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Post by onequiknova on Jul 2, 2013 6:29:06 GMT -8
There is one good thing about this new forum software. It allows you to block certain user's posts from showing up during your forum visit. Just click on the offending member's profile, click the little gear on the top right, select "block user", then select "block posts". It's almost like they don't exist.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 11:06:22 GMT -8
There is one good thing about this new forum software. It allows you to block certain user's posts from showing up during your forum visit. Just click on the offending member's profile, click the little gear on the top right, select "block user", then select "block posts". It's almost like they don't exist. Cool, thanks for the heads up John. Just added two to the sin bin. |
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Post by rmcroadster on Jul 2, 2013 15:19:43 GMT -8
As have I.
Thanks mate, Matthew
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 3, 2013 1:12:44 GMT -8
Dear Sirs,
I have no axe to grind with anyone-even if I disagree with what they say-do we know who has been blocked off and why ? I disagree with one of my granddaughters strongly held views but I will defend her right to the end for her to be able to hold those views. Sin Bin me if you wish but I followed on to this forum because I like model railways and Atlas model railways in particular. I have a lot to learn about American railways and the help I have received from members has been invaluable--even if some of it has been tongue in cheek. Tolerance my friends and a very big dose of Christian love.
Pastor James Brodie 67281 10-00 Wednesday 3rd July on a sunny warm day near a garden full of beautiful blooms Bees (Flies where's me flyswatter ! I jest) and lambs and sheeps mooing in the field next door. Also retired railwayman.
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Post by rmcroadster on Jul 4, 2013 14:13:02 GMT -8
I do not feel there is any place here for person who is negative and argumentative in virtually every post they make. A hobby is intended to be fun and stress free. Perhaps this person needs a different hobby.
Matthew
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 17:54:55 GMT -8
I do not feel there is any place here for person who is negative and argumentative in virtually every post they make. A hobby is intended to be fun and stress free. Perhaps this person needs a different hobby. Matthew There are those who's sole purpose is to fan the flames of discontent. They are combative, overly negative and totally take the fun out of the hobby. These "suspects" have been banned on the old Atlas Forum and from other model railroad forums because they bring nothing to the hobby other than angst. To have the option of not having to read their constant patter of the sky is falling or this is wrong and this is wrong and in some cases condoning theft of models, is refreshing. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 4, 2013 20:10:25 GMT -8
not having to read their constant patter of the sky is falling or this is wrong and this is wrong and in some cases condoning theft of models, is refreshing. Wow, this forum must be awful quiet after you block out all that! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 20:33:23 GMT -8
not having to read their constant patter of the sky is falling or this is wrong and this is wrong and in some cases condoning theft of models, is refreshing. Wow, this forum must be awful quiet after you block out all that! If this is an attempt at sarcasm, then I can only assume you enjoy posting by a limited few that is an endless stream of: the death of the hobby and or the hobby shop, manufacturing in China, pre-orders, price, lack of internet presence by hobby shops, store hours, death of magazines, usually MR and one member of the forum building up their "street cred'"... I don't. We know this hobby has problems, even the President of the NMRA in this months issue said the hobby is "shrinking" and faces some very tough issues. Coming from the NMRA, all I can say is wow! |
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 4, 2013 23:17:02 GMT -8
Dear Sirs, Why not just 'bann' whoever is being a problem . I'm only one little member but you have my blessing to do so (as long as it isn't me) and then we can get back to having railway topics and even more railway topics in these forums. I wonder why these people whoever they are are like this, have they been asked what their problem is. When I was a loco inspector---sorry---road foreman of engines or something like that if we had a driver or fireman who was being "naughty" in my case I would take them into an empty office and ask them what their problem was. I can recite now as it is more than fifty years back but a certain driver his engine was always wrong and the shed foreman would to try and avoid late departures have more than one engine up his sleeve anyway I asked this driver into the office and invited him to talk freely. he had home problems and was in danger of leaving the railways altogether. he talked his hurts out then I said I was always available to listen to him if he had a problem. I then said he was about due off the shed but an engine had been got ready for him. He misread the engine board and went off shed with the wrong unprepared engine and worked the turn and also further turns without any further upsets.
