Gee,
I think I have known Bob since the second or third ECLSTS when we found ourselves setting beside each other in the lounge at the Show Hotel in Sommerset, NJ. So that is going back a while. I have been a member here for some time, and been more of a lurker than a participant.
One thing this web site has going for it, is that it has none of the Imature Paranoia & Insecuirty that infest some of the other sites. I have seen it have some ups and some downs, but on the upside there have been more ups.
If you leave the other guys alone, they will just eventually go away, which is perhaps where they need to go, just away. You sometimes need to question them, do they own trains or jsut a computer and are lonely, it quickly become evident why some of them may be lonely.
I have always questioned the motives of those that say they are running a web site for the benifit of the hobby, while claiming to have thousands of members all willing to shuck out $20+ dollars a year to belong and particpate in some of the antics that go along with being on those sites.
I have never seen a lot of that here, nor do I expect to.
Do the math at just one thousand members paying $20.00 each that comes to $20,000 a year multiply that by 1 two, three or four and it gets even better yet. Then there are the expenses they claim, well if they are doing it right the sponsors should be paying for the bandwith and equipment, as well as the ads they run.
Seems to me like this could buy a lot of trains, oh and did I mention that usually when they get a product for review its not expected back! That works for me, rarely have I bought a product to review, and when I do get one I tell them if I can not be honest about it, take it back now.
Makes me kind of wonder does the IRS take a close look at all of this hobby supporting big income? Is it even being reported?
I see Bob doing none of this, nor have I ever. He is not tied to any manufacture in any way, nor do I know of any hidden agendas here, I would be shocked to find one.
In the string on Censorship, I think Fred Mills, has expressed his sentiments very well, said a lot that makes sense, not that Fred and I agree on everything or ever will, but read his comments, Fred says it all.
This year I hung up doing train shows, not just to retire, but to get away from being caught in the middle of some of the antics of a few individuals who while trying to destroy each other are moving in the direction of destroying a hobby that I really used to enjoy. Who knows in a year or two I may start to enjoy it again as much as I used to.
Right now I am enjoying the more senseable views that seem to be showing up on here. Most of the old guys who used to make this hobby fun seem to have migrated here over the past few years.
On another note the job of moderator on these sites is getting to be real work, at least once a month or so we have to lock out one or two indiviuals who happen to be pedifiles that have started to see these sites as a place to lurk or advertise. We just had one on the Aristo Craft web a little over a week ago, the link he posted was enough to make you sick, so it takes a constant policing
No I do not go around seeing these sick bastards behind every tree, but since doing the shows, I have had to become more aware of the types of folks that indhabit anywhere a child might. If you see anything at all either in a profile or posting, please let Bob know.
I have not done the chat thing for quite a few years now, after the first year of so I never saw the point in it, I can be in the shop tearing something appart or reading or relaxing rather than doing the chat thing so if you don’t see me there its not because I am anti social.
Bob, this has always been a classy place is and its looking better all the time.
Ron
