by Otto Vondrak
We need everyone in the RAILROAD.NET community to weigh in.
I've noticed an increasing air of hostility on this forum and others as the "debate" over "high-speed rail" continues to erupt into circular rounds of name-calling and other "excited utterances." A discussion of the facts and issues is welcome, but all too often we seem to descend into diatribes and impassioned testimony regarding politics and political figures.
First and foremost, this is a railroad enthusiast community. Our interest is in the operations and policies of railroads. When it comes to topics like Amtrak and passenger rail, it is inevitable that some political discussion will ensue, as these operations depend on government support to operate. The gray area emerges when we begin to discuss things that "could" happen, or we "wish" would happen. The concepts of "high-speed rail" and expanded corridor routes and new equipment orders are all very tempting topics because it is clear that Amtrak is in the midst of considering many new projects. Our imaginations take flight as we can already see in our minds new trains operating on new routes, possibly at higher speeds than we enjoyed before. After years (generations?) of living with a limited "basic" system that has seen little growth over the years, it seems like we may be poised to see the true first expansion of passenger rail nationwide in more than 20 years. There's a lot to be excited about!
That said, Amtrak is just one operator with a fixed budget with specific line items for all of its spending. There are many new and exciting developments to discuss. Where do we draw the line between a well-thought-out proposal and a flight of fantasy that has no basis in reality? At what point are we discussing the parameters of an actual plan versus an academic discussion of what could be done?
Regarding politics, it is one thing to bring up facts and figures and review policies and proposals. At what point have we left the conversation relating to railroads and get into a round-and-round debate about spending and government in general? When we start comparing the funding of other modes and the difference in revenue models, where does it all end?
I think I've made my stand on politics known over the years: I can't stand political discussions. You never get anywhere trying to convince another guy his beliefs are wrong. I frankly don't care what your personal political stand is. It's none of my business. I personally believe that such discussions do not have a place on a railroad enthusiasts' community such as ours. We are creating a hostile environment that I find somewhat unpleasant. We need to change our tone.
RAILROAD.NET is the oldest enthusiast community on the Internet, going back to 1996. We make no apologies for being one of the most tightly moderated forums around. Our Amtrak Forum in particular is one of the most widely-read and reviewed in the industry. By that, I mean industry professionals observe and read our debates and discussions daily. Our site has reach beyond the enthusiasts who contribute to our site. How can we remove the hostility and vitriol and continue with engaging, relevant conversations?
The floor is open. Please add your input.
-otto-
I've noticed an increasing air of hostility on this forum and others as the "debate" over "high-speed rail" continues to erupt into circular rounds of name-calling and other "excited utterances." A discussion of the facts and issues is welcome, but all too often we seem to descend into diatribes and impassioned testimony regarding politics and political figures.
First and foremost, this is a railroad enthusiast community. Our interest is in the operations and policies of railroads. When it comes to topics like Amtrak and passenger rail, it is inevitable that some political discussion will ensue, as these operations depend on government support to operate. The gray area emerges when we begin to discuss things that "could" happen, or we "wish" would happen. The concepts of "high-speed rail" and expanded corridor routes and new equipment orders are all very tempting topics because it is clear that Amtrak is in the midst of considering many new projects. Our imaginations take flight as we can already see in our minds new trains operating on new routes, possibly at higher speeds than we enjoyed before. After years (generations?) of living with a limited "basic" system that has seen little growth over the years, it seems like we may be poised to see the true first expansion of passenger rail nationwide in more than 20 years. There's a lot to be excited about!
That said, Amtrak is just one operator with a fixed budget with specific line items for all of its spending. There are many new and exciting developments to discuss. Where do we draw the line between a well-thought-out proposal and a flight of fantasy that has no basis in reality? At what point are we discussing the parameters of an actual plan versus an academic discussion of what could be done?
Regarding politics, it is one thing to bring up facts and figures and review policies and proposals. At what point have we left the conversation relating to railroads and get into a round-and-round debate about spending and government in general? When we start comparing the funding of other modes and the difference in revenue models, where does it all end?
I think I've made my stand on politics known over the years: I can't stand political discussions. You never get anywhere trying to convince another guy his beliefs are wrong. I frankly don't care what your personal political stand is. It's none of my business. I personally believe that such discussions do not have a place on a railroad enthusiasts' community such as ours. We are creating a hostile environment that I find somewhat unpleasant. We need to change our tone.
RAILROAD.NET is the oldest enthusiast community on the Internet, going back to 1996. We make no apologies for being one of the most tightly moderated forums around. Our Amtrak Forum in particular is one of the most widely-read and reviewed in the industry. By that, I mean industry professionals observe and read our debates and discussions daily. Our site has reach beyond the enthusiasts who contribute to our site. How can we remove the hostility and vitriol and continue with engaging, relevant conversations?
The floor is open. Please add your input.
-otto-
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Moderator: New York State Railfan :: New York Central :: Toy Trains
NYW&B Fan Site :: A Magazine I Read Often :: A Museum I Volunteer At
Moderator: New York State Railfan :: New York Central :: Toy Trains
NYW&B Fan Site :: A Magazine I Read Often :: A Museum I Volunteer At