How do people react?

[LandoverDivision]

How do people such as family members, or people you're just around, react to your interest in transit? Me personally I don't care what people think, but I get called a no life loser at times, and a nerd. When I take bus pictures, people look at me like I'm special (not in a good way). I've said this in another topic but I'll say it again: I was at P.G Plaza taking pictures and a lady driving 9362 on the R2, or R3 (sign was broke) threaten to call the Transit Police on me for taking pictures of buses. She said I wasn't allowed on property for some stupid reason. I just walked away. As soon as her bus pulled away, I went right back to the same spot. Some people, such as my friend (who is interested in trains) asks why am I interested in buses. I just ignore him. Anyways, how about you guys?

[Nabinut]

I've had both positive and negative reactions but i keep snapping away. Some family members understand while the rest want to "sweep" it under the rug. I also could care less since it's something i want to do and not to please anyone.

[Tristan]

I've never had much negative reaction...my biggest problem is explaining it to females :-p  My fiance is from Japan, where transit is much better than here and is in fact embraced by the populace, so that was a gimme, but I've had guests wonder about my bus posters, model buses, and the model train shelf starting around my bedroom.

I used to be "defensive" or dodge the question, but I just explain it as being something that goes back as long as I do, that my fondest childhood memories are coughing up exhaust on MANs while tagging along with my grandmother as she ran errands, that I remember a time when I would stand next to a bus wheel and realize that it was taller than me.  Never fails, and if it does, it doesn't damage my relationship with that person or anything, they might think it's strange, but you're not going to lose friends over it.  Girls, maybe, but friends, not really.

[WMAveteran]

Most people usually react to my choice of hobbies by saying "That's interesting" and quickly changing the subject because they cannot contribute to that conversation.  In many cases, they also don't have hobbies of their own and I feel sorry for them.

[WayneNYC]

I've gotten both positive and negative reactions.  My immediate family (and close family friends) knew because I was always fascinated with the trains and it carried over into the buses as well.

As a youngster, I didn't hide my being a transit enthusiast, but I didn't volunteer the info either.  By time I got to middle school some friends realized that I was into transit and most were OK.  Some asked questions.

In my dating life... again, I let it come out in due time.  My wife thinks it's awesome.  She likes that I have a group of friends who share the interest and that we have our transit fanning outings.  She has been to roadeos with me at WMATA and SEPTA as well as NYCTA's BusFest.

Nowadays, some of my friends at work know too.  Most people find out I'm into transit just by me giving directions, explaining certain things that the average Joe wouldn't know about and so on. 

Those who act like something is wrong with me... I simply ignore them.  Those who find it interesting, I'm more than willing to talk to them about our hobby.  Usually, they'll have some questions regarding transit and their experience and  are often thankful when I give them an explanation. 

[Perry]

I never really was outspoken about my hobby until I met the DC crew and realized that there were people that had the same interest in me.

I haven't been teased too much although my wife likes to joke and call me a bus geek.  It's ok because it's paying the bills!!  I'm glad I was able to turn my hobby into a career.  I'm not into it as much as I used to since I work so much with it, that I like to get away from it every now and then.  I still like seeing buses in other areas, but I'm at a stage now where I can't really go chasing after them and it's more of a pain to take transit with my little ones...I just have to rely on you guys for pictures!

I ignore those that don't like the hobby too, and I certainly don't let it get to me.  I think if anyone has a hobby that's great and shouldn't be made fun of.

[LandoverDivision]

I wish I could ignore it, but I grew up in all ghetto neighborhoods. This is the D.C Area. People here like to tease you on whatever they see needs to be teased on. Here's what I say: they tease somebody about having no life, then they must be the main one with no life.

[C40LF_2464]

When my mother found out that i was a busfan she was thinking the busfans i hang around with were putting this in my head  . Then after a while she understood instead of thinking they are putting thoughts into my head. But only 1 or 2 times i got negative reactions 1 I almost got into a fight and 2nd these g^wanstas were jumping in front of my cam acting a lil crazy and my GF says she wants to be a fan but she is probally playing around.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

My family knows that I'm a full-fledged Mass Transitologist, and even though they laugh at me for being one, I still do what I do. What they say ain't gonna hurt my feelings in the slightest.

As for being out in public, I don't think twice about taking pictures, unless I'm at the Pentagon or some other military area (out of respect for the military). Other than that, if anyone has a problem with what I do, I just show the shirt in the picture (excuse the blunt gesture I did in that photo). However, in most cases, I won't have to do that. In my hometown, just about everyone knows who I am and what my hobby is; and I'm always well respected there.

On my Atlanta visit back in 2006, I almost squared off with somebody around Wesley Chapel because the guy thought I was trying to invade his privacy when I took a picture of MARTA #2742 from the back (second photo). But I showed him my pics on my camera and we shook hands afterwards. That was one crazy episode I can never seem to wash out of my head.....

[79MetroExtraMD]

Alot of my friends ask me why I take pictures of buses and trains and why I like them so much. I keep saying it's a hobby of mine and they think its a weird hobby. Stamp collecting used to be considered an odd hobby. I just take pictures as my passion to be a budding photographer. I have run into some situations where bus operators or the like ask why I'm taking pictures of bus, the whole hobby explanation, but some people just can't get over their own ignorance of stated laws. Starting out, I was really nervous because of the stares and weird looks, but after getting well fashioned, I've overlooked the reactions and the like and just focus my attention of capturing my subject. I've shown my pictures to alot of Metro personnel and they are impressed at what kind of photos I take and give me the best remarks to keep doing what I do.