Discuss New Rules for Package Trains & Win a Gift Card :)

[Jezebel]

okay I will be back later as I really should do some of the work I am getting paid to do

[slambert]

Just a question, what is the difference of 3 small trains running at the same time from one large train running? We'd have the same amount of riders if it were one or 2 or however many were going on. This is also going to increase the work on the mods to make sure everything is running smoothly on every train at the same time. I also think having numerous trains at the same time is only going to reinforce this new vs experienced riders....just my opinion.

I don't think the trains are "Cliquey" as much as that people know each other from other trains and chat, I have both conducted and ridden many package trains and have never seen a new rider treated with anything more than an awesome SC welcome, I think there is a perception of a Clique by those intimidated by riding but you can ask any new rider who has made the jump and I'm sure they've had a great experience. I like the idea of having a more experienced rider set out as a mentor for new riders so they can help them along but as far as feeling included I think people just need to take a chance and give it a go. They are a lot of fun We have some super awesome ladies in this community!

[bargain_hunter_lola]

Just a question, what is the difference of 3 small trains running at the same time from one large train running? We'd have the same amount of riders if it were one or 2 or however many were going on. This is also going to increase the work on the mods to make sure everything is running smoothly on every train at the same time. I also think having numerous trains at the same time is only going to reinforce this new vs experienced riders....just my opinion.

More variety.

3 trains with 3 different themes, 3 different conductors, etc.

I'd be happy to host smaller trains where I pick my theme - like I used to. I have ZERO desire to host a huge train with a theme I'm not interested in.

I'd not sure how having smaller trains reinforces new vs. experienced. Can you explain? Thanks!

[slambert]

I'm seeing a lot of people wanting smaller trains because they are intimidated or feel it's cliquey on the larger trains...it's still going to be the same people riding the smaller trains so that won't change anything for those people. I do like the idea of variety but feel since the changes have been made the last time that we are having lots of different types of trains out and I do believe it is still up to the conductor what theme you go with. I got to pick the theme on mine

[Jezebel]

More variety.

3 trains with 3 different themes, 3 different conductors, etc.

I'd be happy to host smaller trains where I pick my theme - like I used to. I have ZERO desire to host a huge train with a theme I'm not interested in.

I'd not sure how having smaller trains reinforces new vs. experienced. Can you explain? Thanks!

all the current themes were chosen by the person requesting to hold them....nobody was just given a theme and asked to conduct the train.

[slambert]

all the current themes were chosen by the person requesting to hold them....nobody was just given a theme and asked to conduct the train.

And if I recall each conductor can set their preferred rider limit?

[Jezebel]

And if I recall each conductor can set their preferred rider limit?

yes that is correct.

[Jezebel]

Whenever someone posts they want to host a train all I request is to send me a rough draft of the train /theme/number of riders/start date and mail date...and once I check to ensure it meets the guidelines they are free to post it...a link will also be posted in the current pkge train/in the stickys main post and the last post in the sticky...

[Granger]

Newer rider. Many SC just don't Know about these opportunities. The longer you're around and the more you talk the more you know about these cool Smart Canuck activities. I now know to look for the Christmas exchange every year but this past year was my first year to participate in it.

I'll say it again. I've asked a lot of questions of a lot of people on this website and everybody has treated me with respect and help.

[bargain_hunter_lola]

all the current themes were chosen by the person requesting to hold them....nobody was just given a theme and asked to conduct the train.

Good to know. I was simply going off the thread where people were saying they wanted this or that theme next and then it was those themes being held - much like you hosting the kids train even though you didn't want to ride.

Perhaps one problem is the lack of information then? I wasn't aware a conductor could host a train with say 10 riders. Does that mean if I were to host a 10 rider train that everyone else would have to wait until it ends?

[bargain_hunter_lola]

Whenever someone posts they want to host a train all I request is to send me a rough draft of the train /theme/number of riders/start date and mail date...and once I check to ensure it meets the guidelines they are free to post it...a link will also be posted in the current pkge train/in the stickys main post and the last post in the sticky...

I'm aware of this. I've been through it. Unfortunately it didn't end well for me. I won't lie, it's one of the main reasons I stopped riding.

No worries, I'm over it and have moved on.

