Trolleyville is Seeking Your Opinions and Modeling Hints!
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Within the next twelve months, there will be new trolley models in different scales introduced to the general public. This means we will have an opportunity to get new traction modelers. Some of the more senior modelers developed methods of doing things before some of the current products were available, consequently there may be newer and better ways to do things. We invite anyone with any contribution to contact the Times. It does not cost you anything to get your article on-line. We would like to present as much variety as possible to our readers. The purpose of Trolleyville is to promote trolley modeling by providing quality accurate information to modelers. If you use a traction product and wish to tell us about it, pros or cons, please let us know so we can share it with our readers. Responses in Microsoft Word are preferred.
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The Ink Was Hardly Dry....
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In our last issue, the Times pleaded for a higher level of mutual respect among model trolley suppliers and for increased respect of each other's work. Last month, during a discussion of models desired on the 'hotractionmodeling' yahoo site, one member stated that he would love to see a resin model made of a Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Interurban. When it was mentioned that a brass model had been made at one time, another member, who is also a model traction supplier and the site moderator, posted message number #6177:

"...If someone has one of the brass models they wouldn't mind sacrificing to make a resin kit, I'd be willing to work a deal with you. Contact me if you are interested..."

Less than a hour later, message #6178 was posted by another member, also a traction supplier:

"...That sounds like a blatant invitation to be an accessory to a deliberate violation of the US copyright laws, or worse. Is that how you made the rest of "your" models?...."

As a result of the last message, almost two days of heated messages were posted by many members of the site, which eventually resulted in the author of message #6178 being threatened with removal from the site. That member actually instantly replied the moment he received that insulting posting. In his reply he stated that (a) he would not tolerate any such copying of his products now or in the future and (b) he was unsubscribing IMMEDIATELY after replying in disgust at the list owner and his published business practices. This resulted in the moderator censoring/removing over 22 messages and as a result a textbook lesson on how NOT to moderate a chat room was presented.

In our opinion, several mistakes were made here, some with good intentions and some without.

First of all, the first message was posted by the moderator himself. When the moderator noted that the message was being misconstrued, it was his paramount duty to clarify it as soon as possible. Had he done that the next events would have probably never happened.

Second, the poster of the second message should have realized that the words 'trademark' and 'copyright' are words similar to 'abortion' and when you use them, a furor will follow. The sad result is that the real purpose and intent of his message was never delivered, lost on the group and was conveniently buried.

Now for the exhumation. The main issue here is that the first message implied that the author of the first message intended to take a model made by someone else and copy it without any permission from or coordination with the original supplier. Almost two days later, he clarified his intentions with message 6232, which as of the press date of this edition had not yet been censored/removed. But would it not have been better to have clarified his intentions immediately and not allow almost two days of bitter exchanges to take place on a site that he is the 'moderator'? Also the admonishment given in public at the end of his lengthy explanation would have better been done in private.

Traction suppliers, in our current economic situation, MUST work together and not AT each other. We applaud actions of large suppliers like Bowser and Con-Cor who both decided to make PCC car models and made sure that each project would not affect the other. We likewise applaud actions of smaller suppliers like Miniatures by Eric, and Custom Traxx that have co-operated on new HO scale kits for the Kansas City PCC, the San Francisco Milano Peter Witt and the Canadian Light Rail Vehicle, all using the Bowser traction mechanism. When we asked Custom Traxx about these new models, they told us that most of the enjoyment of the developing these models was working with other professional competent business men and traction modelers such as Geoff Baxter, Eric Courtney, Lee English, John Kennedy, Greg King and Joel Lovitch.

In other words, the emphasis should be on better business ethics between all model traction suppliers. We should all be trying to promote the hobby but not at the expense at each other. It will take the united effort of all traction suppliers to keep this hobby viable. Remember this is not Rocket Science or National Defense... It's trolley modeling......for fun and relaxation!

Lastly, the major purpose of chat rooms is to encourage people to discuss items of interest in a free-for-all type atmosphere. Sometimes there will be heated statements and occasionally, there has to be a calming influence. In our opinion, it is the job of the moderator to put out brush fires before they burn down half of the county. It is especially peculiar for a chat room moderator to start a fire, let it burn and then two days later admonish members and then arbitrarily remove postings. It does no good to remove postings that have been on the web for more than four hours, anyway. The damage is done. Everyone has seen them and now that they know that they may disappear, they are copied and broadcast all over the internet. And lastly, all the messages that were censored/removed from this site would not have existed had the moderator acted rapidly to correct his own error!

Members posting messages on any chat room must remember understand that the web is infinite. Once anything enters the Internet, it gets a life of its own. Censoring or removing messages that are not profane or personally insulting to one or more members does not bring that fact home. If some of the insane, angry and irrational statements were left on the web, some of these people would learn a valuable lesson. In more than one case, the moderator/censor actually helped prevent other members from knowing the true nature of some of those who posted messages.

Finally, many traction suppliers are one or two person businesses and most of these people are known to most of the industry on a first name basis. Messages not worded correctly, without thought or containing veiled insults can negatively influence potential customers and that is not in the best interests of any business.

In conclusion, chat rooms are a very good source of information and can offer great enjoyment. But when improperly used they can be a source of unwanted reactions and pain to individuals. So, all users should be very mindful of the pitfalls when responding to messages. Maybe a count to ten or "sleeping on it" should be enacted before responding in some cases!