One other thing I have noticed :After these creeps /idiots / accident causing fools do thier deed they look at thier watch and say something like "oh my look at the time , gotta go seeya!!"I may sound a tad bitter ,its only because someone came in my yard last night and ripped off a security camera!!!
My first show I noticed myself doing something bad, but I caught myself right away.
I wear a pouch around my neck that has all my stuff in it, iPod, phone, ID, railpass, medical cards, all the stuff Id need if I was stranded somewhere. I was leaning over the table of models and felt it swinging (it was under the table thank god) I took it off and put it in my coat pocket ASAP.
Also, a tip about cameras. Dont use the wrist strap. Take it out, take a picture, put it in your pocket
In today’s PC world, any show of ire on my part would have immediately made me the bad guy. To me, it just wasn’t worth it and there was really nothing I could have done or anyone could have done to make it better. Doing nothing was the best course of action.
My sister-in-law casually picked up one of my better builds (a 1/35 DML Firefly),scoped it out a bit then handed it off to her boyfriend as if it were an interesting rock or something.My hair was standing on end the entire time.
LOL you should talk to my wife. she does EXACTLY the same thing! (sans grave marker 
First model I completed after a LONG hiatus from modelling, show it to my kids, first thing the youngest did was to poke the decal (was an old revell P51D) to see if it was painted on… “But Dad, looked so realistic, I needed to make sure!”.
I know it wasn’t the ‘correct’ or ‘right’ thing to do, but we have a inconsiderate neighbor that always causes us trouble (see the thing you sit on + something you dig). He kept walking his dog on our lawn and not cleaning it up. Well, one fine day he left the sunroof on his truck open… well, we disposed of his dog’s leaving into his truck made me feel really good
I already put my spoke in, but something Rob said made it necessary to chime in again.
If we tolerate bad behavior, it will only get worse. When someone does something wrong, let them know, in no uncertain terms. Be polite. Be civil. Be stern. No matter how angry you may be, keep your emotions under control, but let them see that you are doing so. Some of the neighborhood kids are real hellions—but they are always respectful (for them) and obedient to me—I may yell to get their attention, but after that I speak quietly but sternly to them—end of problem. When you can do this, you stay in control and cannot be the bad guy.
There are some who have learned to raise the level of provocation and irritation. Don’t let them, just maintain your demeanor. This can be very hard to do when you know full well that what they deserve and need is a good boot to the seat of the pants, or worse.
Many adults are really only about seven years old. Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Treat them like what they are.
And yes, it’s hard to follow my own advice, sometimes! “Why don’t we just shoot the ******?” Elephino.
Last time I participated in the ‘Western Canadian Regional model contest’ someone ‘bumped’ the table holding motor cycles. it was more than the delicate kick stands could take and all fell over damaging most.[bnghead]
The year before my ex accompanied me, she took off for the afternoon and showed up for the awards. They were announcing the ‘special awards’ when she asked in a loud voice ‘where is yours? everyone else gets one!’ Oh boys I felt like hiding under a table! Everyone in the room looked to see who said it as well[:$] I won’t even tell about the comment she made at the start of the contest, lets just say it was regarding the smell of some modeler’s who had put in long shifts before the contest and had not cleaned themselves up properly before the contest.[+o(]
Needless to say she is now a EX and I never invited her to another contest after that!
I have to agree, yelling and screaming doesn’t help, and expressing yourself clearly and confidently is the key. I’m reminded of the famous quote:
- [quote] All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. [/quote] - Edmund Burke
- The response just has to be reasoned and reasonable.
…let’s hear some more “horror” stories…
Wow!!! I bet they where chased out my the angry mob!!! [bnghead]
At least they would have time to get away as the utter shock would have taken a few seconds to abate. LOL.
I was the butt for this one.
My first contest, I entered an Airfix 1/24 P-51. I had motorized the prop, but just stuck the prop to the shaft with a bit of poster-tac. Just as judging was beginning, I flipped the switch and let it run. After about five minutes or so, it got real quiet and we all heard a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tink, tank, poonk, psh. The prop flew off and bounced across 3 different tables. Unbelievably, nothing was damaged. I had to walk out there to pick up my prop, I could feel the hole being burned in the back of my head by all the stares and glares.
