TOT as usual: train spotters

On Dec 12, 10:23*pm, Bill Wright wrote:
allantracy wrote:
Then there was the local Labour party quiz night, well if you're ever
in need of a lifetime of disappointment look no further.

You want to try a Conservative Party function if it's stereotypes you're
after!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...77_468x665.jpg

ian

On Dec 12, 1:40*pm, "alexander.keys1"
wrote:
Found on uk.tech.digital-tv:

On Dec 10, 3:04*am, Bill Wright wrote:



I visited the National Railway Museum the other day. The other visitors
were mostly family groups and old age pensioners. However a third group
was noticeably well-represented. These were groups of men who seemed to
want to cling together. They were largely dishevelled, unshaven, spotty,
and dressed the way people in the fifties used to dress their adult
mentally-handicapped sons. They had cheap cameras and notebooks. Some
had spectacles that had been repaired with elastoplast. The cliqued
anorak was well represented. Once in a while I would see an unhappy
female, mostly either absurdly fat or thin, dragging along behind a
group of the males. Yes, these were train spotters. I honestly thought
the archetypal train spotter was a figment of the imagination.

Incidentally the person I was with had brought a three year old child,
and had come by rail from Doncaster. I helped him to get the child and
the pushchair from the platform at York station to the museum, a short
walk but with a ridiculous number of steps. He was quite happy though
because the return fare was £13, but less happy when we got back to the
station to find that the train to Doncaster was running 70 minutes late..
* After a day spent admiring the grandeur of the British rail network in
its hay-day this brought us down to earth with a bump.


At first, I thought that this was some kind of entry for a
competition...perhaps with the object of winning the fondue set. There
were so many stereotypes that no-one could possibly believe it to be a
genuine contribution.

I will admit to belonging to the genus 'gricer'. but there are so many
sub-species in this grouping, and I am not a 'number cruncher'.
However, I do know something about them. I have observed their
behaviour, and cannot think of a single instance of an anti-social
act. I have seen people of all ages, and every walk of life. I have
seen fathers and sons. I have looked on as disabled members of the
fraternity in wheelchairs are unofficially adopted by the group. I am
even aware of female members of the species.

It is rather odd that a similar group, say twitchers (birdwatchers),
are not ridiculed in a similar way. But I have a theory about this.
'Number crunchers' are eminently visible in a public place, namely at
the end of a station platform. Consequently, certain people, such as
the 'author' of this diatribe, are actually offended by them (even
driven to fury). Why? Because these people have, for a time, escaped
conventional life....a life that we used to call (in some
circumstances) the 'rat race'. They seem to have leisure, and all the
time in the world. Perhaps without a care for the greater part of the
day....like a fond memory of childhood. Some people are forced to
perhaps question aspects of their existence. And when a person is
clearly unhappy with their lot, they lash out at a visible target....

Dr. Barry Worthington



Bill- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

On Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:40:14 -0800 (PST), "alexander.keys1"
wrote:

Found on uk.tech.digital-tv:

On Dec 10, 3:04*am, Bill Wright wrote:
I visited the National Railway Museum the other day. The other visitors
were mostly family groups and old age pensioners. However a third group
was noticeably well-represented. These were groups of men who seemed to
want to cling together. They were largely dishevelled, unshaven, spotty,
and dressed the way people in the fifties used to dress their adult
mentally-handicapped sons. They had cheap cameras and notebooks. Some
had spectacles that had been repaired with elastoplast. The cliqued
anorak was well represented. Once in a while I would see an unhappy
female, mostly either absurdly fat or thin, dragging along behind a
group of the males. Yes, these were train spotters. I honestly thought
the archetypal train spotter was a figment of the imagination.

Incidentally the person I was with had brought a three year old child,
and had come by rail from Doncaster. I helped him to get the child and
the pushchair from the platform at York station to the museum, a short
walk but with a ridiculous number of steps. He was quite happy though
because the return fare was £13, but less happy when we got back to the
station to find that the train to Doncaster was running 70 minutes late.
* After a day spent admiring the grandeur of the British rail network in
its hay-day this brought us down to earth with a bump.

Bill

"Hay-day"? Them's the day the country bumpkins ride? Been listening
to too many re-broadcasts of early "The Archers" mebbe.

giggle

trainguard wrote:
certain people, such as
the 'author'
I was the author. Not the 'author'.

of this diatribe, are actually offended by them
Where did I say I was offended by them? Please quote me saying that.

(even
driven to fury).
Please quote a passage where I show signs of fury.

