Rude remarks made at model shows

[junkman1153]

recently we attended a model car show in which several car models were entered by young modelers.(12 and under) i heard so called adults making down right rude and hurtful remarks about these cars. not everybody is a master builder and to discourage these kids before they really get started is just purely a gross act of stupidity..offer help ,ideas,and encouragement. and if you have nothing good to say, say nothing .Ralph while I have not mentioned the model club involved ,let me make it very clear the club and their members were not involved. i know most of them and they would not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

Edited September 24, 2010 by junkman1153

[Jordan White]

Willing to share what sort of comments you heard?

[RodneyBad]

I wouldn't be surprised.

There are some people that are just Rude and discouraging and most people are nice and encouraging.

i.e. Here for instance

Lots of positive remarks and helpful tips and some not soo positive and helpful tips or,

dare I say, back handed comments??

Unfortunately, the few out number the many and discourage the new ones and even the older ones..

Only because they, wish they have become sooo great, believe no one can live up to their level of

perfection.

But then again, I could be rong??

Naaaaaaaaah, not possible

Edited September 24, 2010 by Zukiholic

[junkman1153]

Willing to share what sort of comments you heard?

crude junk, wouldn't bring a "f---ing " piece of sh-- like that to a show, somebody's kid must be retarded. among several others

[davyou5]

I wouldn't be surprised.

There are some people that are just Rude and discouraging and most people are nice and encouraging.

i.e. Here for instance

Lots of positive remarks and helpful tips and some not soo positive and helpful tips or,

dare I say, back handed comments??

Unfortunately, the few out number the many and discourage the new ones and even the older ones..

Only because they, wish they have become sooo great, believe no one can live up to their level of

perfection.

But then again, I could be rong??

Naaaaaaaaah, not possible

Actually I agree with Zukiholic, Ever since I started here, I have had very nice and helpful people on this site answer any questions that I may have, and Kudo's for that. Still I find what you have told us here upsetting, I am not a master Modeler myself so who am I to judge anyone like that, you are right, it will discourage the young from attempting it again. Now if the parents are more understanding of the Issue they can respond accordingly to help raise the spirit of the child on his model, and encourage him to better his practice.

No instead you get some jerk off's ; like Zukiholic pointed out that wish they did have the time to model, ether that or their expectations on these shows is very high. Uhhh I hate rude people, But I love this forum !! So I am going to thank everyone here for being very positive and supportive of the Hobby, it's what keeps it going!

But now that I am thinking about it, Is there a club that does these kinds of shows everywhere! I myself have always wanted to build a model for a show, But in Casper Wyoming I don't think there are any? I could be wrong though, and it now seems to me that Spectator's expectations are high on perfection of a model.

It's one thing to say "uhh that's really bad" it's another to say "Hey I think you can do better", Those spectators there wre very rude.

[Joe Handley]

crude junk, wouldn't bring a "f---ing " piece of sh-- like that to a show, somebody's kid must be retarded. among several others

How did you not smack any of them?

[george 53]

Rod has TOO MUCH class and is TOO mature to get physical over MODEL CARS! But he DID remember what these UNFUNNY clowns looked like, and he'll probably stay away from bad news rather than associate with it. (But ya SHOULDA just smacked the Bastiges,Zuke!!! )

[george 53]

Mike, you did a WONDERFUL thing for that child, and I'll bet he'll remember you for the REST of his life! "No GOOD deed goes unrewarded!"

[Jeff Sauber]

Mike, you did a WONDERFUL thing for that child, and I'll bet he'll remember you for the REST of his life! "No GOOD deed goes unrewarded!" :D

And no sinner should go unpunished........

[Eshaver]

Face it , dere will always be candidates for the Springer talk show .Then two, there are those with NO DERN UPBRINGIN ........ Ed Shaver

[disabled modeler]

I have to agree with Ed, theres always going to be some that cant think of others and their feelings when they need our support. Its a shame some of the adults cant be as mature as the young modelers can be not remembering we were all there at their skill level once.

[jw78z28]

That's sad to hear. i wouldnt even say anything like that to someone in my age group let alone a kid. Im just glad that when i started it this hobby i found people that where willing to help. like my dad he got me into the hobby around the age of 10 or 11, he would help me build them box stock. there use to be a shop called all aboard hobbies it was about 4 miles from my house i would take my finished kit and carefully put it in a bag and ride my bike to the shop so i could show it to the owner of the shop. that shop held one of the first shows I ever entered, my 56 took first my custom mako shark corvette took sec. place. in the under 17 class. If the owner of this shop had been like the first post i dont think i would have got into the hobby like i did this was the shop that turned me on to the aftermarket parts people, shows, swap meets and clubs. I always enjoyed showing my models to friends and family.

