Are we, sometimes, unfriendly?

[DRG]

Last weekend the wife and I went to the Cleveland Autorama. We had a great time except for one instance.

There was a Model Car Car Contest and the models were out on display on several different tables.

We walked over to look at the models and were completely ignored my the men standing on the other side.

I even asked one of them a question and received a very curt, NO.

There was no attempt by those men to engage us in conversation, tell us about the models or anything.

That does not seem to be a very good way to promote a Hobby we all love.

Just my thoughts.

[Terry Sumner]

Donald, there are jerks in every human endeavor. You apparently just happened to run into 2 of them in the model car hobby. But I have to say that this is definitely NOT the norm. 99% of the guys I have met in this hobby have been just the opposite. Don't worry about these 2 idiots...karma will get them eventually.

[niteowl7710]

Ya never know Donald maybe they thought they had award winning build until they got there and found out they were entirely outclassed by the other entries...or perhaps as Terry pointed out they're just jerks.

I think you've seen by being around here the vast majority of model car guys are locked away in building areas far too long, ignored by their wives and children, and are fairly...desperate...to make contact with any other males of their species who share the same passion they do...

[Chuck Most]

I think you've seen by being around here the vast majority of model car guys are locked away in building areas far too long, ignored by their wives and children, and are fairly...desperate...to make contact with any other males of their species who share the same passion they do...

That so does NOT describe me!

I've noticed this about myself... If there's a particular person I don't much care for (use your own descriptive noun here), if I find out that person is a modeler, I can actually learn to like (or at least merely tolerate) that person. I may not be the most warm and jovial person in the room, but if I'm around other modelers, I won't give any of them the cold-shoulder or total-jerk treament. 1:1 cars on the other hand... I'm not even going there!

[Darin Bastedo]

I have to admit I usually feel more comfortable behind the keyboard, or in a small gathering of other modelers. I have Asperger syndrome which sometimes makes me quite uncomfortable in social situations. I've worked hard to overcomethis, and just recognising the issues allows me to blend in pretty well. The biggest problems arrise when I meet someone who knows me from the boards who I don't know. sometimes I come off as a standoffish in these situations.

It's rare though that I have been to a contest where people were outright rude to me, even if it was someone I'd had a disagreement with in the past. so I would say that this case was rare and probably extreme.

[Jon Cole]

In the 1:1 hobby, those are the kinda guys who should stay in the garage. I have seen that behavior, it is annoying.

At a car show a few years back, I was gawking at a Ford GT-40. The rear bonnet was up. I think it was the first time I had seen one in person, and was completely smitten.

I handed my camera to the wife, and said "Take my picture with this!!!" So I knelt down by the rear tire, and... the jerk who owned it, completely oblivious to me and wrapped up in his own conversation / ego gush with another person. I guess he wanted to either look at, or show something in the engine to the other guy. Completely ignoring me, he walks right into my "photo zone", just as my wife takes the pic! Arrrgh! And he stayed there!

It was about... 140 degrees in the shade that day; my head was already spinning. I have bad knees, and my wife needed to give me a hand to get back up. Still totally oblivious to me.

But hey... it was his car. And he can enjoy it 24/7. I just wish he would have let me have my moment.

Point is, that callousness is everywhere. We live in a "Me! Me! Me!" age; the h e c k with everyone else.

[Harry P.]

Donald, there are jerks in every human endeavor. You apparently just happened to run into 2 of them in the model car hobby. But I have to say that this is definitely NOT the norm. 99% of the guys I have met in this hobby have been just the opposite. Don't worry about these 2 idiots...karma will get them eventually.

How do you know there were only two? Maybe there were even more...

[Darin Bastedo]

In the 1:1 hobby, those are the kinda guys who should stay in the garage. I have seen that behavior, it is annoying.

At a car show a few years back, I was gawking at a Ford GT-40. The rear bonnet was up. I think it was the first time I had seen one in person, and was completely smitten.

I handed my camera to the wife, and said "Take my picture with this!!!" So I knelt down by the rear tire, and... the jerk who owned it, completely oblivious to me and wrapped up in his own conversation / ego gush with another person. I guess he wanted to either look at, or show something in the engine to the other guy. Completely ignoring me, he walks right into my "photo zone", just as my wife takes the pic! Arrrgh! And he stayed there!

It was about... 140 degrees in the shade that day; my head was already spinning. I have bad knees, and my wife needed to give me a hand to get back up. Still totally oblivious to me.

But hey... it was his car. And he can enjoy it 24/7. I just wish he would have let me have my moment.