Happy trails happy good morning 08-12hrs on a sunny mild even balmy morning in the middle of the North Yorkshire Moors England.
What about a list of 'your favourite railway to see which is most popular ?
I started off having only AT&SF but interlopers crept in so have had to expand to allow other railways in and also try for my layout to be plausible.
Jim Brodie.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 6:16:58 GMT -8
Banning a member is always the last resort. Before then list owners and moderators will try to inform the member through warnings that their contributions are causing problems. Some listen, others don't and finally the offender is shown the door. The problem is usually the damage is done and the group has lost some of the good people.
One person on this forum, and on my block list, attempted to join another forum a few years ago. This forum required your membership be approved by the moderator, in an attempt to keep spammers and the troublemakers off its pages. This person then began a guerrilla war via other internet sites against the list owner. It was viscous and personal. This person also tried numerous times to mask their IP address to gain membership and entry, very much like a Trojan Horse. In the end they turned their attention to another forum and began their tactics against that list's owner and moderators.
We all the have the ability to say and write the wrong thing and either hurt or anger another person or persons. The vast majority of forum members try to measure their words and make sure they are not offending others. Though at times, its darn hard when someone's words strike a nerve. Sometimes you say something that offends another person or persons and you really didn't mean it and wish you hadn't hit the send button. Been there and done that.
Topics that usually boil over, like the health of the hobby, prices, etc., are things that effect everybody. These threads are like the car accident along side the road. You tell yourself your not going to look like everyone has done ahead of you. But when you get to the carnage you end up gawking as much as the other guys. So you participate in the thread which usually after the first couple of pages turns into a donnybrook with people that had no quarrel with another now being mutual enemies. Meanwhile the person that started the fight, and they knew the topic was incendiary in nature, have been standing out of the fray on the sidelines watching the group tear itself apart, while getting great delight.
Maybe by blocking out the posts by the people that "touch my buttons", it can lead to me being a better member, by not making statements which others may find offensive and that I truly regret making.
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Post by trebor on Jul 5, 2013 8:53:07 GMT -8
I just scroll past what I don't want to read and am not in favor of bans.
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 5, 2013 9:02:39 GMT -8
Wow, this forum must be awful quiet after you block out all that! If this is an attempt at sarcasm, then I can only assume you enjoy posting by a limited few that is an endless stream of: the death of the hobby and or the hobby shop, manufacturing in China, pre-orders, price, lack of internet presence by hobby shops, store hours, death of magazines, usually MR and one member of the forum building up their "street cred'"... I don't. We know this hobby has problems, even the President of the NMRA in this months issue said the hobby is "shrinking" and faces some very tough issues. Coming from the NMRA, all I can say is wow! I've been here pretty much since the beginning of this forum. I've made plenty of posts, the vast majority of which are modeling related. I try to avoid these hobby death spiral discussions because I think they are stupid. I thought I'd made more of an impression in my time here. I cannot imagine how what I've posted in the past could lead to the impression that I enjoy watching the trolls take over. So, to be clear, what I posted had not even the slightest hint of sarcasm. There is very little on the HO forum that doesn't fall under the hobby death spiral category. I'd have to wait a day or two for a thread not mentioning the hobby death spiral to appear. Since I'm generally on the road working and not able to participate in the hobby, I like to read about it when I can. This has quickly become a place where I do less reading since I generally don't even look at the hobby death spiral threads, like the brass deposit required thing or when a new announcement thread turns into "this is too expensive!" Where the original Atlas forum was a top tier forum for me that I liked to browse daily, this one has fallen from that status for me. A couple days go by and I see all I've missed is "this is the end!" You can put a blindfold on so you don't have to see the trolls, but that doesn't mean they aren't still there. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 12:11:01 GMT -8
