Time to bid farewell...

shaygetz

Active Member
"Hello shaygetz it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?"

An interesting greeting for an interesting time for me here at The Gauge to say the least. One need not look far to see that I have contributed quite regularly since I joined so long ago. The number of my How-tos and Academy postings are rivaled by few. I owe a lot to my new found freshness in this hobby to this board.

The past six months have been an interesting time for me here. What was once a warm place to enjoy like minded company in the pursuit of my lifetime hobby (34 years) has steadily turned into a much cooler place that I just don't appear to fit into or feel welcome in anymore. One need only go back to my earlier How-tos to see a dramatic difference in the banter we used to have here.

From about six months before the change, the blatant ignoring I have received in some threads -- too often to call it oversight -- leads me to believe I have in some way offended some folks. To them I extend my apologies for whatever offenses I may have caused and beg their forgiveness. This does not, however, take away from the fact that The Gauge has become a different place, one I find very difficult to navigate and socially uninviting to someone who practices the hobby in the style and form that I do.

I wish you all the best, Peter, and hope you find what you're looking for in this pursuit. I wish the rest all the best this hobby has to offer and hope you can find a place in it to enjoy it the way I do. As for me, I've since moved on to other boards and the task of upgrading my website. I'll drop in from time to time, but only as a lurker at best, to see how you all fare.

Blessings, grace and peace, BC
 

MilesWestern

Active Member
I hate for you to go Shaygetz! :cry: I too have seen this steady decline in interest as well. Now many of our skilled members still reside here, and I agree that they should stay, but I think the move has done it in for me too.. I feel like it's hardly the place I entered originally, full of friendly, competent, insightful advice, and valuble feedback. As much as I like the cheerleading, a "Good Job" or a " :dance: " a new phenomenon, I'm more interested in obtaining honest, courteous feedback on my work.

The Ignoring of some of my threads was crushing too, espically because alot of them were more important to me than, say my photo runbys.

I note a recent post "where's Miles" about how I disappeared after the move. It wasn't accidental. With the deletion of all 10 pages of my gallery photos, which I linked aross the internet, It took alot of the wind out of my sails.

You're one of the true craftsman shaygetz, practically unrivalled in many interesting aspects, truthfully, I've read nearly post of yours, and often I thought that my words couldn't express some of the awe I felt at your work.

What struck me most was how you could turn a pile of scrap-box parts, some plastic signage, and a pantograph, and turn it into an amazing HO scale electric boxcab, whilist adding a few belly laughs along the way. :)

If you're going to go, do tell us where you can be found. I wish to continue following your path, you were an honest influence to me as a model railroader, and I cannot have that disappear on me now.
 

Iron Goat

Member
I think Miles pretty much said it all, but I just wanted you to know that you'll definately be missed here on the Gauge... as you have truly been a guiding influence here (I know you certainly have been one to me).

I hope our tracks cross again somewhere out in the system, and I wish you nothing but the best.

God bless... Bob
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
Dear Shaygetz,

Even though I have over 1000 posts here at The Gauge, I still consider myself to be a new guy. And with that comes a certain "awe" and respect for those such as yourself who have obviously been a key part of the Forum for a long time. I wonder if and how I fit in with you and the rest of the 3000+ posters. And that causes me to shy away to a certain extent, like I am butting in on a conversation that I haven't earned a place in. Plus, with less than 2 years in the hobby, I don't feel that I can often add anything constructive to a conversation amongst people who have 20+ years in the hobby.

So I want to apologize if I in anyway have contributed to your change of heart about The Gauge. I hope you can understand my feelings above. The fact that I seldom responded to your posts was not disrespect, in all honesty, it was out of respect!

On the other hand, now that you mention it, I think I too have noticed a small change in The Gauge. But my common interests with a few of The Gauge members keeps me enjoying the forum.

I have been on other non-railroad forums, and sadly, they all change as people come and go. I hate to see you go, and I give you my best wishes in wherever you go and whatever you do.

