Weirdos on station platforms
Discussion
I do find spotters odd; back in the day all trains were different now they are all the same non descript metal tube with the only difference being a set of numbers.
What is the fun and interest in that and they are all a bit odd too; years ago we went to Gatwick's (I think) public plane centre thing, it is were you can go to learn a bit more about what to expect when flying, my two hadn't flown before so we were showing them what to expect as we were flying to New York in a few months time, anyway there were absloutely loads of spotters about and they are all a bit on the odd side; wonky eyes, socks and sandals, bum bags, trousers too short and too high waisted, weird kids; you know the sort.
What is the fun and interest in that and they are all a bit odd too; years ago we went to Gatwick's (I think) public plane centre thing, it is were you can go to learn a bit more about what to expect when flying, my two hadn't flown before so we were showing them what to expect as we were flying to New York in a few months time, anyway there were absloutely loads of spotters about and they are all a bit on the odd side; wonky eyes, socks and sandals, bum bags, trousers too short and too high waisted, weird kids; you know the sort.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 18th April 09:12
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 18th April 09:12
If people find amusement and fun from a hobby - why denigrate them?
I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
Eric Mc said:
If people find amusement and fun from a hobby - why denigrate them?
I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
I'm not denigrating anyone. I'm curious as to what is happening that's special as I've never seen them before.I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
Your use of the word "weirdos" in the thread title obviously misled me.
Maybe there IS something passing through today that has brought in a bigger crowd than normal?
I have seen posts right here on PH letting train enthusiasts know that something interesting is coming through a certain set of stations on a certain day.
I think it is completely understandable, if you like trains.
Maybe there IS something passing through today that has brought in a bigger crowd than normal?
I have seen posts right here on PH letting train enthusiasts know that something interesting is coming through a certain set of stations on a certain day.
I think it is completely understandable, if you like trains.
The Moose said:
I'm not denigrating anyone. I'm curious as to what is happening that's special as I've never seen them before.
Ever noticed that you don't realise how many of a certain type of car are on the road until you own one yourself ? It's a bit like that. You don't notice them until you become one.Eric Mc said:
Your use of the word "weirdos" in the thread title obviously misled me.
Maybe there IS something passing through today that has brought in a bigger crowd than normal?
I have seen posts right here on PH letting train enthusiasts know that something interesting is coming through a certain set of stations on a certain day.
I think it is completely understandable, if you like trains.
Not weird as in socks and sandals weird. Weird as I'm standing on a train platform with a camcorder mounted on a tripod. Not exactly normal behaviour regardless of who you are!Maybe there IS something passing through today that has brought in a bigger crowd than normal?
I have seen posts right here on PH letting train enthusiasts know that something interesting is coming through a certain set of stations on a certain day.
I think it is completely understandable, if you like trains.
Countdown said:
The Moose said:
I'm not denigrating anyone. I'm curious as to what is happening that's special as I've never seen them before.
The same could be said for any hobby. I'm sure there are people who wonder why F1 fans pay hundreds of pounds to watch cars going in a circle. That's what I'm trying to work out - what is going on today that's so special!
Eric Mc said:
If people find amusement and fun from a hobby - why denigrate them?
I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
http://www.pylons.org/I really find it quite upsetting that people who don't participate in a particular past time see fit to insult those who do.
Each to their own, I say.
PS - I am not and never have been a "train spotter" although in my youth (many years ago) I could be found hanging around my local airport with binoculars and note book
Edited by Wacky Racer on Sunday 20th April 00:03
The Moose said:
Not weird as in socks and sandals weird. Weird as I'm standing on a train platform with a camcorder mounted on a tripod. Not exactly normal behaviour regardless of who you are!
Are you so certain of what "normal" is?Is "normal" defined by what YOU like, know and understand?
I would never be so judgmental or so sure of my own "normality" to assume that people who are not like me are somehow "abnormal".
As far as I am concerned, as long as people are engaging in an activity that does no harm to others, it is an OK activity.
It's coming up to a bank holiday spotters are out and about every where(Stafford busy), the Royal Train was out yesterday (don't know the route?) DRS moving brand new locos from Garston to Crewe and I assume a few steam specials as well. This link give steam loco movements http://www.uksteam.info/tours/lem14.htm, note LNER A4 Bittern runs from Crewe to Grosmont on Tuesday.
Eric Mc said:
The Moose said:
Not weird as in socks and sandals weird. Weird as I'm standing on a train platform with a camcorder mounted on a tripod. Not exactly normal behaviour regardless of who you are!
Are you so certain of what "normal" is?Is "normal" defined by what YOU like, know and understand?
I would never be so judgmental or so sure of my own "normality" to assume that people who are not like me are somehow "abnormal".
As far as I am concerned, as long as people are engaging in an activity that does no harm to others, it is an OK activity.
You're looking for an argument when there's not one there to be had. I'm not saying this is a bad thing for them to do. As I've asked on this thread several times, I'm genuinely interested as to what's happening on the Chiltern line this morning that's worthy of standing there with a camcorder. As you rightly said - in this very sub forum, people have been alerted to interesting locomotives passing through - there's a huge wealth of knowledge within these pages of PistonHeads spreading across almost all walks of life and hobbies/interests. Hence why I was asking.
I've travelled that line on a regular basis in the past, on hot days, cold days, weekend, weekdays, bank holidays etc etc etc. not once have I seen someone with a camcorder on a tripod, yet today I see 3 - one at each station the train stopped at.
Surely you can see why that might be considered unusual. That's why I was asking. To find out what unusual happening was going on in my area.
Which bit of that do you take offence by?
Isn't normal defined as 'conforming to a standard; usual, typical or expected'? In my experience, camcorders + tripods on a station platform with no special occasion is not normal (hence weird).
Or maybe they were all coming to see me?
Eric Mc said:
Why the "weirdo" comment then?
Because the phrase abnormalo isn't generally used, and "People on the station platforms of the Chiltern Railway Line with camcorders on tripods - what are they filming" probably would be too long to fit.On a completely unrelated topic, just passed under the M25 on the trip down to Brighton out of Victoria. It's an amazing contrast either side of the tunnel. Beautiful countryside now. On the downside, my 4G signal to my iPad has long gone and 3G is slowly declining....
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