Point is, that callousness is everywhere. We live in a "Me! Me! Me!" age; the h e c k with everyone else.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen a really cool car at a car show, and when I approach it's a clear shot but as i raise my camara a crowd suddenly closes in completely oblivious to me. One time I was asked by a friend what he can do to ensure his car draws a crowd I responded, have me aim a camara at it.

[jeffb]

i have the opposite problem..people cant get me to shut up....

[Darin Bastedo]

i have the opposite problem..people cant get me to shut up....

there is a supprt group for that. It's called "On & On Anon".

[Agent G]

I observed a fist fight between two guys after a model car show one time. One did not like that the other "out placed" him. Really ?

I was attending a rather prestigious military miniatures show once. As a late arrival began placing his work on the table, one of the judges loudly commented, " Why is he even here?, his work is lousy".

I have not let these extreme examples of "boorishness" dampen my enthusiasm for the hobby. To paraphrase Terry, "Karma's a bitch"

G

Edited March 27, 2011 by AgentG

[DRG]

It just seems to me that when a person shows interest in Model Cars that there are certain questions that should be asked.

1- Do you build models?

2- What type do you build?

3- Do you belong to a Model Club?

4- Have you checked out Model Cars Magazine?

I mean isn't our goal to promote this hobby and increase participation in the different clubs?

[LOBBS]

I have to admit I usually feel more comfortable behind the keyboard, or in a small gathering of other modelers. I have Asperger syndrome which sometimes makes me quite uncomfortable in social situations. I've worked hard to overcomethis, and just recognising the issues allows me to blend in pretty well. The biggest problems arrise when I meet someone who knows me from the boards who I don't know. sometimes I come off as a standoffish in these situations.

It's rare though that I have been to a contest where people were outright rude to me, even if it was someone I'd had a disagreement with in the past. so I would say that this case was rare and probably extreme.

Darin, my oldest son was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome a few years ago. In the course of the interviews with his child psychologist doing his diagnosis, I also received my own "off the books" diagnosis. His physchologist basically told me that it was unnecessary for me to run off and get "official" because once you've reached adulthood you've pretty much learned to deal with it the best you can. Luckily, I've got a wife who has come to accept my condition and we can make inside Aspy jokes when I have my moments. My oldest son is just severe enough that he was struggling in public school so we made the decision to homeschool our kids.

[PatRedmond]

i have the opposite problem..people cant get me to shut up....

Quoted For Truth.

[cruz]

Harry P is the nastiest guy here but I don't let that bother me...

[bajaboy5b]

I have to admit I usually feel more comfortable behind the keyboard, or in a small gathering of other modelers. I have Asperger syndrome which sometimes makes me quite uncomfortable in social situations. I've worked hard to overcomethis, and just recognising the issues allows me to blend in pretty well. The biggest problems arrise when I meet someone who knows me from the boards who I don't know. sometimes I come off as a standoffish in these situations.

It's rare though that I have been to a contest where people were outright rude to me, even if it was someone I'd had a disagreement with in the past. so I would say that this case was rare and probably extreme.

Same here i have Aspergers and what you say is about 98.6% like me anyhoo on topic i have never been to a model show but my main hobby is rc i go to races etc and most people are nice but some are just jerks just don't care about it.

Jeremy

[spkgibson]

Well sometimes you have to take into consideration, That one it depends on what type of day you are having, Or if you have some personally issues going on at the the time, I'm guilty of acting a fool sometimes, But there is no reason to be nasty with anyone on here at all, Its a hobby we all love to do, The nonsense that goes on , Sometimes makes me wonder if alot of people on here need to think about what they are typing before hitting add reply,Furthermore I see alot of people on here just trying to get under your skin, You have to just let it go. If you have an issue with that person, Try to resolve it in a civil manner in PM's , Don't put your dirt out there for everyone else to read, There is also a law against cyber bullying. Just like anywhere else with online forums , Its not allowed , Nor should it be allowed. Having your own oppinion is your choice, But if it gets out of hand , Step away from the keyboard and think before you post slandering comments to kill someones charactor. It not only hurts that person, But also makes you look like a complete fool.

[Greg Myers]

"Specific to model car building, it's easily a pretty isolationist hobby. Even when people get together to build in a group, they're working on their own thing, while someone is doing something similar near them...but not really working on the same projects most of the time."

So Mark, what if we were to have something more like a sporting event ,where say, one or two people do a build and everyone else watches from the sidelines and cheers them on, offers constructive criticism, ideas, or suggestions on the build? Just something to keep the hobby fresh.