I've been here pretty much since the beginning of this forum. I've made plenty of posts, the vast majority of which are modeling related. I try to avoid these hobby death spiral discussions because I think they are stupid. I thought I'd made more of an impression in my time here. I cannot imagine how what I've posted in the past could lead to the impression that I enjoy watching the trolls take over. I sincerely apologize for my remarks directed to you. Your comments make it clear what you were trying to say in your response to my post. Again, sorry, I misinterpreted your remarks. So, to be clear, what I posted had not even the slightest hint of sarcasm. There is very little on the HO forum that doesn't fall under the hobby death spiral category. I'd have to wait a day or two for a thread not mentioning the hobby death spiral to appear. Since I'm generally on the road working and not able to participate in the hobby, I like to read about it when I can. This has quickly become a place where I do less reading since I generally don't even look at the hobby death spiral threads, like the brass deposit required thing or when a new announcement thread turns into "this is too expensive!" You've hit the nail square on the head. Even new product announcements are met with aggressive negativity lately. I can understand criticism if there are major mistakes, but page after page about $200 hopper cars lost its luster after about the second post. Where the original Atlas forum was a top tier forum for me that I liked to browse daily, this one has fallen from that status for me. A couple days go by and I see all I've missed is "this is the end!" You can put a blindfold on so you don't have to see the trolls, but that doesn't mean they aren't still there. Mr. Brodie made the point about banning certain members. We all know that a couple of the suspects on this forum were kicked off the Atlas forum, by Atlas personnel. Maybe that is the only way to purge this forum of the downer tropics which seem to last forever. The good modeling topics such as Sunday Photo Fun is mostly extinct. Build topics are by in large very few and far between. I mentioned months ago that this forum would implode, courtesy of very small minority, I was chided by one of the malcontents for my viewpoint. I visit this forum often as others don't do it for me. Either they are too fragmented or just plain dead. But, it seems your point of view and mine are in lock step. |
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Post by mlehman on Jul 5, 2013 19:12:49 GMT -8
As a longtime editor and list manager for several from time to time volatile political websites and lists, I've seen just about everything from the unwitting but socially challenged user to those who seem to have no life other than intentionally and vigorously trolling. Those who are always grinding the wheel of negativity without recourse to talking about the topic at hand in some other more constructive fashion are like the kid you know always makes a point of polluting the pool, because he's as much as told you so when bragging on it previously. When you see them jump in, you know it's time to head for the showers.
Just to be absolutely clear what goes on with this, it's an option for the individual user to block specific other user's post from appearing. It's not something where the list owner or moderators decide to impose a ban on a user, so it neatly avoids that necessity in many cases where it would otherwise become an issue, although there are some folks who don't get the message that their message is now regarded as toxic, but I leave that up to those who make such decisions to pick their tolerance for such drivel.
I like it because it keeps me from being tempted to respond to those who spend their time tempting other to rise to their bait. The banned user is still free to prattle on to whatever diminished audience they think they are still speaking to. Being a user does not give you the right to impose all your views all the time on others. Those bothered by the prospect of being tuned out by a large number of users have an incentive to correct the errors of their ways, although most don't seem to care to do so. But that's no longer my problem once folks make it to my personal blacklist.
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 6, 2013 0:43:20 GMT -8
sirs--bramble is laid on my arm hence lower case--to add some decorum to this forum, is being blocked as painful as being 'bricked'? I once heard this is what they did to camels prior to setting out across the desert! at the least it will make your eyes water...........nuf sed.
jim brodie
I must admit my sense of humour is always near the surface despite my 'nurse' daughter telling me not to joke as the doctors/nurses/hospitals won't realise how poorly I am. she gave up when I was making jokes while on a life support machine breathing 95% for me !!!!!!.........JB.
