Yea so when my parents say "Why didnt you have your cell phone?" I can say "Well if I had one I might of had it with me" Oh wait my dad is a member here....OOPS!
Alex, As a fully grown adult at 6'3" and about 280 lbs I know that it just takes some clown to go at me with a knife or a gun to "equalize" the battle. Fortunately for me, nobody has come after me since I was about 17. I know that it puts me in a certain amount of possible danger confronting some of these clowns that run free here and there, but I look at that clown spinning his car in circles and driving well over the speed limit in front of my house and I go out there doing the thumbs down sign just about every time. If I get a good photo of him, as Fitz once suggested, I will send it to the police, but I have never gotten a good one. Usually, he is done and gone before I can find my camera. Still, I think about my kids and the other kids playing in the neighborhood, and I figure that clown can take his car to the raceway (PIR is a few miles away) on one of the nights they are open to street-rodder/racer types and get it out of his system there. Even though I am probably twice that turkey's age and have at least 90 lbs and 6 inches of height on him, I nearly always take a yard implement with a hickory handle on it with me when I run out to tell him I think his hobby stinks. I don't know what comes over me. From a strictly survival instinct, I should probably steer way clear of this clown, but something else overrules that impulse. Anyway, take care, and don't get too worked up about these clowns and don't put yourself in any situation you can't quickly get back out of. I feel a lot braver confronting these clowns with my wife inside the house holding the phone in her hands and watching me than I would if I were just walking down the street blocks and blocks away from my house. Adam
On the one hand, I like to be unbotherable and go without the cell phone. On the other hand, if you own a cell phone, but don't bring it with you, then you are failing to understand the point of cellphones. Regardless of the overt risks some people may pose, you've given up your ability to get help. Just turn it off if you don't want to be bothered.
when I was working, I had a pager and a cell phone. The railroad had my home telephone number and my pager number but NOT my cell phone #. I now have a pay-as-you-go cell phone(which is currently out of funds!!!). I never have the phone turned on until I want to use it or I know that I will be having someone return a call. I am NOT a slave to technology! To me, this computer is little more than a toy, useful for some things but mostly just sitting around collecting dust. CT
Ah, life with out a cell phone, what's that like???? Alex, ya did good, but I think the advice about not confronting this kid is sound. Just go to (or call) the cops next time. And think I try to avoid riding the side of a car. Adam
Oh I went to the police station and after waiting 15mins we finally got to talk to a officers. Then he says "Well it happens all the time down there and ill let NS know" I mean come on just cause it happens all the time doesnt mean to sit around and talk. Get some officers down there and see whats going on before a kid kills himself!
You did the right thing and may have saved this miscreants life in the process. However,next time I would call the local Police and have them to deal with the kids.I done that 3 times over the last 2 years..All to sadly I called the police on another railfan when he started to do foolish things like sitting up a tripod on a hot 2 track CR main line on the curve leading to the Sandusky Bay bridge.This was back in 96.I really hated doing that but,the jasper left me little choice and I surely didn't want the area by Sonny's Beach to be place "off limits" by CR.
Alex, IMHO, you did the right thing. It's too bad that sometimes police won't react properly to a dangerous situation, but it happens and don't let it discourage you from acting correctly in a similar circumstance. Unfortunately, sometimes someone has to die before authorities put a stop sign at an intersection, for example. I'm sure that many of us have, at one time or another, done something illegal. I know I have. But I think there's a difference between driving 70 mph in a 65 mph zone and riding a boxcar. Granted, either could kill you, but I wouldn't chance the boxcar ride thrill. You seem like a very responsible teenager (is that an oxymoron?), and I'm proud to count you among my TB friends.
There's also another aspect which has not been broached here. Liability. Sadly, in this day and age, if you see something improper, and fail to report it, you could even find yourself in hot water later on. Especially if it results in a problem or injury. :tb-sad: Boxcab E50
Good thing that kid wasn't riding Shack's train. Nutcase conductors aside, you did the right thing, hopefully the kid will learn a lesson but wont get hurt or worse, killed doing so.