Thanks for the things I have gained from you,
Gary
 

Nomad

Active Member
Shaygetz, I do not think I ever talked to you directly(so to speak) but I learned a lot reading your posts. I always have troubles saying goodbye's so I just say you will be missed.

Loren
 
N

nachoman

While I can definitely say it will be sad to see you go, I can also say I understand. Just remember, you are always welcome around here should you find your way back.

Kevin
 

Ray Marinaccio

Active Member
Wow,:|
Seems like an end of an era.
It was one of Bob's threads that drew me here to the great group of kit-bashers and scratch-builders (my style of modeling) that were active members at the time.
It seemed that most steadily drifted away (or just lurk) for one reason or another.
Robin's passing was very hard to take and a terrible loss for all of us.
Yes, some good people have joined in since but I also have noticed the change of direction and attitude. What was once home has become just another forum.:|
I do not mean to offend anyone by that, If this is the best on the web for you that is great and I am happy for you.
To me, this hobby is all about having fun. I have little interest in RTR, DCC, rudeness, snobish attitudes, stereotyping by what other forum you are a member of, advertisements or contests, it just doesn't fit into my definition of fun.
 

railohio

Active Member
I'll echo the sentiments already on here. There's a problem when the questions outnumber the answers. As an individual I can only contribute so much to stem the tide. The same can be said for any of the other "old timers" around here. The hobby is changing, maybe for the better and maybe not. I'm sure many will say I stopped being "useful" a long time ago and that's probably how the majority see it. So be it. I however, will not just walk away simply because I'm in the minority. Sometimes there needs to be an outspoken minority to ruffle the feathers of the establishment. That's why I was on the staff as long as I was at another large forum, the owner wanted a fresh and somewhat abrasive perspective to keep all the rest in check. There certainly seems to be a calling for that around here at times.
 

bigsteel

Call me Mr.Tinkertrain
i am considered an old timer,but a newbie to MRRing,shaygetz was one of the first people i met on here.and there seems to be on every forum a change that happens that affects everybody.i will say,your skills and great modeling,and the tricks that go along with it will be missed.--josh
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
Shay,
I feel your pain about having your posts ignored. I bet, two thirds of all the posts I made were one way or another passed over, or as you say, "blatantly ignored". Some days I felt like you do now, but then I tell myself..."Well..Guess it wasn't interesting enough"..And I moved on.
But, I have to ask you this question though...How many other threads have you read....And not responded too?

Your modeling skills have been an inspiration not just to me, but to all who have read them, and some of them turned me green with envy, because You are a craftsman, and I feel like I'm a novice and theres no way I could even compete with you.
Peter has been working hard trying to fix all the problems that cropped up during the move(Notice the links to the E-Mag are gone?...Just gives me more time to put the next one together.) I'm sure Peter must be pulling his hair out what with the new baby, the problems we have here after the move, and more than likely the problems from the other forums that have been "piggybacked" with us.
I don't know if you remember the first move, or the great crash of '03. But some of the same problems happened then also.
I'm not trying to sway your descision to leave, thats your right. I wish the best of luck with all you endevor, and may all your goals be met.
Godspeed to you.
You'll always be welcomed here.
 

steamhead

Active Member
Shay...I can only hope that this may be a passing thing. I have read practically every one of your posts since joining and have always found them instructive, insightful, sometimes incisive, but never rude or disrespectful. I admire the work you have so kindly shared with us and hope that sometime in the not-so-far future you can come back and make this forum a better place for doing so.
In any event, I have taken the liberty of copying your avatar as a remembrance of one who has made a difference in my modeling efforts.
For that I, as well as many others, I'm sure, thank you, and wish you all the best in your endeavors, both within, and outside of this wonderful hobby.
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
:(

I can banter! Really!
If I have ignored you in any way, I appologize.
I've enjoyed you being around and I really appreciate what you did for that little HO Burlington Northern of mine.