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Post by mlehman on Jul 6, 2013 7:26:15 GMT -8
James, I don't think the targets of these individual choices made will even realize that they are being blocked -- at least at first. There's nothing that would indicate this to the blocked user -- except the increasing state of non-response to their goads. They'll eventually notice that, as the whole point of such posts that have little to do with modeling is to stir retorts. The lack of that satisfying reaction to their off-the-wall drumbeat of negativity might eventually clue them in -- presuming they have even a crumb of social grace remaining in their pantry of human reaction. And don't worry about the happenstance off-color remark getting you on my blacklist. Anyone with the good taste to have a cat in their avatar is highly unlikely to fall into the category of being someone I never want to darken my door again.  |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 6, 2013 10:05:38 GMT -8
I've been here pretty much since the beginning of this forum. I've made plenty of posts, the vast majority of which are modeling related. I try to avoid these hobby death spiral discussions because I think they are stupid. I thought I'd made more of an impression in my time here. I cannot imagine how what I've posted in the past could lead to the impression that I enjoy watching the trolls take over. I sincerely apologize for my remarks directed to you. Your comments make it clear what you were trying to say in your response to my post. Again, sorry, I misinterpreted your remarks. It's okay. We're cool. You are definitely not part of the problem on this forum. I think you go above and beyond to make it a good place. If I weren't away from home playing with real trains, I'd be joining you building models! |
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Post by Brakie on Jul 8, 2013 3:11:37 GMT -8
There is one good thing about this new forum software. It allows you to block certain user's posts from showing up during your forum visit. Just click on the offending member's profile, click the little gear on the top right, select "block user", then select "block posts". It's almost like they don't exist. Any time a discussion comes up there will be different points of views that's why its called a discussion forum...  I have no problem with these views as long as the discussion stays civil and not turn into shouting match. --------------------------------- Jim:Even new product announcements are met with aggressive negativity lately. I can understand criticism if there are major mistakes, but page after page about $200 hopper cars lost its luster after about the second post. --------------------------------- When I casually mention that I was hoping (in vain as it turned out) it would just pass as my personal observation and nothing more.Sigh On the other hand.. What bugs me more is the bashing some products get for very minor mistakes like a (say) 5" stripe instead of a 6" stripe I suspect none of us can even see that inch difference with our eyes.. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 8, 2013 11:34:40 GMT -8
There is one good thing about this new forum software. It allows you to block certain user's posts from showing up during your forum visit. Just click on the offending member's profile, click the little gear on the top right, select "block user", then select "block posts". It's almost like they don't exist. Any time a discussion comes up there will be different points of views that's why its called a discussion forum... I have no problem with these views as long as the discussion stays civil and not turn into shouting match. --------------------------------- Jim:Even new product announcements are met with aggressive negativity lately. I can understand criticism if there are major mistakes, but page after page about $200 hopper cars lost its luster after about the second post. --------------------------------- When I casually mention that I was hoping (in vain as it turned out) it would just pass as my personal observation and nothing more.Sigh On the other hand.. What bugs me more is the bashing some products get for very minor mistakes like a (say) 5" stripe instead of a 6" stripe I suspect none of us can even see that inch difference with our eyes.. I don't mind when someone points minor mistakes out like that, but I agree, bashing the product over it is ridiculous. I'd rather make lemonade from lemons than remain thirsty as some seem to be content to do. |
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 8, 2013 23:55:26 GMT -8
Frook, Where do you get the lemons please?
may I ask what sort of real trains do you play with. when I played trains in the fifties we were about to date with the American railways in the 1890s sort of time. ie. engine steam and tender hand brake, wagons only hand brakes, link couplings not auto, and yet they were happy days and I have lots of fond memories.
The loose coupled workings stood me in good stead when I got to be a loco inspector as more than once after the good natured jibe about "have you plenty of paper hankies guvnor as we go faster than 20mph and you may get a nose bleed over that speed" but then the salve "would be too scared to drive your type of trains" The old fool has lost his train of thoughts now... oh yes what type of trains do you work please? and what locos and even what railway company.
Jim Brodie
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 9, 2013 12:37:18 GMT -8
I'm an engineer for BNSF out of Texas, so I generally work in Texas and Oklahoma. However, my engineer seniority covers routes into Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri, so I end up in those places from time to time. At this point, my seniority keeps me moving around so I never really get to work any one job or route regularly.
As far as the trains are concerned, I see a lot of mixed freights and unit trains carrying anything from coal, oil, cement, vehicles, ethanol, sulfur, grain or crushed rock. Rarely I will get called for an intermodal train, which could be a stack train with TOFC/COFC platforms on the rear or autoracks, or a unit train of Roadrailers, which is a Norfolk Southern train we operate with their power.
Oftentimes I will work in the yard on jobs that classify inbound trains, build outbound trains, switch industries or haul transfer trains to other yards. There is currently a lot of construction in my area for a big interlocking project, so work trains pop up from time to time. I caught one last month where the job was to lay 1620' long sections of welded rail alongside the track for a new mainline to be constructed and the existing mainline to be upgraded.