[Eshaver]

One thing yer gonna find with me is I'm the same way in public as I am on this forum . Look, I have worked so many flea markets , trade shows and car shows , I can't remember which one I may have met some of ya at. Hey, I'll buy anyone a cup of coffee!!!!!!! Ed Shaver

Edited March 27, 2011 by Eshaver

[PatRedmond]

I think one thing worth mentioning is that most people in this (or any other) hobby have that one thing in common...but may have NOTHING else in common as far as other hobbies, social, or work, family or interests go. Some people are so shy, they come off as unfriendly without meaning to. Some people are so social they may be off-putting to others. Which is a nice way of saying there's going to be a lot of varied opinions, viewpoints, personalities, etc. in any place people with a single shared interest meet. That shouldn't necessarily lead to things being "unfriendly" though.

Specific to model car building, it's easily a pretty isolationist hobby. Even when people get together to build in a group, they're working on their own thing, while someone is doing something similar near them...but not really working on the same projects most of the time.

Like anything else, but maybe to a more exaggerated degree, the people I've met in this hobby run the gamut between quiet near shut-ins to people with 10 pounds of personality spilling out of a 5 pound bag. I personally seem to get along better with the latter group than the former, because...well...that's more like me. I'm the person who meets lots of people at a social gathering, and ends up with new friends. I've just got less in common with more wallflower types, and have a harder time interacting with them...often, there's just not enough common ground to forge a lasting relationship. It's just reality, I suppose.

I think the key is, especially in something as impersonal as an internet forum is to realize that not everyone is going to be someone you'd hang out with socially in real life, but you share an interest. Find a bond at whatever level you can and be yourself. You'll have people that like you, people that won't. Just like the real world.

Plus, there will always be the 2% of any population that are just idiots. Went to a concert at the Hard Rock/Vegas yesterday...guy got tossed for screaming at the band to play his favorite song between sets in a drunken rant. There's your idiot. The great thing is, either literally by a bouncer, or figuratively by social shunning, they'll find the door sooner than later. No sense worrying about them...

Pretty much sums it up.

[Dave]

I attend a few shows a year and usually find folks friendly enough. Sometimes I hear people being jerks, but most times their fussing with a vendor. At 1:1 shows I don't talk much, I try to limit my comments to "Nice ride" When you real hot rod owners start talking my brain shuts down! A 420 what? 8 inch who? Where is this Dana and her rear end you keep talking about?

[george 53]

They probably just DIDN'T want to be there. I find it amazeing that anyone would be rude to someone asking a question about MODELS!!! ESPECIALLY if he's working the show!!!! At this years AutoRama, I was given permission to allow folks to come BEHIND the barrier, IF they asked to see a particular model. To ME, THAT was realy cool. That way IF a person showed interest in a particular model, he was allowed to see it up close. And who knows, maybe it'll be enough for HIM to bring one next year! :D

[Tom Kren]

I saw the guys running the show and glad i didnt bring my models to show!! 2 years ago someone walked off with a model that was not theirs thats why they dont let you come up to them anymore I also asked them why dont they put the model show by the toy show instead of by the back door they said they wanted to use all that space they had .WHICH IS A JOKE CAUS THEY COULDNT FILL THE REAL CAR SHOW!

[aarondupont]

My son, grandaughter and I went to the Cleveland Autorama Friday evening. I never found the model cars until we were leaving at 9:45. There were probably three tables set up to the right of the exit doors in the entrance lobby. I found this strange! We walked up to get a closer look. There were three or four young fellows (looked like teenagers to this 60 year old). We were not welcomed because the show was closing. I would have liked to talk model cars with these young fellows for a short while. But was not given the courtesy. Unless they were waiting to move the model cars into the show area, it seems strange to have them in the lobby! Just my two cents. Aaron Dupont

[jbwelda]

you know, the thing not really being stressed here is that these people the OP mentioned were out there representing models, and modelers, to the public, or at least the auto show public. and evidently turning them off to the cars and the hobby. i know at the shows i work at we stand around and watch that the kids (mostly but you would never figure...) dont grab the models and if they do gently remind them that the big sign in front of them says DO NOT TOUCH. we (or at least i and i see everyone else doing the same) are always happy to hear comments or answer questions as best we can. in other words encourage those who come up to become engaged in the hobby, maybe bring a model next year (or tomorrow if its early in the show), encourage kids to build and even give them a model sometimes. seems a real waste to have some sour dawgs behind the table shooing everyone away with their attitude. you can be sure not many situations like that exist, most times you will find everyone willing to talk about this car or that car or all the old models you have at home you havent opened since you were a kid but they were a bunch from this second grade company called jojan or something like that and youre thinking of throwing out the whole lot just to regain the space they are taking up and might even pay someone to come around and collect them out of your life...ah, but now i digress