I find this thread interesting. I still don't know why we cannot discuss "difficult" subjects as long as it is done in a constructive manner. I think saying we cannot, leaves a lot of arbitrary calls up to the moderators, perhaps more than Rick & Co. want to make.

The neat thing about finally having an account is being able to use the "search" feature to look up old posts. What I'm seeing here is that there are several references to a now-banned member. He was apparently banned for attacking people. Yet, those people who bemoan that now gone member, are here in this discussion, attacking that person, long after they are gone and unable to defend themselves? Mr. Garner, Mr. Gleuck, care to comment? Are personal attacks okay, if you are a friend of the moderator, or if the person isn't around to defend themselves? Looks like the person was banned in July and now it is September, so why is the person still on the minds of the individuals?

How is this acceptable behavior? I'm just confused.

Don't feel confused. If you can offer suggestions, assistance, encouragement, solutions, in a constructive manner, then bring it on. If you can only offer negatives, insults, gloom and doom, then you're not really aiding the community.
We tend to "eat our own" in this group. We're in this together, and it isn't a competition to defeat the other guy. We're stronger if we act supportively.

Rebuilding an N6b from the chassis up. Working on getting a '30 Model A railbus running.

You?

Later!
Mr. Ed

My point about people bragging (and indicating IPH) is that there was a lot of bragging in that case...and no real work being done. And there was another incident involving Edwards Railcar when they came on this forum to try and take credit for work they did not do. And even after the moderator came on board to straighten things out...he still could not see that Edwards Railcar was a flim-flam operation. Edwards tried to use this forum to build credibility and they would have gotten away with it if I had not gone berzerk on them. That is my point.
I would just like to see this forum be about real work and methods of work instead of a sort of uninformed gossip channel. Like I said before...Facebook is great for that kind of stuff because people can defend themselves and anybody can participate.
Also...reading between the lines...I am not "young", I am not "butt hurt" and I do draw regular paychecks from REAL railroad preservation activities...and have for nearly 20 years.
T7

I've been an employee of a tourist railroad that runs steam for 16 years (and I was a volunteer before that). But not sure why that should matter... Anyone on this site is interested in rail preservation and has a right to their opinion. And i would guess that 99% of posters are a member of a rail preservation organization.

98% of the ranting and crap-slinging on anti-social media could be eliminated in two steps on any discussion list:

1) Ban hide-behind usernames, real (and verifiable) names only

2) Require an actual foto on their profile for registration

Decorum might not prevail, but the loss of anonymity to the trolls would keep them much quieter.

I've lobbied for real names only forever and there's always a series of excuses offered as to why some individuals would risk losing their jobs if they used their real names. I say nonsense,.... and if we required verified real names we'd eliminate 99% of the nonsense.

IMHO-Ross Rowland

As a working rail, I can see some utility to having a non-de-plume, but as I post nothing to any forum in relation to my job (as every employer confidentiality policy requires nowadays) it isn't really a problem for me. Do I get annoyed with work stuff from time to time, or have inside information about operational issues that would be of interest to fans, yup, but that's where it has to stay.

Any entity, be it a business, non-profit, or museum, has disclosure rules regarding their business activities that are non-starters to post (unless you're an anon flamer in need of inciteful attention).

Conversation regarding preservation has it's peculiar sausage-making details that really need not be aired, and add nothing other than sharpening small-minded axes. The (mostly) lack of such here is a welcome respite from the internet maelstrom.

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people"

Eagerly awaiting Michael Moore's Ed Dickens exposé, "Farenheit 4014"....

Twenty years ago when I first joined RYPN the discussion titles included things like “how injectors work”, “why hydrostatic lubricators work” and so on. Big names used to be very, very active. The debates were intense and strong willed. Some debates were spot on, others needed some coaching. The debates rarely became personal. They were great fun and very educational. In twenty years, the page has done nothing but degrade itself.

I loved the comment about minds and what they speak about. In short, RYPN has become the global meeting place for the smallest minds in the industry. Shouldn’t we all sit back and say “sad.” “Sad that we have benigraded ourselves to such a pittyful manner.”

Honestly, I’m glad that a few attackers are found on the other side of the fence waving their white flags. The best lessons are the ones that hurt the worst.

Real names; I own that soap box and I am happy to share it. I have and always will post only under my real name. Go to Google images you can see plenty of pictures of me. Until we get to a place where people are accountable, we have to accept the denigration of the page to nothing more than the Enquirer of historic railroading, where not a single word printed is true, yet people pay millions to read it. Sad.... sad that we have allowed the younger generation destroy such a great legacy.

John E. Rimmasch (from my IPhone, mistakes and all. Sue me later.)

Oh, PS, if the Burg ever stops posting (or isn’t allowed to post) shop updates, I’ll leave... it should be allowed. And, honestly, Wasatch and IPH and Niles Canyon and IRM and.... and.... and.... should all be allowed to do it too. I’m not allowed to any more, but I digress.

Maybe instead of posting gripes here about what the forum should be but isn't, direct that energy toward posting the stuff you would like to see discussed. The forum is what we make it, so make it useful!

In an attempt to help spur those useful discussions, I will remove the temptation to continue this non useful discussion.

Now, what is going on in the rail preservation world that is worthy of talking about?