Yesterday I had to put together an outbound train and the yardmaster told us where to find the power for the train. When we got there I saw 10 locomotives so I asked which one we'd be taking. "All of them," was the reply, so I set to work inspecting them. When I got to the last four locomotives, I saw they were some Dash 8-40CWs that had been in storage in a nearby yard for several years. I knew traffic volumes were picking up, but the company has to be desperate to put those things back online.
After that work was done, we were transported to another yard to get power for an outbound empty cement train. This train is operated by UP but we take delivery of it at one of their local yards and spot it at the industry. When the train is empty we pull it and put it together at one of our yards for UP to pick up.
UP never seems to be without a sense of humor when they give us this train. It seems like either every engine they have is garbage or they scour their yards to find the worst locomotives they have. I caught it loaded one time and discovered that the dynamic brakes would give out at about 60% while coming down a 1% grade at 10 mph. As soon as they cut out, the speed jumped up about 5 mph in a matter of seconds. That's not a good feeling while headed toward a red signal!
Another time the second unit had a clogged fuel filter, which was an intermittent problem. Naturally it crept up only after I started a three mile climb of a 1% grade. I ended up stalling on the hill and had to have another train assist my train to the crest.
Yesterday, my second unit was down to 150 gallons of fuel, which I couldn't see because this particular unit was equipped with an electronic fuel gauge. Well, after a locomotive has been without fuel a long time the batteries drain and nothing works on it. So, I couldn't tell it was out of fuel, but I had my suspicions. Pulling the empty train out of the industry shouldn't be a problem even for one locomotive but the one locomotive that worked was a real winner. It took five attempts before I was able to get the train pulled up the more than 2% hill.
So, to sum up, where I work we handle all kinds of trains and use equipment from a few different roads. Every day is something new.
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 9, 2013 22:47:40 GMT -8
Frook,
Many thanks and very interesting, Now in steam daze.....where did I put my violin......... .
Next question, What scale do you model in and which companies do you prefer ?
Jim Brodie
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Post by Brakie on Jul 10, 2013 8:54:25 GMT -8
rch,Your comments about the UP engines reminds of early PC..Lots of junk,engines running on low fuel and breakdowns was common.
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 10, 2013 9:03:42 GMT -8
Frook, Many thanks and very interesting, Now in steam daze.....where did I put my violin......... . Next question, What scale do you model in and which companies do you prefer ? Jim Brodie HO. I like Athearn and Atlas mostly, but I'll give any manufacturer a chance. As far as which railroads I model is concerned, if it came into Texas in the 1980s, it's fair game for me. Southern Pacific, Cotton Belt, Mopac, Katy, BN, and Santa Fe. I also have a fledgling NS/Southern/Norfolk & Western collection and I've recently acquired some CSX predecessor equipment. It's a colorful mix and it allows me to replicate some of the odd consists I remember from back then. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 10, 2013 9:11:47 GMT -8
rch,Your comments about the UP engines reminds of early PC..Lots of junk,engines running on low fuel and breakdowns was common. I know, isn't that crazy? This is a very profitable company with a huge locomotive facility in town. They can do everything there from a fuel and wash to a major overhaul or rebuild. Consistently the locomotives on the cement train are junk. I don't know how they get over the road hauling that train in. By contrast, BNSF has only a shed to work on locomotives at one yard and a fuel pad at the other yard. The only junk we have are Gensets, but those locomotives are asked to do way too much and so frequent failures have taken their toll. If you ever want to see some outstanding track, check out UP. It rides like glass. But in my experience their power is trashed. |
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 12, 2013 21:18:34 GMT -8
F, if you want to see outstanding trackwork come and see mine it's 'trash' and the motive power is like glass, if you drop it it.......... .Sacre Bleur. JB.
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Post by curtmc on Jul 20, 2013 14:20:49 GMT -8
Agreed,
Thanks to both of you for the heads up. I now have 3 there... Unfortunately you still end up seeing their postings when somebody else quotes their idiotic remarks.
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