Edited September 24, 2010 by jw78z28

[impcon]

One of the sad things about life is that there are people who have issues where as the only way that they can feel any self worth is to put someone else down and belittle them and their efforts. Nine times out of ten, these people will never say anything to your face but rather they scurry around like weasels assuring themselves that they are better then the next person and what better way to do that than to criticize and tell th world ( their world more often than not consists solely of themselves ) how stupid or how incompetent other people are. It makes them feel better about themselves to call someone else a half wit or an idiot and these people should really be pittied rather than despised. But some days, it sure is hard to like them no matter who they are.

I can tell you this - if I was at a show with someone and they made the kind of remarks that were quoted here about a young person's efforts, I'd disassociate myself with that person real quick. Remember that old saying - "Show me who you associate with and I'll show you who you are".

I also by all means am no master builder but I do my best and I have seen models that were in shows and on forums that were far less than perfect and I know that I could probably have done a better job. I have learned to NEVER say anything critical of someone else's best efforts because guess what? I know that if the owner of that model is showing it off to the world, then he has built it to the best of his abilities and I am not going to knock him or his efforts because at least he is trying and much of lifes' learnings only comes from actual experience.They say that experience is the best teacher and it must be so because all to often, it is the most expensive way of learning. Plus the fact remains that really, who am I to judge? I mean, I know that there are far more capable and talented builders than me out there who look at what I do and compared to their workmanship , talents and abilities, they are in university and I am still playing in the sandbox. All I have to do is look on this forum and I see things that are wayyyyyyyyy beyong my scope and abilities and often, I just sit and look in awe at what some of you people have created. All I can do is my best - and as long as I have given it my best efforts and done the job to the best of my abilities, then I feel that I have every right to be proud of my accomplishmensts in life. Can I do better? Can that other builder do better? You betcha! Always! But often, doing better comes only from learning and experience and what was a good build a year ago, may be second rate to me today despite the fact that I gave it my all. We should always try to remember that when looking at the work of others rather than criticizing. Besides, not every young person has a parent or someone who cares enough to spend the time to sit withthem as you did with that boy, Michael, and teach them and show them the little tricks that we have learned. All too often, kids especially, are left to their own devices and they learn on their own because mom and dad are too busy working to support a lifestyle that they really can not afford. I could go on a real rant here on that subject........

It's so easy to be critical and to say words that hurt and like all of us, I have learned some lessons in life the hard way. First is be careful what you say. Words are very powerful and they can heal or they can hurt and kill. Words can never be taken back once they pass through your lips and the effect that a few words can have on a person - well - I believe that more times than not, we are never allowed to see the effects that a good deed or a kind word may have on a person. I have often wondered how many people have been on the very edge in life - ready to jump and call it quits, when a kind word, a smile, a hug or an act of kindness - stopped them and they stepped away from the abyss and walked away and carried on with their life and overcame their struggles and challenges.

Second is never assume anything because we seldom know ALL of the facts. That boy who you sat with and mentored may well have not had a dad and this was an effort by him to find some sense of achiemement and acceptance. We have no way of knowing what is going on in someone else's life or in their mind. I have no doubt that your influence on him that day was a lot mor profound and positive than you may ever really know. When we look at and criticize some one els's efforts on anything in life, we had best make sure that we know all of the facts before we criticize or condemn. I am not saying that I am not as guilty of this as anyone else but I really do try to keep this in mind as much as I can.

Michael - your actions that day say a lot about your character and you are an example to us all. You were humble enough to realize and admit to yourself and demonstrate to that boy that your words could have been better chosen and you made the decision to do something about it. You will likely never know for sure, but you may well have had more of an impact on his young life than you will ever know. You may also never know where he was at that point in his young life and young people can be and are often quite delicate and fragile to the point where the wrong words can do some serious damage as far as self esteem goes. Who knows what different choices he may have made in his life had you just walked away and left him standing there feeling totally discouraged and humiliated because of your remarks. He may well have walked away from modelling and put his efforts and attention into things that are better left alone.