Why? Because these people have, for a time, escaped
conventional life....a life that we used to call (in some
circumstances) the 'rat race'.
Based on their personal appearance and demeanour I'd say that far from
having escaped from conventional life these people have never been
admitted to it. After all the entrance ticket is reasonable
intelligence, the ability to earn a living, and not being smelly.

They seem to have leisure,
Ah yes, our old friend idleness.

and all the
time in the world. Perhaps without a care for the greater part of the
day....like a fond memory of childhood.
Yes, the infantile existence of the mentally subnormal. It must be quite
cosy, as long are you are untroubled by ambition or self-respect.


Some people are forced to
perhaps question aspects of their existence. And when a person is
clearly unhappy with their lot, they lash out at a visible target
Well, I can see that you've done that. You've also indulged in dreadful
amateur psychology.


Dr. Barry Worthington
Obviously the doctorate was not in logic.

Bill

Nobody wrote:

"Hay-day"? Them's the day the country bumpkins ride? Been listening
to too many re-broadcasts of early "The Archers" mebbe.

giggle

I do tend to over-use hyphens. One of my favourite words is re-tune,
which I much prefer to retune.

Bill

On Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:23:23 +0000, Bill Wright
wrote:
Nobody wrote:
"Hay-day"? Them's the day the country bumpkins ride? Been listening
to too many re-broadcasts of early "The Archers" mebbe.

giggle

I do tend to over-use hyphens. One of my favourite words is re-tune,
which I much prefer to retune.


It should be "heyday".

You're welcome.

On Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:23:23 +0000, Bill Wright wrote:

Nobody wrote:

"Hay-day"? Them's the day the country bumpkins ride? Been listening
to too many re-broadcasts of early "The Archers" mebbe.

giggle

I do tend to over-use hyphens. One of my favourite words is re-tune,
which I much prefer to retune.

Bill

It's better than omitting hyphens thus, in some cases, reversing the
meaning.
Using a hyphen also prevents it being used as a grocer's' apostrophe.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Dec 13, 1:19*am, Bill Wright wrote:
trainguard wrote:
certain people, such as
the 'author'

I was the author. Not the 'author'.

Well, Bill, I used to teach English. The inverted commas were
deliberate, and I suspect that most readers would see why that was the
case....


of this diatribe, are actually offended by them

Where did I say I was offended by them? Please quote me saying that.

Oh dear! You do have a problem with communication, don't you? I was
suggesting that hostility towards 'trainspotters' derives from some
people being offended by them. It was not meant as a personal
accusation. But, on the other hand, "if the cap fits...wear it!"

* (even driven to fury).

Please quote a passage where I show signs of fury.

Again? You wish to demonstrate your lack of communication skills (and
perhaps an element of cognitive dissonance) once more?


*Why? Because these people have, for a time, escaped conventional life....a life that we used to call (in some
circumstances) the 'rat race'.

Based on their personal appearance and demeanour I'd say that far from
having escaped from conventional life these people have never been
admitted to it.

And that reveals more about yourself, my dear sir, rather than them.
Perchance you are a Daily Mail Reader? Were a subscriber to Readers'
Digest? A purchaser of coffee table books? A leilandia fancier? A
Tretchikoff green oriental lady on the wall (or maybe the classic
'dogs playing snooker')? Aren't stereotypes fun?

After all the entrance ticket is reasonable
intelligence, the ability to earn a living, and not being smelly.

Do you normally go around smelling people? Just curious....


*They seem to have leisure,
Ah yes, our old friend idleness.

Idleness?

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies


*and all the time in the world. Perhaps without a care for the greater part of the
day....like a fond memory of childhood.

Yes, the infantile existence of the mentally subnormal. It must be quite
cosy, as long are you are untroubled by ambition or self-respect.

You really are intent on proving my little theory, aren't you?
Otherwise, why are you so annoyed?


Some people are forced to
perhaps question aspects of their existence. And when a person is
clearly unhappy with their lot, they lash out at a visible target

Well, I can see that you've done that. You've also indulged in dreadful
amateur psychology.

Oh, I think most people can see a sad, embittered little man.......and
it isn't me!

Dr. Barry Worthington

Obviously the doctorate was not in logic.

Bill

What happened in your life to make you such a mean minded and shallow
person?

Look, I've just retired. Life is wonderful! It's much too short to act
like a miserable git!

Dr. Barry Worthington

Bill Wright wrote:
They had cheap cameras and notebooks.

Unusual. They normally have very good cameras.

BugBear

Just one question


£13 sounds like an open ticket. Why would you wait for 70 minutes for a
specific train back when there are at least 3 trains an hour between York
and Doncaster (2 East Coast and 1 Cross Country)?