Rail UK Forum wish list for 2018

[johnnychips]

First of all, a massive thanks to all the people involved in running this forum. It must be one of those things that must be incredibly rewarding, yet sometimes very frustrating. Either way, thanks for giving up your time.

Some things I’d like to see for 2018:

- some more politeness. I do think people seem to be becoming more rude recently. This forum attracts a wide variety of ages and experience of both life and the railways. Isn’t it as easy to say “That might be a good idea in principle but there’s no chance of funding/ but I think another project would be better” rather than “ That’s so stupid. Which planet are you living on?”

- reiteration of the rule to explain station codes at first use in a thread

- on the same sort of idea, not too much overuse of train headcodes (I appreciate their brevity but are a pain to look up)

- overuse of technical abbreviations and acronyms without explanation (sure someone on here was making a list once)

- and maybe a sticky above with quick links to the above three.

- people not reading the ‘rules’ for trivia items, or not reading the thread. I can understand this if there are 600 messages, but not thirty!

A very happy and enjoyable new year to everyone on here.

 

[fowler9]

First of all, a massive thanks to all the people involved in running this forum. It must be one of those things that must be incredibly rewarding, yet sometimes very frustrating. Either way, thanks for giving up your time.

Some things I’d like to see for 2018:

- some more politeness. I do think people seem to be becoming more rude recently. This forum attracts a wide variety of ages and experience of both life and the railways. Isn’t it as easy to say “That might be a good idea in principle but there’s no chance of funding/ but I think another project would be better” rather than “ That’s so stupid. Which planet are you living on?”

- reiteration of the rule to explain station codes at first use in a thread

- on the same sort of idea, not too much overuse of train headcodes (I appreciate their brevity but are a pain to look up)

- overuse of technical abbreviations and acronyms without explanation (sure someone on here was making a list once)

- and maybe a sticky above with quick links to the above three.

- people not reading the ‘rules’ for trivia items, or not reading the thread. I can understand this if there are 600 messages, but not thirty!

A very happy and enjoyable new year to everyone on here.

What an absolutely ridiculous idea. Where the heck did you get that from? (Only kidding, ha ha, I very much agree with you).

 

[221129]

First of all, a massive thanks to all the people involved in running this forum. It must be one of those things that must be incredibly rewarding, yet sometimes very frustrating. Either way, thanks for giving up your time.

Some things I’d like to see for 2018:

- reiteration of the rule to explain station codes at first use in a thread

- on the same sort of idea, not too much overuse of train headcodes (I appreciate their brevity but are a pain to look up)

- overuse of technical abbreviations and acronyms without explanation (sure someone on here was making a list once).

Not being funny if I'm going out of my way to look up some info for a member or to provide an explanation that wouldn't otherwise be forthcoming without internal access I think the least people can do is look up some common abbreviations or headcodes.

 

[antharro]

Let me add to that:
- In the Disputes and Prosecutions sub-forum, stop filling people's threads with pointless arguments and nit-picky discussion on points of law - it doesn't help the person who is very often upset and worried. Take that discussion to another thread - the person just needs to know how to deal with their situation. Would be appreciated if the mods would step in on these kinds of threads.

 

[fowler9]

Not being funny if I'm going out of my way to look up some info for a member or to provide an explanation that wouldn't otherwise be forthcoming without internal access I think the least people can do is look up some common abbreviations or headcodes.

Headcodes aren't common though. I doubt most railway workers know them all without looking them up.

 

[johnnychips]

Not being funny if I'm going out of my way to look up some info for a member or to provide an explanation that wouldn't otherwise be forthcoming without internal access I think the least people can do is look up some common abbreviations or headcodes.

No problem. Just give me a link in a sticky so I can do it myself.

 

[221129]

Headcodes aren't common though. I doubt most railway workers know them all without looking them up.

It's not hard to look them up though.

 

[fowler9]

It's not hard to look them up though.

