Fair Weather Friends

 I wanted more information about a particular service offered by railroads in my era. I sought out a modeler who was knowledgeable. He hosted an on-line group that dealt with the topic I was interested in.

I joined this group.

In two years I was the only poster to this group.

I never received any replies from this group.

I never received any replies to e-mails I sent personally to this modeler.

So I subsequently left that group and forgot about it.

Now I am hosting a model railroad Ops event that this person is interested in attending, and he has reached out to me with a long and very friendly letter, in short, explaining why he would be an asset on this trip. While I investigated, with the hosts, about including him we exchanged MANY e-mails, several times a day.

-NOW-

IN MY OPINION, If you are knowledgeable about a model topic, I think that you should, WITHIN REASON, share your knowledge.  I agree that corresponding with annoying modelers who bombard you with an endless stream of electronic messages can be a problem. I am most likely guilty of “over-messaging”. I like discussions. And it looked like I found a new friend.

-HOWEVER-

The hosts of this trip replied that they wanted to hold to the strict limit as well as the conditions about vaccinations. I replied to my new friend that due to strict attendance limits, in fact placed on me by the hosts, I was very limited as to what I could do, but that I would place him on the alternates list.

Once I informed him he could not go on this trip he NEVER REPLIED AGAIN. After a couple further attempts to contact him, with NO REPLY I simply dropped the subject…

-AND-

Personally I stewed about it. 

So I have to get over it and move on.

Try not to make enemies by accident.