My big pet peeve has already been mentioned and it's the All RTR all the time philosophy. What I wouldn't give for a new quality, low cost BB style cars and locos. Even Walther's infernally complex kits have bit the dust.
Pet Peeves! How about: Internet flame wars over DC versus DCC? Anything that smacks of "If you post it, you must be wrong!" People who abbreviate or use shorthand assuming the rest of us know what you are talking about, and then ridicule us for asking. People who tell us about a cool website and don't provide a link. I COULD go on, I suppose....but that's enough for now! Sheesh! I am grouchy today!
I've had several people look at my layout, and then the only thing they ask is "How much did it cost?" I usually answer something cryptic like "$10 at a time".
It occurs to me to Warn the Bridge rivet counters to stay away from my layout, because my bridges are pretty offensive. Like, they're just resting on concrete with no obvious monting means.
Not really a pet peeve, but something that makes the engineer in me cringe: seeing gorgeously built layouts with wonderful rolling stock, scenery, and topography, and with beautiful trestle bents crossing these ravines and canyons with NO cross bracing between them at all. In reality, those trestle bents would get pushed over in time. I never mention it unless the builder asks my opinion of the trestle first, and then I only bring it up gently.
Yeah, I'm contemplating a trestle on another section of track, but I'm far too lazy to actually build one I think . I'm not quite sure how I'm getting around that yet.
Story time: When I was maybe 9 or 10, my father and I were at a train show that had a silent auction going. Up for grabs were 2 detailed Kato locos with DCC installed at a killer bid! We remembered to make sure and run over to the auction booth 10 min before the deadline. All was good, dad made the bid at perfect timing just as everyone was getting shooed out of the area... This is when I noticed only two of the 3 auctioneers moving everyone out of the area while the third went directly to our item and started writing in the auction book! He set down the pen and called out AUCTION CLOSED! Later when they called out the winners we come to realize he outbid us by a stinking buck!! If your running a train show auction... YOU DON'T BID!! Still upsets me today.
And upset you it should. That sort of unscrupulous behavior crops up in all sorts of groups, and not just the railroad community. Anyone running an auction like that should have a list of rules that are to be followed and post them where the public can see them, and one of them should make clear the timeframe for bidding, and there ought to be some sort of prohibition on insider bidding. It's much the same as how employees of a company and their relatives are often forbidden from participating in that company's contests, sweepstakes, etc.
I'll admit that if it happened to me, I'd carry the bad memory forever. What happened to you was simply disgraceful. :tb-mad: Boxcab E50
Well said Steve. There are a lot of peeves mentioned already that I agree with, but for me, Steve hit it right on the head. What difference does it make in how much it costs, if you enjoy it and take great pleasure doing, that's all that matters. It's the old saying, life is too short not to enjoy it. You can analyze how other people send their money but at the end of the day, it their money. I think this is true with any hobby or activity that you enjoy that others who don't participate in, will truly understand your passion for it. And for me that why forums like this one are so important, they bring together people who have common interests, and can even discuss topics like "pet peeves".
Just a general lack of knowledge about model railroading. I know even if most people knew what it was and knew it was a fairly common hobby that it still might not be for them, but at least they wouldn't think I was weird for doing something they never heard of. If someone told me they collected dirt as a hobby, I would laugh, or just think they're crazy, but who knows.... Maybe there's a dirtboard.com and several dirt collecting clubs..................................
Well, I can see the points - pro and con - for many of the peeves here. I'm not sure if I really have any. Rivet Counters - Their problem - not mine Shipping costs - I understand but it is shipping and handling costs. Stores / vendors running on slim margins cannot afford to give it away Dissing / making fun of someone's work or idea - Go for it. Knock your self out. I always consider the source. I've taken a lot of flack over some of my work. So What? Discussions about vendors - Ok, I used to participate. I had my favorites. - now I see them as just boring. Lack of kits - yes I agree - but I think the market does not exist. Unethical people on forums - Shrug - it's part of life These - I agree - Are Evil Crowd Behavior at Shows -- Having sever visual limitations I get jostled a lot in crowds. I have only been to one train show. I agree and don't think it will ever change - in fact if the rude ones are reading this they probably don't think it is them. If they do they don't care. Cheating on Auctions - I am so naive I didn't know it happened Maybe it's my age, maybe the medication or maybe I am just toooo busy doing other things to have a serious peeve. Then again - yes, I can see that some of the things mentioned can be frustrating.
Modelers that go around saying things like "Reality is a Crutch!" then turn right back around and poke fun at prototypical modelers every chance they get, I enjoy my paperwork, detailed engines and cars and operations, you like a 4-4-0 with a skull mounted on the front pulling double stacks. Just don't stereotype me because I enjoy the prototype, you think we are a stuck up bunch, but in fact, the prototype modeling groups are some of the most helpful people you'll ever meet. I'd be out in the cold If I never got the help I got from other prototype guys. So eat it, you're the ones who are stuck up.
I just remembered my big pet peeve.... Ads, articles, and internet postings that (usually pertain to HO) but don't specify scale.
