Sigh

IC382 · **Joined:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:28 am **Posts:** 135

Yawn.

I put on my hiking shoes and went for a nice long hike on the "rail banked" Maine Central right-of-way today. The hike accomplished three things: #1...what a great way to see the New England countryside and see some interesting Maine Central "things"...#2...it kept me off the internet reading these endless diatribes about who said what to who, when, and where. How so-n-so did this-n-that...really guys...REALLY...it is like who has the biggest PIECE every freakin' night on here. #3...my favorite...is while I was enjoying my walk down/on/and over real history (and not busy trying to recreate it)...I worked towards keeping my waist line under 33". (Hint)

All in all a reasonable day on the rails of the Maine Central.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:26 am

Which branch were you on? Continue on PM.

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:09 am

Let me get this straight....

You decry internet forums, especially the gamesmanship and people trying to act superior to everyone else on said forum. So, after your hike today, you got on an internet forum and derided those who act in that manner by typing a post where the implicit message is that you are superior to those you decry?

Glad you enjoyed your hike today. Really would like to hear some details that are preservation related, rather than your ad homenim snide comments.

Participation in this forum, or any discussion on this forum is purely voluntary. If you genuinely feel above the sound and the fury, then why bother participating, or even posting how you feel that you spent your day in a more productive manner? Why the need to make a public pronouncement that you feel far superior to the chaff of society that is on this forum?

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:15 am

IC382 wrote:

it kept me off the internet reading these endless diatribes about who said what to who, when, and where.

Plan B, just don't read that spoo, and save yourself some shoe leather. LOL!

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

he walked on the Maine Central ROW, I never done that, he's one up on me already.

Maybe I'll just go lay rail on it, restore a big boy and run it on it and cheer..

hey boys try this!...

yee haw!

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

Having run forums for years, I can say this with certainty.

Whining about the lack of quality of online posts rarely accomplishes anything.

If you feel that the posts are lacking, the only real solution is to create your own discussions of a caliber that you find to be useful while skipping those you don't feel are worthwhile.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

But he won't. It's been my experience that those who constantly insult what people say in different groups are the ones that enjoy that dumb comments more than anyone else. If the talk on here was up to his standards, he wouldn't be here.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

No, he won't do anything about it. He'd rather whine about how other folks aren't doing it (so much easier that way.)

That's one problem with online forums, it's way too easy to hide behind a pseudonym and tell everyone else "You're doing it wrong!" and act all indignant about it.

As you suggest, if he really didn't enjoy the place, he wouldn't be here, would he? Do I enjoy every post that's made here? Of course not, but there's enough quality and interesting catfights to keep me coming back for more.