Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Been out photographing railways these past few days in West London. Is it just me, but are the general public less tolerant of those with a minority hobby? Do they see us as nuts (or worse.....)? Some examples from this weekend: * Car drivers honking their horns when they pass * Driver's mates in white vans who shout "What you doing?" out of their cabs * Schoolboys on bikes who also ask what you're doing and as they ride away can hear an expression like "gay......." * Teenage schoolgirls who wanted me to take their picture! I declined.......... * WPC in patrol car drew up alongside me - asked nicely what I was doing. Even put on her blue lights as she was talking with me. Think I proved I was harmless At least nobody asked if a steam special was due..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRat Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Do they think we are nuts.........no doubt about it, especially as how the hobby is portrayed by the general media. Stereotyping! I use to get away with a fair bit, but then a plod car and uniform could open a lot of doors. Mind you, some of the doors you wanted open weren't, and had to be open them with our special key lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetheroad Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Yes they think we are nuts and weirdos but it would be OK if we drank lots of lager and were drunken slobs. Actually the problem with the great british public is they don't think much about anything, just react!. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 .....the "general public" is a collection of individuals who feel entitled to spend their free time doing as they please. Why, in any way, feel the need to excuse yourself for doing exactly the same? Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 These days there's a general increase in intolerance towards people who do not conform to the individuals considered norms who are displaying the intolerance. It's not just directed towards those taking photographs. Acceptance, compassion and community spirit are fast disappearing. G. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 ....making it doubly important for individuals to not only stand up for their own rights but to also demonstate the same consideration for others. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Wellyboots Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 It would be interesting to find out what, if any, creative leisure time actives those who are less tolerant might have. And before anyone suggests it the act of procreation doesn't count! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 The ones who give abuse / ridicule are simply demonstrating how stupid THEY are - I once asked a white van man if he enjoyed his hobby of spotting train spotters - he needed a reboot after that as his eyes glazed over and he drove off - I believe he was so deeply affected he actually washed his van. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(S) Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 These days there's a general increase in intolerance towards people who do not conform to the individuals considered norms who are displaying the intolerance. It's not just directed towards those taking photographs. Acceptance, compassion and community spirit are fast disappearing.G. This sums it up for me I'm afraid. I'm nearly 40 now and have been a rail enthusiast of one type or another since I was about 5. There have been people throughout that time who have said I'm sad, yelled things etc., but it has definitely increased in frequency in the last few years and is tinged with hatred now. Globalisation and the increasing multicultural mix did not increase tolerance. I do get to have some fun though as I'm often told that "I don't look like a trainspotter", so I get to watch people's confusion as they try to reconcile contradictory things :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockershovel Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Can't feel that being honked or shouted at by blokes in white vans, or referred to as "gaylord" by teenage boys, proved anything much either way... I don't really regard turning on the blue light to talk to trainspotters, as best use of police time either. Given the increasingly common reports of police telling people they are not allowed to photograph things, it doesn't surprise me much either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clagsniffer Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 I did get this left on my desk at work once. Sums up the stereotypical view of us from people outside the hobby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium njee20 Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2016 Often not a million miles wide of the mark, mind... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 So photographing trains is odd behaviour? The countless folk who use mobile phones to take pictures of their lunch or their kittens and paste those all over facebook... they really don't want to know what I think of them... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajt Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 I reckon people who give grief to us probably give it to anyone they see as different. Stuff them. Anyone I'd actually want to talk to has expressed nothing except amazement and being impressed when I've shown them the stuff I am building. From retired metal workers, the local coffee shop owner, workmates, my financial advisor, the blokes in the steel and fabrication shops, and the mums and dads at the train park they all think it's great to see someone building something, and even if they're not interested in trains they appreciate the workmanship and skill behind it. Every person who has seen my shed has basically given the reaction "wow, I wish I could do this!", or "my husband would love this!" I can't recall an adverse reaction when I've said I love trains and build them. But I get a**sholes shouting at me from cars regardless - when I'm just walking down the street or mowing the lawn. They just can't help themselves if they see someone they think they can safely pick on. Regards, David. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2016 The followup question should be "And are they right to think so?" Everyone even vaguely interesting is nuts. I'd far rather be nuts than the words I'd use to describe those who hurl abuse at people for their hobbies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 We live in an ever increasingly brainwashed (and dangerous) society. Not just trainspotters are targeted. - try owning a 1973 British Leyland car (with 100% Lucas electrics) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 You should try telling people you're a morris dancer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rue_d_etropal Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 I think it is a bit of both. Intolerance to anyone who does not watch Big Brother and other similar TV programs, and the way some railway enthusiasts behave. Mention trains and many think I must be interested in the Flying Scotsman, which does not interest me that much. One reason I have been trying to push the 'art' angle is to change perception. Trouble is those who don't want to change, on both sides. Anyone with a very narrow view of the world, and a very narrow range of interests is odd to me. For me model railways are now just part of my 3D art world, not much different to those who create fantasy worlds, model, books and in film. Having worked in IT, I can also say that public perception of people in IT is the classic nerd, not dissimilar to the perception of the train enthusiast. There are actually a lot of similarities on the fringes, but much of what people in IT do, is building projects and seeing them through, and for me that translates to planning, designing and building models. Ironically I now actually get a lot of satisfaction creating my designs for 3D printing. The thing about 3D printing, though, is that when you mention it to people they think it is 'cool'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Old Bruce Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Having seen some of the samples at the NEC two or three years ago when the Warley exhibition clashed coincided with a science fiction do, I reckon the railway enthusiasts looked quite sensible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Many modellers/trainspotters are just as quick to be very judgmental about football or 'popular culture' and on here we see many examples of intolerance towards a way of doing things even within the same hobby which does not fit with a personal perspective. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PhilH Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 My experience has been quite strange. I drive steam engines as one of my hobbies and have experienced so much mickey taking about that over the years....until people are actually around the things and see what I do. Then all of a sudden it becomes the greatest hobby in the world with people commenting how lucky I am or 'how cool is that' etc. There's nowt so queer as folk... The competitive nose picking is another matter though.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 We live in an ever increasingly brainwashed (and dangerous) society. Not just trainspotters are targeted. - try owning a 1973 British Leyland car (with 100% Lucas electrics) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brit15 I didn't think 1970s Lucas electrics were ever 100%. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2016 The followup question should be "And are they right to think so?" Everyone even vaguely interesting is nuts. I'd far rather be nuts than the words I'd use to describe those who hurl abuse at people for their hobbies. I have long followed the maxim that "There is no such thing as normal, only average; and who wants to be average?" John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted April 18, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2016 I have long followed the maxim that "There is no such thing as normal, only average; and who wants to be average?" John That's so mean. (I'll get my coat!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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