I think I've put all the constructive criticism in that's helpful so I wish you all the best of luck.

[Peachykeen2007]

Ok I am going to be brutally honest here and I will not apologize for any of it and this is where I sit as I have been on both ends of conducting and riding

I love these trains, and was heart broken when they were taken away last year by this bickering about many things

I see NO PROBLEM with them except some tweeking, that being said I think that some conductors and rider's in general are getting way to LAZY!

I don't care whether you are a regular or a newbie, the rules are the rules FOLLOW THEM
They need to be enforced for everyone plain and simple!

TRACKING MANDATORY - we are all aware of the mail date before we join!! and this is referring to those that say "can I mail tomorrow" or "I don't get paid until xx date" - this should be enforced by ALL

30 POSTS - MANDATORY - not hard to do if you try, this really grinds my gears when someone joins, posts requesting a seat, then no one hears from them until mail date and again no one hears from them until they post their gift - this is just simply RUDE in my opinion, it is like you don't give a rats a** that this train is even going on and all you want is your gift! You can't tell me just because what the people in the thread are talking about relates nothing to do with you as the reason you don't post! Not hard to say a simple "hi how's everyone"

In regards to the questions - no one ever said people had to answer every question asked but guess what it is helpful to your buddy to do so to give them extra wishes or ideas of what you may like - maybe you sent a really vague wishlist and they just want some more insight! I get that some of the questions asked maybe personal to you and you don't want to answer but it is not manditory, heck I don't answer every question as to me what was the point of sending in a wishlist! I say this because for anyone who has ever had me my wishlist is big and there is tons of things to choose from

I like the fact that 1 train runs at a time - that way it is more manageable for the conductor and the mods - we all have other things going on in other places on this site that I personally can't divide myself anymore! Proof was in the pudding last year with the multiple trains at a time

1. limited $$ spent vs No limit -->> guess which train everyone joined!

2. limited rider's vs no limit rider's -- guess which train everyone joined!!

3. allowing rider's to ride more than 1 train at a time -->> guess what happened - PEOPLE DIDN'T SEND but they sure as he*k received both packages and these people were REGULARS not newbies

In regards to the limited rider's vs no limit rider's I believe the no limit was set as to not offend those who may have missed the limited rider train because of things outside of SC! People will find out that with set limited rider trains that those regulars who are always stalking the train thread will get to the train first before a newbie, it will happen everytime unless the limited rider train is not open to regular rider's and in that case you will most likely also find NO ONE will ride because they want to be paired with a seasoned rider

Also I take personal offense when people feel as though they are "out done" or "I didn't spend enough" - if the rules of the train are to send a minimum of 6 items and that is all you sent then be happy with that, why are you worried about what I sent to another rider! No one knows what I spent - some of us can stack for free, some of us use our points (swagbucks/SDM etc) and most of us have goodies stashed away because we have been riding so long!
I have never sent to the same person twice! so guess what, your turning maybe next! everyone's budget is different and the people who send over the board packages and we all know who they are should not be punished for it - if I want to send a extravagant package then I should be allowed to

As for people bickering about not being able to conduct - well where ARE you as Jezebel posts all the time looking for conductors! Looking for train ideas and NO ONE speaks up

Like I have said over and over I have no problems with helping anyone with these package trains - I will even help make a master list of train wishlists to help with newbies but honestly if a newbie doesn't want to take the first jump at joining no one can push them to do so! If they are intimidating with riding well guess what - all of us "regulars" were new once too

You get hooked and wanna do it again and you learn with each package train, you get to know some of the regular AWESOME members this site has to offer! It is a second home away from home that for most of us appreciate

I am not pin pointing anyone rider or member, just stating the facts and my opinion - whatever Jezebel & Fallen ultimately decide to do is what we all have to live with plain and simple but with that will come other people bickering - no one can please EVERYONE!

[Anna Michele]

i see no problem with 10posts I think its very reasonable in fact a little low but as long as you are present and not absent definitally doable.

As for the size of the trains you are only sending to one person so I don't really see how it can even be an issue (keep in mind I have never hosted one and only just rode my first) I'm sure there are lots that I don't realize that comes up.