Why not just say what train you are on instead of trying to look clever and everyone else having to look it up. Even if you give the headcode it doesn't tell anyone where where you got on or off. If you aren't actually trying to run the railway the headcode is pretty useless.

 

[berneyarms]

It's not hard to look them up though.

It’s also not particularly hard to add in the description of the journey surely?

It makes the site more accessible and enjoyable, rather than forcing people to look up codes elsewhere.

Saying people should be able to look them up assumes everyone has the knowledge of how to do so, something that is far from reality.

I’ve long since learnt not to assume that everyone has the same knowledge level as myself with regard to how to look things up - hence out of sheer courtesy I tend not to use codes without explaining them first.

 

[221129]

Why not just say what train you are on instead of trying to look clever and everyone else having to look it up. Even if you give the headcode it doesn't tell anyone where where you got on or off. If you aren't actually trying to run the railway the headcode is pretty useless.

If I'm copying something from a genius/tyrell/trust report for someone or a thread about an incident with all due respect it means I am probably at work and fitting it in between other things. Or if i am on my phone then it can be time consuming to try and get full working details.

 

[fowler9]

If I'm copying something from a genius/tyrell/trust report for someone or a thread about an incident with all due respect it means I am probably at work and fitting it in between other things. Or if i am on my phone then it can be time consuming to try and get full working details.

So if you are meeting your mum in London do you tell her you are on the 1A57 and let her google it, or do you tell her which station you are arriving in and when? This is just a public interest forum.

 

[221129]

So if you are meeting your mum in London do you tell her you are on the 1A57 or which station you are arriving in and when? This is just a public interest forum.

Well no of course not. But on a specialist forum dedicated to the railways you should be able to use common abbreviations. It does seem like some members on here are wanting to have their cake and eat it.

 

[fowler9]

Well no of course not. But on a specialist forum dedicated to the railways you should be able to use common abbreviations. It does seem like some members on here are wanting to have their cake and eat it.

It isn't a specialist forum. If I gave you any random headcode would you know what train it was without looking it up?

 

[221129]

It isn't a specialist forum. If I gave you any random headcode would you know what train it was without looking it up?

No but I would look it up because it take seconds....

 

[berneyarms]

Well no of course not. But on a specialist forum dedicated to the railways you should be able to use common abbreviations. It does seem like some members on here are wanting to have their cake and eat it.

With all due respect, I think that you’re greatly overestimating everyone’s abilities and assuming that they’re on a par with your own.

Far better to assume people don’t know, and that way everyone’s happy.

This is a site for people who are interested in railways - but I would never assume that everyone who has an interest in railways also has a detailed knowledge of how to look up station codes or train ids.

 

[Harbornite]

I think the least people can do is look up some common abbreviations or headcodes.

Indeed.

 

[221129]

With all due respect, I think that you’re greatly overestimating everyone’s abilities and assuming that they’re on a par with your own.

Far better to assume people don’t know, and that way everyone’s happy.

This is a site for people who are interested in railways - but I would never assume that everyone who has an interest in railways also has a detailed knowledge of how to look up station codes or train ids.

If someone is after information that i then give up my time to look up using systems that I have access to to find out for them then it is only fair that they are willing to do a bit of research to go with it. If you aren't interested in the info then it doesn't matter if you can't understand it does it?

 

[Darandio]

This is a site for people who are interested in railways - but I would never assume that everyone who has an interest in railways also has a detailed knowledge of how to look up station codes or train ids.

Then lets make sure there are links/resource readily available to help people look them up, anyone can do it in seconds if pointed to the correct place.

Or we could rant at those providing the information and piss them off enough not to bother. As stated above they are often at work when doing so.

 

[Darandio]

So if you are meeting your mum in London do you tell her you are on the 1A57 and let her google it, or do you tell her which station you are arriving in and when? This is just a public interest forum.

Just in case she does need to know. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advancedhandler?type=advanced&qs=true&search=1A57

 

[221129]

Then lets make sure there are links/resource readily available to help people look them up, anyone can do it in seconds if pointed to the correct place.

