@p51 posted:I think this speaks to an appreciable percentage in the hobby that tend to be quite "Sheldon Cooper*"-ish and probably operate somewhere in the Autism spectrum. You only have to go to a big train show to see it in action.
I think one of the reasons people end up like this is because they are teased and bullied incessantly as children.
I just looked at him with the same look NCOs would give me when I was saying something stupid as an Army 2nd LT. I then asked that he not stand so close and made it really clear that the only thing preventing me from offering to meet him out back to give him an attitude adjustment he'd remember in his old age was his clear lack of faculties. I then walked away, leaving him to ponder what I'd just said.
*"The Big Bang Theory" show writers clearly weren't big fans of train people and the ravaged us generally for the run of the show, never missing the chance to make train/model train fans appears nuts, lacking in any social skills or pathetic overall. "Pathetic" and "Sad" were words actually used to describe us on a few episodes I remember, one I saw last night on syndication. I'm still a fan of the show regardless. Sadly, their depictions of train folk 100% meet those like them I've met over the years.
The depiction is sad, but do you really think that complaining about this person you met on here is doing anyone any good? Or the veiled threat of violence?
Why not explain to the young man why you find his attitude unacceptable and maybe coach him how to better himself. I’d expect more of a former military officer.
