Slightly OT, but as someone who's never managed a website or a public forum, I can only imagine the type of goofy e-mail that inundates the inboxes of our volunteer RYPN staff. Doug Bailey, the gentleman who runs the excellent site steamlocomotive.info recently posed a recap of some of his favorite things he's received in his inbox as webmaster of that site.

http://scripts.sunserver.com/steamforum/viewtopic.php?t=7

This is not meant to demean anyone in particular or a group. Instead, it shows how the almost anonymity of the internet makes some act like real jerks. I can only tip my hat to Erik, Randy, and Ed who take so much time to moderate this board, and who probably get a lot of grief because of it. Next beer is on me if any of the RYPN meet-ups ever comes to reality!
[/url]

You really should hear Doug tell these in person (or over the phone). He's quite a storyteller.

Brian, you did a fine job, and my only question is why you hung in there as long as you did. It's a thankless task, and there is no "middle ground" at times.

JAC

I am sure that nobody could make up stories as good as Doug's. It is a thankless job at times, and I think a lot of people (including myself) who are normally rational users of the Internet and e-mail often forget that we can sometimes say things online that we would never say aloud, or in person.

Okay, enough for now, back to the books. Hmm, is a railroad's easement appurtenant or in gross? (Property final tomorrow).

Thank you both for the kind words, but I wouldn't be much of a storyteller if the world didn't seem to insist on providing me with so much silly material.

For the most part running my website has been fun, at times confusing, occasionally frustrating, and almost always entertaining. It has taught me much, including when to keep my mouth shut (though some might disagree) and that if you're going to do something like rypn.org or steamlocomotive.info you mostly should be doing it to please yourself, because you'll rarely please even a majority of visitors.

Again, thanks, and do visit occassionally, we're rewriting the Cold Fusion code behind the website to add all kinds of nice new features.

Regards,
Doug

Amen to that! I have had my concentration at work broken a few times by a phone call from Doug. He is a real pleasure to talk to, always upbeat and positive.

Doug mentions in his link that he is now hosting Wes Barris' steamlocomotive.com website. Wes' website was the first; and the spark that reignited my interest in steam locomotives. I have not be able to stay in touch as much with Wes in recent years; but my personal website and my "Surviving World Steam" Project never would have come to past had I not found Wes Barris' work.

I also remember when Doug and Sunshine Software were going to release the information in steamlocomotive.info as a CD-ROM. I have confided in Doug that Wes' website and the "pending release" of his CD-ROM had me wondering what I could do with the material I had put together back in the early 1990s. On a drive from Beaumont to Arizona, in the middle of the New Mexico desert, I decided I would attempt to cover the entire world with the Surviving World Steam Locomotive database. So I blame him for starting me down this road to insanity! :)

There are many other ways Doug has influenced or helped others; he cannot be thanked enough for all of his efforts. Shame on those who sent him those e-mails.



Brian, I am also sorry to hear that as well. The staff here at RYPN have done a fantastic job; we can easily take websites like these for granted; but what they do is a tremendous service for so little monotary reward. Thanks to one and all for your contributions to the preservation field, and society in general.

Hey Crafty, a public thanks for your help as well. One of these days, I will be able to pay you back for all you have done for me. You literally helped launch my consulting business. Your SteamCentral website has been a real boost as well. Take care.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

What? You mean there are other inernet forums out there like RyPN? Must check this out.......how can so few of us support so many different projects?

OK, maybe I just answered the question.

Still, I too have received my share of "fan mail" including a threat of lawsuit from a 12 year old using Daddy's computer because I condemned a boiler that badly needed it. You just gotta laugh.

I figure we can actually do the stuff or write nasty complaints to those who do - I'd rather run offense.

dave