Hopefully you'll reconsider down the line and at least pop in from time to time.
If not take care of yourself and keep enjoying the trains.
 

Krawler

Member
Shay...I am new here and I feel like I am somewhat being ignored. Maybe because I don't post much. But you and the older modelers are the reason I am here. I may need your help one day but you'dl be gone, so please stay around for us newbies.

Krawler
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
Shaygetz: I don't think you should feel ignored. I read a great number of the posts here on The Gauge but do not respond to every one of them. The best parallel that I can make is to say that I read most of the articles in all of the magazines that I subscribe to but don't write letters to the editor concerning every one of them. That certainly doesn't mean that they were not good/great articles.
 

Renovo PPR

Just a Farmer
Wow I hope I'm not one of the new members that are making the Gauge into an icebox. If it was I, I am very sorry I'm not normally the bore of the party.




You do know if it wasn't for your name I would never know what a SHAY is. :)
 
Sorry if you've felt that I was ignoring you. Actually, one of the bigger reasons I've been making all these changes is so I can spend more time with the community, and less time trying to keep the software running. Not that everyone will *like* having me around more, lol, but I hope to be able to show people that I'm genuinely interested. I have a lot more work to do, but I think a lot of people probably already noticed that I'm becoming more involved.
 

shaygetz

Active Member
I'm glad I came back...one of the new "features" is that I don't get notified of new posts or PMs anymore.

I appreciate know how much influence I had on folks and want to clarify the "blatant ignoring" quote. I didn't expect folks to bow down in awe every time I posted. There were just more than a few times where I would respond to a question or offer a needed part in a way that required an answer only to be stepped over completely. It was getting a bit hard to take and so, coupled with the changes, I felt it best just to move on. It is after all just a hobby.

I'm still very much a part of the hobby, just on other forums now. As others have found out, PMs and emails are still welcome. Discretion bids me not post here what forums I go to now...it'd be kind of like selling your car on another dealer's lot.

Again, thank you for the kind words and, again, farewell.

Blessings, BC
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
I'm glad I came back...one of the new "features" is that I don't get notified of new posts or PMs anymore.

Just to clarify, the forum does still notify members about PMs and posts to threads we've posted on. Not sure why you didn't see yours Bob.

Ralph
 

doctorwayne

Active Member
I'm glad I came back...one of the new "features" is that I don't get notified of new posts or PMs anymore.

You can re-instate these features by going to your User CP.

I appreciate know how much influence I had on folks and want to clarify the "blatant ignoring" quote. I didn't expect folks to bow down in awe every time I posted. There were just more than a few times where I would respond to a question or offer a needed part in a way that required an answer only to be stepped over completely.

I think that this one has happened to a lot of us older modellers who are adept at improvising, both with materials and methods: there is a segment of our hobby that sees only those solutions which come pre-packaged and with a price tag. Your skill and ingenuity has been (and always will be) appreciated by those of us with a similar attitude towards our hobby.

It was getting a bit hard to take and so, coupled with the changes, I felt it best just to move on. It is after all just a hobby.

I hated the changes when I first saw them, and very seriously considered "packing my bags". However, I decide that it was only fair that I give it a few days, and as the bugs got ironed out, I came to appreciate many of the new features. I think that Peter is making a real effort to provide us with an up-to-date venue for sharing our hobby. It's up to all of us, new Members, and especially older Members, to keep the Gauge "real", with the atmosphere that made the Gauge the best place to be.

I'm still very much a part of the hobby, just on other forums now. As others have found out, PMs and emails are still welcome. Discretion bids me not post here what forums I go to now...it'd be kind of like selling your car on another dealer's lot.

Again, thank you for the kind words and, again, farewell.

Blessings, BC

I, too, am saddened to see you go, and wish you well in your future endeavors. And if those other forums turn out to be less than expected, please remember that you'll always be welcome here.

Wayne
 

Gil Finn

Active Member
I hope you dont think I was someone who was unkind to you. I have always liked your pots. I dont answer a great many however but I read them.
 
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