Your sitting there with him and teaching him may have given him just enough belief in himself to enable him to stay out of trouble plus, your actions were an example that he may well mimic for the rest of his life. If not at that time, then certainly later in his life, he will realize that your actions had a profound impact on him - and I have little doubt that in fact, they did. It is far better to lift up, build up and edify someone and their efforts in life than to tear down, damage, bruise and destroy with thoughtless words. Now if only we could ALL ( yours truly included ) learn something from that....

[junkman1153]

How did you not smack any of them?

I really felt like it, but what would that prove,and more over what would that show to the kids ? one act of stupidity followed by another is the way to go? Iam so glad to see that this action by an inconsiderate jerk has helped to show that the people on here care and realize the future is in the hands of the younger generations. (not a master builder by a long shot) Ralph

[Jordan White]

Just fight fire with fire. If you're with someone, start talking at a somewhat higher volume and start praising the model. If it's a kid's model, say things like "that's a great kid's model" or "wow that kid does good work". If the kid is nearby, he will know that not everyone is against him, and maybe the hateful criticizer may rethink his attitude.

[Chuck Most]

Just curious... what kinds of models were these "Negative Nancies" bringing to the show? If they were picking on the 'newbie' modelers, I'd have been over at their table with a big ol' poop-eating grin, Simon-Cowelling the living daylights out of each and every one of those guys' models!

[jeffb]

when i was younger myself, i had a friend whos younger brother showed a lot of interest in my models. i mentored him as best i could and he won a few contests. fast forward 30 yrs, i took my son to the high school drag day at the local strip. this grown man walks up to me and its the kid.. hes now the auto shop teacher at a local high school. he says he uses models to get his students enthused..what goes around comes around is a very true statment..

[Mopar Mike]

My question to the 'ADULT' talking would be, What was you first couple of built models like when you finnally finnished them? Second one would be, and where is your model at the show so we can actually see what "greatnees is"and can judge it the same way you judge others. We all started one model at a time and got progessively better as we went. You can lose more kids that way than asking them questions and offering a helping hand.

Mopar To Ya

Mike

[DRG]

If those are the types of remarks that are made at Model Car Shows perhaps I better not go to Toledo next month.

[junkman1153]

If those are the types of remarks that are made at Model Car Shows perhaps I better not go to Toledo next month.

don't let someone else ruin your day. the show in question was at a hotel maybe he was just a tourist killing time ,he surely wasn't a true model car fan. probaly waiting for the bar to open.

[charlie8575]

Wow- that was classless. When I taught, I always, always tried to find something positive in even the most dismal work. Even if it's "well, you got your name spelled right, let's go from there."

People like that should be ejected from shows and banned.

Mike- very well done on your part.

Donald- don't be afraid to do stuff because of a few rotten apples.

As a brother, I ask you to look at things this way: if you let the old, grumpy past masters and other old harrumphs run the lodge and scare off any new brother- your lodge wouldn't last too long. Same thing with a show- don't let some blowhard ruin the show and possibly endanger its future. By showing up, enjoying yourself and standing up to such hoodlums, you defeat them.

Charlie Larkin

[Ben]

Man, that is really sad! When I look at models on a contest table I may see things that are wrong or not as good as they could be but I would NEVER say anything negative. I just quietly look at everything and not say a word!

I always say, no matter who you are, no matter what you do, there will always be someone in life that can do it better than you! Nobody's perfect!

When my son comes to me with a new model he has built out of Lego's, I may not really grasp what it is but I sure tell him how cool I think it is and how he did a great job! The next time he brings a new model to me, it's even better than the previous! I hate to even think how I'd make him feel by saying something negative!!!

[jenn]

Hi all,

I've not had the chance to go to any shows.

I for one would have been really aggravated if I overheard rude remarks.

This actually reminds me of when I was about 9 or 10 years old

I put together one of my Uncle's model homes from his train collection!!

(big bucks he spent!!!! Limited edition EVERYTHING!)

I remember it well... I'm sure he was ticked that I found his models,

but, surprised that I showed interest in models too!

The next day, we were at the drug store in the model/toy section...

He said "Is there anything here that you would like to put together?"

I'm glad to have family and friends the encouraged me to go forward.

I've been putting models together on and off since then.

I pass on the encouragement to others as well.

My personal motto:

"If I can do it, you can to."

Please don't bash other modelers skills, what ever the age.

[beefheart22]

This story proves that some people take things way too serious. The ones who made the inappropriate comments about the kids entries had obviously endured lonely childhoods void of friends and significant relationships and probably continue that trend to this day. Its all good. They should feel proud they devoted their life to mastering the art of building tiny little cars while sacrificing meaningful human contact.