Or we could rant at those providing the information and **** them off enough not to bother. As stated above they are often at work when doing so.

Thank you. I'm happy to provide the info when I can but seeing as I'm either in the office doing it amongst other things or on in a train on a mobile device also trying to do other things then short to the point messages or copy and paste from the source is the only way. Or in future just don't bother.

 

[Marklund]

Headcodes aren't common though. I doubt most railway workers know them all without looking them up.

Quite. Same for Station codes.
If you're abbreviating, it's practise to use the full name with abbreviation in brackets at the beginning, using the abbreviations thereafter.

It's just a showing off look at me, I know railway stuff thing to do.

 

[berneyarms]

If someone is after information that i then give up my time to look up using systems that I have access to to find out for them then it is only fair that they are willing to do a bit of research to go with it. If you aren't interested in the info then it doesn't matter if you can't understand it does it?

I’m merely making the point that all too often in these modern times, it is very easy for people (especially younger people!) to over-estimate everyone else’s technical abilities and knowledge, and that a little understanding of that goes a long way!

 

[fowler9]

If someone is after information that i then give up my time to look up using systems that I have access to to find out for them then it is only fair that they are willing to do a bit of research to go with it. If you aren't interested in the info then it doesn't matter if you can't understand it does it?

I'll take your advice mate and next time someone asks me for directions in Liverpool I'll give them co ordinates.

 

[221129]

I’m merely making the point that all too often in these modern times, it is very easy for people to over-estimate everyone’s technical abilities and knowledge, and that a little understanding of that goes a long way!

And im trying to point out when relying on people's goodwill to get information a little bit of effort on their part goes a long way to.

 

[fowler9]

And im trying to point out when relying on people's goodwill to get information a little bit of effort on their part goes a long way to.

Come off it. If someone asks you which train to catch I have severe doubts you just know the headcode off the top of your head. And if you just give people headcodes and station codes as advice hoping they look it up I hope you don't get asked for advice very often because you are wasting your own time as well as theirs.

 

[221129]

Come off it. If someone asks you which train to catch I have severe doubts you just know the headcode off the top of your head. And if you just give people headcodes and station codes as advice hoping they look it up I hope you don't get asked for advice very often because you are wasting your own time as well as theirs.

What has that got to do with anything? We are talking about on the forum not in person or at work.

 

[berneyarms]

And im trying to point out when relying on people's goodwill to get information a little bit of effort on their part goes a long way to.

I’m not specifically aiming my comments at you for the record - I’m just making a general observation.

All too often in life people (and generally they tend to be younger) do over-estimate other people’s technical abilities & knowledge.

Assuming people don’t have that knowledge goes a long way towards making sites such as these more accessible for everyone with an interest. That makes it more enjoyable for more people.

 

[xotGD]

Anyone who thinks we use too much jargon and shorthand here ought to pay a visit to some aviation sites.

 

[221129]

I’m not specifically aiming my comments at you for the record - I’m just making a general observation.

All too often in life people (and generally they tend to be younger) do over-estimate other people’s technical abilities & knowledge.

Assuming people don’t have that knowledge goes a long way towards making sites such as these more accessible for everyone with an interest. That makes it more enjoyable for more people.

Which is fair enough, and when practical I am happy to expand but when the option is a report full of common abbreviations or headcodes and what not or nothing at all, you tell me which is preferable.

 

[berneyarms]

Which is fair enough, and when practical I am happy to expand but when the option is a report full of common abbreviations or headcodes and what not or nothing at all, you tell me which is preferable.

Again, I’m not telling anyone anything, nor am I trying to.

I’m merely making a general observation about being understanding about people’s abilities, that’s all.

You seem to be getting very defensive about this and taking this personally - I’m not aiming my comment about any specific situation or post that you or anyone else has made, I’m just making a very gentle reminder that where practical, people perhaps remember that not everyone is as technically minded as others. That’s all.