(10 Jun 2018, 7:44 pm)R852 PRG wrote If anyone has wondered where I am, yes, I'm still alive.

I also have to admit to losing a degree of interest in this hobby in the last few months. With sixth form comes a rather substantial workload, and, as such, when the weekend hits, I often just can't bring myself to go and spend a day chasing buses. My ability to get out as much as I once could, even with an increased workload, has also been impaired by a medical diagnosis several months ago.

Above all, though, I find that the toxicity of the enthusiast community has had a significant impact on my devotion to this hobby. I think there is too much of the fundamentally ill-educated and misinformed who take an inch and go for a mile, power-hungry busy-bodies, lack of personal hygiene and overall self-awareness, the inability of most to take a half-decent photograph, blatant attention seeking in order to bring about as a futile sense of belonging, and general backbiting and character assassinations, almost entirely on social media, for me to be able to genuinely wish to associate myself with at least half of the enthusiast community in the north east. I also blame social media a lot for the way this has happened. If you look at some of the stuff that happens in the enthusiast community, and then look at the medium through which it comes to fruition, you'll find almost all of it tends to be communicated through social media. Does anyone genuinely think that, with an absence of social media, there wouldn't be anywhere near half as many issues in the community than currently exist? I, for one, certainly do.

It really pains me to say it, but at this point, I honestly do believe that the enthusiast community is a sinking ship, and one that is going down as a result of the detonation of explosives from deep within its innards. My interest in buses remains, but my desire to disassociate myself with a number of people in the enthusiast community, entirely down to what a god-awful environment it is most of the time, has never been stronger.

(12 Jun 2018, 7:53 am)BusLoverMum wrote I think that in all walks of life, people become emboldened by the echo chamber that is social media and can say things that they wouldn't have the nerve to say face to face.

Some people are just dicks in any medium.

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Wishing you well.

(12 Jun 2018, 8:08 pm)R852 PRG wrote Many thanks, BLM. I agree with everything you say. I'm getting there. Long road to go, but you've got to make sacrifices if you want results. I hope you and the rest of your clan are doing fine. 

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(26 Jun 2018, 4:25 pm)Rapidsnap wrote So had my doctors appointment today and I've been diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression, which is no suprise especially after the bad anxiety attack I had on Sunday. Anyway as from tomorrow I'm on Setraline tablets which apparently mean I'm going to get worse before I get better..... fun.

idiot wroteIm a bit useless so got a random question here.

How many buses do go north east, stagecoach ne and arriva ne have? Wanting it for a quiz tie breaker question

(12 Apr 2025, 4:17 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I don’t know. There is still a slight sense of anticipation involved in wondering whether the 21 currently at Dryburn hospital will make it all the way to New College without conking out.

(12 Apr 2025, 10:39 am)Andreos1 wrote Is it just me, or does the likes of Bustimes or real-time trains take the excitement and anticipation of which vehicle is coming around the corner or on to the platform?

Back in the day, I would wait and wonder if anything odd or unusual was going to rock up (if it did rock up).
Nowadays, well a quick glance to see if your service is running on time and the anticipation is spoilt.