What the hell is wrong with the modeling community these days??????


My experience is that the issues Jeremy raises are pretty much confined to the online community. Where I live, there are very very few RCU members, and we don’t seem to have anything like the dramas played out here.. (Or perhaps it’s because we are a bit more relaxed).

Anyhow, RCU, like most on line forums, attracts a number of people that can best be described as mischievous. (read Trolls). Whenever a contentious issue is raised, such as the FEJ threads, these people will argue the discussion down to a muck pile. When someone posts in these threads, no matter the wisdom, experience, or absolute truth they might be expressing, someone else will ridicule it.

Of course it doesn’t help that theses contentious threads make great reading, and are amongst the most popular discussions here. RCU management must love it when a new FEJ thread is started. Humans just seem to be drawn to drama and conflict, we just can’t resist this kind of story.

The threads can be VERY entertaining. There are Heros and Villians, plots and agendas, truths and lies. New chapters appear every so often along with new characters who start dialogues and conflicts with the established players. Some former protagonists have become opponents and switched camps. It really does unfold like a novel.

Of course I realise that real people have lost real money. Real jobs and real reputations are at stake.. But as an outside observer, it is great entertainment.

The trick of course, is not to get drawn into it all.

To answer Jeremys question. Most modellers that I know view RCU as a bunch of key board warriors who have little better to do than argue for arguments sake. They continue to pursue the hobby in much the same fashion it was 30 years ago. Happy in what they do, and happy to assist anyone else who shares this passion.

I see RCU a bit differently, I have learned a lot here, and am extremely grateful for the exchange of wisdom that is freely offered by most of the members. BUT when the muck starts to fly, I become strictly an observer.

It’s not so bad down at the field..

Roger