!
It is all relative…one persons garbage IS anothers gold.
Victor Smith said:
Hehehe - fun direction this topics taking...One persons gold is anothers garbage.
I hate cheesy gaudy crappy trains like New Bright produces, but I have had very good success converting Scientific Toys frieght cars by simply adding bogie trucks, new couplers, and painting them into very reasonable narrow gauge cars.
I’ve taken the creme de la creme of crapola from Mr Bachmann, namely the 2-4-2 Columbia, gutted it and made a nifty engine representing a geared Dunkirk!
It is all relative…one persons garbage IS anothers gold.
Re: Hehehehe
No problem, just because some people don’t get the message, doesn’t mean the message hasn’t been sent.
If someone asks me what I think of “X” based on my experience, I’ll tell him/her.
I’ve been doing that in several different fields for many, many years, model railroads is just one of them.
And it happens sometimes that someone who heard about that same “Deal” went ahead, bought it and then kicked himself. Of course at first he thought the other guy, who went on my advice, was a “rube”.
One can almost make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, given enough time and extra money. In those cases I usually ask: “Do you really like tinkering and do you have all the “stuff” that you will need?”
“Stuff” is like “junk”, it comes in various guises and the “Way over my head” exclamation follows somewhere along the way.
More than thirty years ago I was building a HO layout, for some strange reason I needed a curved crossover to fit a specific situation. No one made such an animal in the required dimensions. So I decided to handlay the beast, never-ever handlaid a piece of track before, so the curved crossover was the perfect place to start. All my hobby buddies agreed!
But I had all the “stuff” required, it wasn’t very pretty since I used ties for the whole distance which ran the width of the double track section. What counted was reliability, since it was in a hidden section. BTW when I tore down the layout I didn’t save that part, it wasn’t remarkable enough in my opinion.
Oh yeah, while we’re on the track business, starting out in HOm I found out in a real hurry that the mfg’s track was “junk”. “Junk” in that case meant their own equipment wouldn’t run reliably on their own track. Alternative? Handlaid track! That mfg, who makes excellent rolling stock, later went with OEM track which also left much to be desired. IMO more junk! And anyone who would ask me if I would buy “X” brand, would hear “NO” and the exact reasons why not.
PS after rereading the above, YES we have an obligation and if asked, giving ones own experience with “X” product is in my opinion part of the obligation. It can be as pretty as first flower in the Spring, if it isn’t up to par in other ways, it needs to be mentioned when one is asked. And it also needs to be mentioned when one does reviews, writes contributions to mags or whatever. If someone’s holy ox gets gored in the process, too bad!
Of course one could also write an article entitled: “I took a perfect piece of junk and made something functional out of it!”. Since it would be several pages - what with all the fixing and mending - it should bring a bit of money, too.