That's outrageous!  I don't believe such a perception exists widely, as I have never heard it before.  Must have been a slow news day, for them to find a reason to rant on such a benign topic.

The nerd part I like,  but the rest surprises me as well.  Was it the host talking between themselves, or call in listners?

I think the stereotype has been around for a long time.  Go back to Kurt Vonnegut's 1963 novel, "Cat's Cradle".  He described one of his characters as building model airplanes and masturbating, implying strongly that there is a correlation, and that it's somehow abnormal.

It's just like stereotypes about computer programmers, and people who use the Internet heavily.  How many times just in this Presidential campaign have we heard a candidate or a pundit refer to bloggers as living in their parents' basements, sitting around in their underwear or bathrobes, and so on.

I would just ignore it.  That DJ is a fool.

Best regards,

Brad

Spitfire

I was very surprised to hear the radio hosts say some very derogatory things this morning on air regarding people that build model airplanes.  There was apparently a story recently about Tiger Woods being really into aircraft modeling and they were commenting on it.  Some of the adjectives they used to describe people that build airplane models were; immature, nerd, having serious psychological defect, unable to relate to people, etc.

I was shocked when I heard all this on air, as I have never heard anything like that before, and never realized such a perception existed.   

 

I can live with that, been called worse.

If these idiots have nothing better to do than try and throw pathetic insults at people because of what they choose to do in their spare time, then more fool them.

Could be worse, i could be playing golf

It was the sports junkies on 106.7, so it was a discussion amongst the four of them.  The only reason they were commenting on it was because of the Tiger Woods angle.  They love to criticize Tiger so that just gave them one more thing to criticize about him that they didn't know about him before.

There's certainly a few reasons to criticize Tiger, but to go off like that because he likes to build models I thought was a bit ridiculous.

I don't find that feeling to be anywhere close to accurate. The DJ's apparently just get off on knocking people. I would stop listening to that channel if it were me.

I bring some of my builds to work and display them at my cube on occasion and find people are fascinated at the work and detail, and that will usually starts a conversation of one of their experiences.

EDIT

DC does not have a clue about the rest of the country. 

Consider the source.

You commented that it was on a sports radio station?  Well, that explains it.  Remember how the jocks in high school would treat anyone who couldn't play a sport?  Remember how they treated anyone who had a brain and wasn't afraid to use it?  This is just more of the same.  The best revenge is ignoring them and having fun in your hobby.  When they are old and can't play sports anymore and are sitting home with all of their injuries coming back to haunt them, you can be enjoying your hobby and your intellect. 

Just my 2 cents.

John 

My gym usually has one of the big screens in the cardio room tuned to sports talk stuff. Fortunately, the audio is muted.

Hi Spitfire ;

   I wouldn't worry about that stuff .They are probably actually jealous . You do know that you can't use a face guard on a King Tiger right ? LOL.LOL.  Or How about a nine iron on a ship model ? Uh Uh . Won't work .

  We have as modelers a gift called Imagination and Skill . They maybe don't have it or never will . So pity them and just think , we might be still modeling while they spend time at the doctors tending all those old sports injuries .

 T.B.

What would happen if we all called in to that radio station and give them a crash course about our hobby? LOL!!

Bish

 

Could be worse, i could be playing golf

 

Hey what's that suppose to mean??

As someone who plays golf and builds models I find it pretty cool. It's nice to see that "famous" people enjoy this hobby too. Plus if someone looks into the hobby b/c they heard Tiger Woods does it then I think it can only be a good thing.

What he said. Some amazing hand eye coordination there.

Don't get too upset about it. Bear in mind that these are the same people who can't get a real job and wouldn't last five minutes in a truly physical warehouse job.

roony

The nerd part I like...

 

...I've been calling us "nerds" and/or "dorks" forever!

One of our local, morning show (radio...very immature, nonesense, "comedy") hosts is an avid railroader and ant farm collector. Ya hear all the same stuff from the people calling in. But, it is in a joking way.

Truth be told...I do sit in my basement...in my underwear(sometimes)...nerding out at my bench...and then talk about it with complete strangers on the internet!!!

Bish

Could be worse, i could be playing golf  

I golfed once.....ONCE!

Sustained quite the injury.

They had to put signs up, that said "Ball washers are for golf balls ONLY"

Spitfire

Well I find their comments to be offensive and derogatory. Anything else said, listeners would have called in to complaint about such childish statements. I guess we are in a minority.

I bet you there are a few film, tv and sports stars that are into some sort of modeling. I remember the HUGE electric train collection Frank Sinatra had that I saw on one interview at his home. There is a film star who is into naval model ships but can't remember his name right now.  

Hey PJ....check out this link...

http://mrr.trains.com/magazine/press-releases/2007/10/rod-stewart-and-model-railroads  

We also have a "rock star" right here on the forum.

lawdog114

Have you seen what most DJs look like? Let's just say there's a reason they're heard and not seen. I'm fairly certain most have no room to talk. Poster people for self esteem issues.....

 

Yeah, I was thinking 'dumb jocks' at first. But most commentators aren't even jocks. They're wanna be jocks, I expect they're all so fat and out-of-shape they end up winded up picking up a ball. Instead they just sit there on the radio or TV and talk, and talk, and talk.....  

Fermis ;

 Not you too ? That was an experience weren't it ? Lol.Lol. T.B.

Tanker - Builder

Fermis ;

 Not you too ? That was an experience weren't it ? Lol.Lol. T.B.

 

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Yes Sir!!!

It is rather rude to say things like that about people based on one person, but who cares what they think anyway?!  I sure don't.  There is certainly not one type of person that builds models.  I'm probably out of the norm being a stay at home mom that enjoys the hobby.  I find this with a lot of things I enjoy doing, working on cars, motorcycles, taxidermy, hunting are mostly male hobbies.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only female here, and I know I am on a motorcyle forum.  I grew up with my male cousins, so I leaned towards doing what they were, and it just stuck with me. 

I agree with everyone here including the radio announcer.  You see how great it is to be alive in the US of A!  We can say anything we want without going to a concentration camp like the North Koreans.  I say; "Screw them"! LOL!

Toshi

I remember, years ago, about a guy running for mayor of some town.  He was a model railroader.  His opponent widely aired ads about a grownup playing with toy trains.  The modeler lost the election, though one can't say for sure it was those ads that led to that result... but.

Keyda81

It is rather rude to say things like that about people based on one person, but who cares what they think anyway?!  I sure don't.  There is certainly not one type of person that builds models.  I'm probably out of the norm being a stay at home mom that enjoys the hobby.  I find this with a lot of things I enjoy doing, working on cars, motorcycles, taxidermy, hunting are mostly male hobbies.  I'm pretty sure I'm the only female here, and I know I am on a motorcyle forum.  I grew up with my male cousins, so I leaned towards doing what they were, and it just stuck with me. 

 

You aren't the only lady here, I know of at least 2 others.  One of them did a sailing ship, and it was a thing of beauty.  Women generally have a finer touch and a better eye for color variations.  They make great auto body painters and body repair people than men do because of it.  I work for a shop that has two other shops and their painter in one of them is a lady, and she is one of the beat I've run across in 40 years in the trade.

Neil Young saved Lionel.

Johnny Cash collected Lionel.

The man was definitely not a nerd.

fermis

 

 

Bish

Could be worse, i could be playing golf  

 

 

 

 

I golfed once.....ONCE!

Sustained quite the injury.

They had to put signs up, that said "Ball washers are for golf balls ONLY"

 

I have a 2:12 tee time this afternoon, will be keeping your sage advice in mind.