Trackside or Platformside?

[SubwayNut]

Not including scenery If I'm riding on a multi-track railroad I generally prefer to sit on the left (assuming right-hand running) to watch trains passing us the other way. The one exception to this is when I'm riding Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor (and not commuter railroads that most of my rides are on) then I like to sit on the right to see how many trains we overtake.

On single-track railroads its figuring out the best side for scenery all the way.

 

[TimePeace]

There could be someone who took issue with something someone said and wants a little payback.

Thanks, that's not a scenario that I considered.

It may be an overabundance of caution, but I think the policy for a community as large and diverse as ours is prudent.

I think that's an excellent decision to be made on a personal basis, but not necessarily a good blanket policy.

The actual post (including any information posted such as dates, trains, car number and room numbers) are there for the world to see. And not just AU guests, but anyone.

The member trips forum does not appear to be indexed by Google.

But to each his or her own.

Not really, it seems as the decision has been made for everyone by the management.

I suppose you could always send your details by pm to anyone who wanted and requested them ...

 

[SarahZ]

Which is why there's a separate "private" forum for posting upcoming trips.

What's to say someone on the "Private" forum isn't a stalker?

That is true, but I personally (speaking for myself and as an AU member) would trust another AU member who has been posting fro 3 or 5 years knowing that I'm in room 5 of the 31 car, then someone who found that post when searching Google, Yahoo, Bing or another search engine for "the Capitol Limited"! The actual post (including any information posted such as dates, trains, car number and room numbers) are there for the world to see. And not just AU guests, but anyone.

But to each his or her own.

I was joking. Besides, I know you're in the Penthouse!

 

[prettyMBA]

Thanks so much for all the input, I love the gps idea! Didn't mean to start a controversy :unsure: . However if between myself at 6 feet and my boyfriend at 6'3'' someone wants to be a little, let's say, crazy, I think we'll be ok! :giggle: Thanks again!!!

 

[the_traveler]

Don't worry about starting a controversy. Many threads on AU start as one question and end up being another unrelated subject.

And if I get your drift ^_^ , just remember that the walls between the rooms are not soundproof! :excl:

Enjoy your trip!

 

[AlanB]

Alan was responsible for setting up this guideline specifically for the Member Trips forum. Basically, saying the date and train of travel is OK as long as the specific accommodation is not mentioned. Mentioning a train and a specific car and room is OK as long as the exact date of travel is not mentioned. Of course, saying anything you want through PM to others you know well is just fine.

Actually, while I wrote up the rules, it was something that Anthony and I both discussed and agreed upon, prior to creating the forum.

And in addition to some of the other reasons expressed by PRR 60 and others, there was another reason that we insisted on the no room number's rule. Amtrak employees.

While most Amtrak employees are decent people and do their jobs, like any company there is always the potential for bad apples to slip in. A bad apple working as a reservation agent for example, can take that date, car, & room number and find your reservation in ARROW. Said agent then has access to your name, itinerary, and more importantly your home address. Said agent now sells that info to a thief he just happens to know, and viola, you come home to an empty house.

Yes, technically they can do that anyhow just by pulling up a train's inventory. But that way they don't know for certain that no one will be home. Whereas, someone saying "I'm taking my entire family on #29 on the 13th in the F room" pretty much guarantees the house will be empty.

I grant that this isn't a highly likely scenario, but it is still entirely possible. Additionally, an employee could remember that you gave them a bad review and know that you're coming again and where to find you on the train. While all of this is speculation and nothing more, Anthony & I felt that this policy was the best. We also felt that it would encourage more people to participate in the special forum, since it would be your choice on whether or not to meet up with an interested party. If you post the number in the clear, you have no choice. The other person knows where to find you.

This way, if you get a PM from someone seeking a meet up, you can say yes and provide info. You could pick to meet in the lounge and say "I'll be wearing X baseball cap". Or you could choose to simply say no or even ignore the PM.

So the policy is what it is and it will remain so for the foreseeable future as we feel that this is what is best for the forum and our members & guests.

 

[SarahZ]

I didn't think about the employee angle of it.

 

[Ryan]

Nor did I, thanks for explaining Alan.

It still seems a little over the top to me, but it isn't a secret that I'm not a huge fan of protecting people from their own stupidity.

 

[crescent2]

I think the policy is a good one. Sometimes it's not one's own self that's the problem.