[MeShell]

Well said, Peachy! Even though I'm "newer" to the package scene and I'm not really aware of the issues of the past, I completely agree with what you said. I think the package trains are running fine the way they are, the one helpful thing out of this current thread is that some neat ideas have come up like the "shoebox" train which would be really interesting to see

[julesie-pie]

Ok I am going to be brutally honest here and I will not apologize for any of it and this is where I sit as I have been on both ends of conducting and riding

I love these trains, and was heart broken when they were taken away last year by this bickering about many things

I see NO PROBLEM with them except some tweeking, that being said I think that some conductors and rider's in general are getting way to LAZY!

I don't care whether you are a regular or a newbie, the rules are the rules FOLLOW THEM
They need to be enforced for everyone plain and simple!

TRACKING MANDATORY - we are all aware of the mail date before we join!! and this is referring to those that say "can I mail tomorrow" or "I don't get paid until xx date" - this should be enforced by ALL

30 POSTS - MANDATORY - not hard to do if you try, this really grinds my gears when someone joins, posts requesting a seat, then no one hears from them until mail date and again no one hears from them until they post their gift - this is just simply RUDE in my opinion, it is like you don't give a rats a** that this train is even going on and all you want is your gift! You can't tell me just because what the people in the thread are talking about relates nothing to do with you as the reason you don't post! Not hard to say a simple "hi how's everyone"

In regards to the questions - no one ever said people had to answer every question asked but guess what it is helpful to your buddy to do so to give them extra wishes or ideas of what you may like - maybe you sent a really vague wishlist and they just want some more insight! I get that some of the questions asked maybe personal to you and you don't want to answer but it is not manditory, heck I don't answer every question as to me what was the point of sending in a wishlist! I say this because for anyone who has ever had me my wishlist is big and there is tons of things to choose from

I like the fact that 1 train runs at a time - that way it is more manageable for the conductor and the mods - we all have other things going on in other places on this site that I personally can't divide myself anymore! Proof was in the pudding last year with the multiple trains at a time

1. limited $$ spent vs No limit -->> guess which train everyone joined!

2. limited rider's vs no limit rider's -- guess which train everyone joined!!

3. allowing rider's to ride more than 1 train at a time -->> guess what happened - PEOPLE DIDN'T SEND but they sure as he*k received both packages and these people were REGULARS not newbies

In regards to the limited rider's vs no limit rider's I believe the no limit was set as to not offend those who may have missed the limited rider train because of things outside of SC! People will find out that with set limited rider trains that those regulars who are always stalking the train thread will get to the train first before a newbie, it will happen everytime unless the limited rider train is not open to regular rider's and in that case you will most likely also find NO ONE will ride because they want to be paired with a seasoned rider

Also I take personal offense when people feel as though they are "out done" or "I didn't spend enough" - if the rules of the train are to send a minimum of 6 items and that is all you sent then be happy with that, why are you worried about what I sent to another rider! No one knows what I spent - some of us can stack for free, some of us use our points (swagbucks/SDM etc) and most of us have goodies stashed away because we have been riding so long!
I have never sent to the same person twice! so guess what, your turning maybe next! everyone's budget is different and the people who send over the board packages and we all know who they are should not be punished for it - if I want to send a extravagant package then I should be allowed to

As for people bickering about not being able to conduct - well where ARE you as Jezebel posts all the time looking for conductors! Looking for train ideas and NO ONE speaks up

Like I have said over and over I have no problems with helping anyone with these package trains - I will even help make a master list of train wishlists to help with newbies but honestly if a newbie doesn't want to take the first jump at joining no one can push them to do so! If they are intimidating with riding well guess what - all of us "regulars" were new once too

You get hooked and wanna do it again and you learn with each package train, you get to know some of the regular AWESOME members this site has to offer! It is a second home away from home that for most of us appreciate

I am not pin pointing anyone rider or member, just stating the facts and my opinion - whatever Jezebel & Fallen ultimately decide to do is what we all have to live with plain and simple but with that will come other people bickering - no one can please EVERYONE!

Well said, Peachy! Even though I'm "newer" to the package scene and I'm not really aware of the issues of the past, I completely agree with what you said. I think the package trains are running fine the way they are, the one helpful thing out of this current thread is that some neat ideas have come up like the "shoebox" train which would be really interesting to see