How many people would like to take part in the “Chat Room”, but don’t…
Why not ?
It can be a friendly place, to ask questions, and meet new friends…it is open to everybody, and everyone is welcome.
Fred, I do sometimes wander into there, but when I do its usually the wrong time. The 2 or 3 folks that are in there are leaving, or are not talking. Maybe its my deodorant, I dunno.
We need more west coast people, those east coast guys go to bed too soon!
Greg, yea, I have an early bed time on school nights. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
OK West Coast guys…Often I would stick around, but you guys seldom drop in…after all; I’m retired and can stay up until any hour I care to. Most of the “East Siders” are either retired but still working, or their mothers won’t won’t let them stay up late…!!
If more “West Siders” showed up, around 21:00 EST, or thereabouts, we might have a good extended chat…and involve more great ideas, and share some knowledge. We might even chat about Railroading, or things connected with it. Humour is always welcome…!!! Please put on your “Thick Skins” and join in for some fun…
I’d actually prefer if thick skins wernt required for chat…
Bob McCown said:
I’d actually prefer if thick skins wernt required for chat…
They aren’t
I honestly always forget that there is a Chat group on this site, most of the time I am viewing this site on my cell phone and cant see the small print!
I just look for pictures!
Fred,
A couple of reasons why I stopped going into the chat here & over at MLS.
1st- The time is right when my kid (soon to be kids) are finishing dinner, getting a bath and going to bed (1800-2000 PST). Then, if I have time before I go to bed (2100-2200) I try and spend it with my wife, whom I haven’t seen all day because I’ve been teaching.
2nd- If I have time for myself (wife/kids gone) I set that aside for modeling time. The garage/workshop doesn’t have a computer, and therefore no chat. Or I sit at the computer and chat and not work on any projects. I usually choose to go into the workshop.
3rd- When I do check LSC at 2000-2100 (PST) I don’t see anyone in the chat room. Granted, if more West Coasters were online, I might be more willing to stay. But then I go back to option 1 & 2.
Everyone lives a different life, with different priorities. We all fill whatever free time we have in ways that suit us best. I’m sure most people wish that a thick skin wasn’t an asset, but that’s the way it is, in life; NOT just in a chat room.
Many people in the height of conversation, get tripped up, and express themselves in such a way that some people, on the spur of the moment take as offensive, without re-reading, and considering that what was said might not really convey what was really meant. We all get trapped in these situations, just because we are human beings; thus having what is called a “Thick skin” can prevent us from jumping to “Overly quick” conclusions, and causing a rupture in communications…
Forgiveness is a strength that we are all capable of using, but too often it is a strength little used in the height of misunderstanding.
It isn’t just on web pages, chats, and forums. It happens more often just across the back fence, or across the table over coffee…more often when bheer is involved and minds get a wee bit soggy…!!!
Well, Fr. Fred, I just don’t have time. I’m retired now, but by the time I drive myself doing “stuff” all day, 'round about dark, I fall asleep.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
In the mid (19) fifties we were about to go into a restaurant in a western Montana town when my sister balked. “We can’t go in there!” When asked why, it was a reasonable reply; “Because rustlers and men who drink beer are in there!”
Great food by the way.
To go. why?(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
John
PS; I never think of it.
John…is that what could be called a “Metaphor”…? !!!
Oh Fred, The older I get, the less I know!
Methinks anecdote perhaps… or semaphore?
Happy Rails
John
Kudos to Bob for creating the chat room, and to you, Fred, a real booster of the entire hobby, not only of the chat.
My own reasons for not ‘chatting’ are an amalgam of Lou’s and Craig’s and Vincent’s and David M’s, and over and above all those there is my appallingly slow, $85.00 per year dialup internet connection, AKA my appalling frugality!
That connection is good enough for us since as a rule we only use the net for e-mails; when I have something heavy to do I use the high speed connection freely available at the public library 'round the corner. My cheapness frees up some of my money for other purposes…
But I digress. From all the replies here it appears that the chat room is a fine idea that works very well for the group who make regular use of it. Nothing personal, no offense: Just carry on enjoying yourselves!
Most of us who value the friendships we have formed here, and in all other respects love being part of LSC, are simply otherwise occupied. Cheers!
Ery-one knows a semaphore is half a phore. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
But to the topic: I don’t “chat” because I forget there are folks out there lurking–even though it tells ya when you log on. But mostly, I am a slow, mistake-prone typer who gets tangled up in the keys, gets angry and freaks out at his own ineptitude. BTW, my wife, who is nine years younger and a So Cal gal, can’t believe I don’t know how to touch type. I always blame the nuns (they’re an easy target), but truth is back in the candlelight era, most folks didn’t have typewriters. We did, because my mom had been in the newspaper biz and had great secretarial skills. But my best buddy’s family who were “comfy” didn’t have a typewriter. Plus in high school, they piled on the Latin, Greek, and a ton of furrin’ lan-ages and taught zero typing, figuring we are all destined to become captains of industry who would hire people to do that stuff. Eye-ronically, I became a writer in spite of it all and can go pretty fast but not so much error free. Fortunately, there’s always Spell Check, or Spelczyk, which was the Polish family name before they Americanized it so they could assimilate into our great society.
I’m with you, Joe. I use the aviation method of typing… circle the field twice, and land.
Gee Steve, I always seamed to end up on an extended downwind.
Steve, don’t get me started. I have from back in the day, 80 hours in a 150. It didn’t take, mostly 'cause I couldn’t navigate. Maybe it was the Good Lord’s way of protecting babies and fools. Now as for fast cars, well, I got a steel plate in my heel to prove what happens when you know what (%#@*) happens. Put another way, I ran out of brains.
I’ve been on chat more lately, and it’s always friendly and fun.
I’m trying to be on more regularly.
Also, being able to post pictures is a nice plus.
Greg