OP: You probably won't be as bored as you think. The train offers some views that you don't generally get otherwise. I like looking out the window a lot! Then there are the other suggestions already given. Have a fun trip!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I'd take all this talk about safety with a grain of salt. There's only one member I can recall ever openly threatening physical harm upon another member. Even after posting racist and bigoted commentary in addition to his overt threats of premeditated malice he apparently remains a member in good standing. Makes me wonder just how seriously anyone really takes any of this. Maybe it's just easier to worry about overly complicated hypothetical constructs involving various bogeymen instead of taking the time to do anything about much simpler and far more obvious threats. Penny smart and pound foolish as they say. I have no idea if this specific member is crazy and motivated enough to take any particular action, but it does make me wonder just how bad it has to get before someone finally crosses the line into a ban worthy offense.

 

[SarahZ]

Yeah, there's a member who can't stand me and a few others and made some comment about ending up in jail if they ever met us in person at a Gathering, but I didn't take it seriously. They're known for blowing a gasket over little things, so I took it with a gigantic grain of salt. After years of working in customer service, I've learned most people are all talk and don't have the nerve to say or do those things in person. It's easy to be a buffoon when you're anonymous but not so much when face to face.

That said, I respect anyone else's need to feel secure and don't feel they should be forced to provide vacation dates, room info, flight plans, or whatever. I, myself, simply do not care.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Yeah, there's a member who can't stand me and a few others and made some comment about ending up in jail if they ever met us in person at a Gathering, but I didn't take it seriously. They're known for blowing a gasket over little things, so I took it with a gigantic grain of salt. After years of working in customer service, I've learned most people are all talk and don't have the nerve to say or do those things in person. It's easy to be a buffoon when you're anonymous but not so much when face to face. That said, I respect anyone else's need to feel secure and don't feel they should be forced to provide vacation dates, room info, flight plans, or whatever. I, myself, simply do not care.

No, no, no you've got it all wrong!

You see, if you take something with a "gigantic" grain of salt then you're completely undoing the phrase. The point isn't that it's salt. The point is that a grain of salt is tiny. "Take" doesn't refer to eating it. It refers to relevance. What would you do if a you noticed a grain of salt all by itself? You'd probably just brush it away. Into the air, onto the floor, whatever. Nobody cares because it's a grain of salt. You'd probably never even notice in the first place. In other words it's insignificant precisely because of its tiny size. However, if there were such a thing as a gigantic grain of salt then you'd absolutely notice it. You'd wonder how it came to exist and where the hell it came from. If you brushed it off a counter or a table or whatever it would create a huge mess and might even damage your floor. You might have to be late to work just to clean up the mess. In other words it would a rather significant event.

 

[Ryan]

Yeah, there's a member who can't stand me and a few others and made some comment about ending up in jail if they ever met us in person at a Gathering

Indeed.

I would think that threatening violence against another member should be grounds for a swift and permanant banhammer.

 

[pennyk]

This "smart" Penny is very happy with AU protocol. I believe that Alan and Anthony thought long and hard about the procedures and I trust them. No one can be 100% safe from everything, but we should do what we can to protect ourselves and our property.

I would rather be over protective than be too lax.

Penny smart and pound foolish as they say.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

This "smart" Penny is very happy with AU protocol.

Even if that protocol included quietly deleting overt threats of violence upon fellow members while leaving the author of those threats as a member in good standing?

Just curious if you think the claim is a lie, or if you think the protocol wasn't followed, or if you think that threats of violence are not worth taking seriously.

 

[pennyk]

This "smart" Penny is very happy with AU protocol.

Even if that protocol included quietly deleting overt threats of violence upon fellow members while leaving the author of those threats as a member in good standing?

Just curious if you think the claim is a lie, or if you think the protocol wasn't followed, or if you think that threats of violence are not worth taking seriously.

No one on AU has ever threatened me (although I have been threatened in the past due to some of my more radical liberal activities unrelated to AU). All I am saying is that, for me, I think it is a good idea not to post room numbers and car numbers. I generally travel alone, and although I consider myself physically fit (for my age), I am 60 years old and fairly small. I do not want to get into a spitting contest with you just because I personally feel safer because of Alan's and Anthony's decision not to display room and car numbers. I hope we can agree to disagree (if that is what we are doing ).

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Fair enough. I'm happy to agree to disagree.

 

[SarahZ]

Yeah, there's a member who can't stand me and a few others and made some comment about ending up in jail if they ever met us in person at a Gathering, but I didn't take it seriously. They're known for blowing a gasket over little things, so I took it with a gigantic grain of salt. After years of working in customer service, I've learned most people are all talk and don't have the nerve to say or do those things in person. It's easy to be a buffoon when you're anonymous but not so much when face to face. That said, I respect anyone else's need to feel secure and don't feel they should be forced to provide vacation dates, room info, flight plans, or whatever. I, myself, simply do not care.

No, no, no you've got it all wrong!

