Tim Brien said:
Most join this site for the comraderie and family that the site inspires. Like all families, there are the inevitable squabbles and quarrels. Occasionally the 'man of the house' steps in and guides the discussion in a healthy, more ameniable direction. Sometimes 'threats' are implied, but as the owner is held in the highest respect, his words are always heeded, at least for a short time.
Many members of the site are owners or moderators on other forum sites. Apart from a notable exception from another site, who posted twice only, no one pushes or suports the agenda of the site/s they own/moderate.
If a member joins the site to promote interest/support in another forum then he will be treated with caution. If that said member simply joins the site for the benefits gained from this site, then he will be greeted with open arms. Of cause, he will be subject to the occasional eccentric behaviour common on the site. Many of the supposed ‘muck rakers’ have been around the block a few times and represent the knowledge base of this hobby. They are an invaluable resource and this site provides an avenue to channel this information.
There are those insulated individuals who come from ‘sheltered’ sites, who like to be spoonfed information, dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s”. They feel comforted by the nice cosy, warm atmosphere inherent in a boring non-confrontationalist community. These people feel offended by the openess of this site, as it not the type of site they are accustomed to. Instead of conforming to the site, they criticise the behaviour of those who form the backbone of the site. There are then those who throw incendiary devices into the conversation and then exclude themselves from posting for many months, even years. When they return, there is no olive branch, simply more incendiaries.
If a person joins the site to enjoy the site for the treasure trove that it is, then they are welcomed openheartedly. If a member joins simply to support and sponsor their own self interests, then they will be treated with suspicion.
And there are those that just keep throwing incendiary devices but don’t exclude themselves from posting.
And there are those that I believe have a little male chauvinism they don’t want to own up to.
And there are those that have a wierd sense of humour that is not to everyones liking.
My take on all this can be looked at from another perspective-you have gone to a train open house, you have not been specifically invited but saw/heard it was on, you made some comments that the owner heard and did not appreciate so you were asked to leave, you left but felt entitled to voice some complaints in the public arena forums, you did and others have justly or unjustly agreed with you so you all agreed to not go back to that train open house again, others enjoyed themselves and kept going back, end of situation.
Life goes on, the world keeps turning and playing trains is still fun in my neck of the woods, this thread has been done to death, now where did I put that fire extinguisher?