My incident wasn’t the person’s bad behavior nor anything evil, it was his ignorance of the modern modeling hobby. He and everyone around him knew what he did was wrong. I have no doubt that he felt badly for destroying my kit. I didn’t “tolerate” any bad behavior, it was an accident caused by someone who was unaware of the fragility of a photo etched model. I know he was sorry.
There was no reason for me to vent with any harsh words. It would not have repaired the damage. It would not have informed him that he did something wrong; that, he already knew. It would not have made the situation any better. The only thing my harsh words would have done is to make him feel worse than he probably already felt and in turn, made me the bad guy for yelling at him.
a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tink, tank, poonk, psh. The prop flew off and bounced across 3 different tables. Unbelievably, nothing was damaged. I had to walk out there to pick up my prop, I could feel the hole being burned in the back of my head by all the stares and glares.
Now that is a difficult situation, lucky it wasn’t a custom turned aluminum prop!
I can relate to it though, my second contest I entered a motorized Ki-43 in 1/48 scale. I lurked around the table when the judges were getting near the ‘Super detailed 1/48 scale aircraft’ Worried about the battery life I then turned on the prop. Totally out classed by the other entrants the cool effect of a spinning propeller never helped. Out of four in the division I placed… fourth. The lesson learned was to enter at the last minute when a build could be classified in two or three different divisions. It should have been entered in ‘1/48 scale, single prop moderate detail’ or ‘Aircraft dioramas’ as it has a pilot and cool display base.
The final victory was mine when the build made ‘Great scale modeling 2008’ page 38 [Y][H]
Rob, I didn’t mean to imply (in fact I think quite the opposite) that you should have vented at him. And with your further explanation, it’s obvious that you did the right thing under difficult circumstances.
What I was saying is that too often today, people are afraid to tell someone that their behavior is unacceptable, for fear of being cast as the bad guy. To me, that is unacceptable. There comes a time when one must be confrontational, albeit civilly. But one must also exercise good judgment, as you obviously did.
Political correctness is political, and therefore anything but correct. Responsible behavior is always correct.
This is more of a “bad behavior” comment than a true horror story, yet the recepient obviously felt terrible afterwards.
I attended a rather prestigious figure show a few years back. It’s known for drawing extreme talent from all around the world, in fact Shep Paine was the guest speaker that year.
Early Saturday morning several last minute arrivals were placing their exhibits on the respective tables. My daughter and I were standing near the judges table just soaking up the vibes.One of the so called “officials” had been helping a late arrival. As he walked back to the table near us he remarked in a rather LOUD voice " His stuff is just terrible, why is he even here?’ then " Why did we even let him register?"
Well gentle reader you could have heard a pin drop right then. The contestant just hung his head, finished placing his works, and split.
Goodness knows I wanted to rip into that @$$ &0(#, but controlled myself. ( I was heading his way)One of the other officials, obviously mortified, intervened.
I never again drove to that show.
Best thing was the “lousy modeller” placed in one of the categories.
G
Agenttg, I have for years avoided the modeling community for the very reason you posted. In the town I live in, 1/72 scale is the main scale the locals use. I was at a show the club had at the local mall and said I prefer 1/48 and was treated like I had the plague. I never went to the IPMS meetings and now the chapter is closed and the nearest one is 30 miles away. The only hobby shop nearby has cut his hours and stock because the locals will not shop there because he wont cut them a “deal” on prices to meet online prices. I go in when I can and shop and talk to the owner but he is shutting the doors soon.
I have one story abut a show I was at in Atlanta years ago; I was looking at a display and the broken glasses I had on fell off my face and landed on a beautiful biplane dio. the plane was fine but the ground work was a little worse for the wear. The owner was very nice about it and offered me a piece of string ti tie my specs to my head.
So why is it when you tell someone that there are half a trillion stars in our galaxy, they believe you, but when that same person sees a “WET PAINT” sign, they have to touch the wet paint to be sure![clwn]
In reference to the wet paint one of the guys in our club that builds mostly dioramas has had a big problem with fingerprints in the ‘water’ he uses in some of his dioramas. Seems that at shows people just have to touch the ‘water’…
He also in one with a 1/35 barn with open doors had a woman rip off one door when she tried to close it thinking the hinges were workable…
[:|]
I have been asked to rig up a neon transformer as a ‘punishment device’ ,however I think that would be too extreme (15000volts/60ma) good kick and beleive me they wont touch it again!