You see, if you take something with a "gigantic" grain of salt then you're completely undoing the phrase. The point isn't that it's salt. The point is that a grain of salt is tiny. "Take" doesn't refer to eating it. It refers to relevance. What would you do if a you noticed a grain of salt all by itself? You'd probably just brush it away. Into the air, onto the floor, whatever. Nobody cares because it's a grain of salt. You'd probably never even notice in the first place. In other words it's insignificant precisely because of its tiny size. However, if there were such a thing as a gigantic grain of salt then you'd absolutely notice it. You'd wonder how it came to exist and where the hell it came from. If you brushed it off a counter or a table or whatever it would create a huge mess and might even damage your floor. You might have to be late to work just to clean up the mess. In other words it would a rather significant event.

Hehe. :-D Point taken.

Sometimes I say "a grain of NaCl".

 

[SarahZ]

Ryan - I love that Banhammer graphic. I actually used that phrase (banhammer) at work today. That's awesome.

 

[AlanB]

I'd take all this talk about safety with a grain of salt. There's only one member I can recall ever openly threatening physical harm upon another member. Even after posting racist and bigoted commentary in addition to his overt threats of premeditated malice he apparently remains a member in good standing. Makes me wonder just how seriously anyone really takes any of this. Maybe it's just easier to worry about overly complicated hypothetical constructs involving various bogeymen instead of taking the time to do anything about much simpler and far more obvious threats. Penny smart and pound foolish as they say. I have no idea if this specific member is crazy and motivated enough to take any particular action, but it does make me wonder just how bad it has to get before someone finally crosses the line into a ban worthy offense.

You can take it with a grain of whatever spice you like.

The policy wasn't made so much out of an abundance of caution, although it was a factor, but rather to make people feel comfortable about participating in the special forum.

As for the incident you mention, you have no idea what did or did not happen behind the scenes. I won't comment further on that; but I will tell you that we do what we fell necessary for the circumstances. Ten years ago there was a kid in high school who got suspended because of his actions here on our forum and the actions that we felt compelled to take.

 

[railiner]

I have removed the car and room numbers from the post, but the OP only said "May 2013" and not (say) 5/13 or 5/27. But that is a good point for safety reasons.

You have removed it from the OP's post, but you missed removing it from a later post where someone repeated it, in answering the OP's question....see post #4.....

 

[D.P. Roberts]

I have removed the car and room numbers from the post, but the OP only said "May 2013" and not (say) 5/13 or 5/27. But that is a good point for safety reasons.

You have removed it from the OP's post, but you missed removing it from a later post where someone repeated it, in answering the OP's question....see post #4.....

I would think the date is the crucial data point here. People frequently post their month of travel (to get an idea of crowds, fares, conditions, etc.), or their car number & room number to get an idea of where they will be on the train. In those posts, the exact date is irrelevant.

Some times, people post their exact dates of travel to find out if a particular situation (weather, bad orders, & other alerts) will affect them, without posting their specific room numbers.

I think the point is that you can post some travel information, when it's relevant to the question you're asking. But there's no reason whatsoever for giving all your personal information out, especially when it doesn't pertain to your subject.

I've lost personal information in a variety of different ways over the past few years - the most recent of which was the LivingSocial hack of a few days ago. That was just a username and password, but I've lost my credit card number twice in the past 6 months. None of those losses were my fault - companies and websites were either hacked, or just hadn't realized how certain behaviors were vulnerable. Some may label the board's current standards as "overkill", but it's at least informing people of the hazards of "oversharing" - putting out more personal information on the internet than you really need to. In general, any information you put on the internet CAN be used against you, so why risk it?

 

[George Harris]

When something is put on this site, and many others as well, it is not just the members of this site that see it. I am in total agreement about being overly cautious about giving out too much personal information. This is particularly true for someone having PennyK's self-described situation. (Maybe she should have described herself as a 40 year old martial arts instructor :giggle: .) Remember if you put yourself in a situation where you are 99% safe if your 1% comes up you are still done for. Some things you only get to lose once.

Devil's Advocate: I can understand why someone may have threatened violence against you. Not condoning it, but do understand how you might have enticed someone that was fairly short-fused to make such threats. My thought to him would have been, Don't let him get your goat That appears to be his objective. I never will make threats. My philosophy is on the order of either "do it and then talk about it" or else, "do it and never talk about it."

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Devil's Advocate: I can understand why someone may have threatened violence against you. Not condoning it, but do understand how you might have enticed someone that was fairly short-fused to make such threats. My thought to him would have been, Don't let him get your goat That appears to be his objective. I never will make threats. My philosophy is on the order of either "do it and then talk about it" or else, "do it and never talk about it."

Threats of violence are nothing new for a progressive living in Texas.

 

[SarahZ]

^^ :giggle: