SQOTD: What does "anorak" mean?

Excerpt from old Soci101 paper:

"The term trainspotting is derived from the practice of idling away time at railroads and watching trains pass. Often, this hobby degenerates into obsessive-compulsive behavior. Serious trainspotters are known to keep records of serial numbers, cargo, engine type and scheduling of the locomotives. In a cultural context, trainspotting was popular in mid-twentieth century rural areas of Britain, as there were few options for bored youth. Interestingly, the term anorak (common English slang used to describe any obsessive person) is derived from trainspotting, as trainspotters typically wore the heavy hooded jackets to shelter from Britain’s frequent rain."

Correct me if i'm wrong...

Chaps

A couple of years ago my old boss was a "rail train enthusiast" or what we all refer to as a train spotter.

The man had a brain of Mensa level, was a PhD and was a superb conversationist and could charm his way into any womans knickers.

However, every Saturday without fail, he would pop down to Reading Rail Station and stand with a dozen other fellow enthusiasts in all weathers, salivating at the thought of recording the serial number of a passing train that he had never recorded before.

He was the first to admit that this hobby was a compulsion and he read all the articles appertaining to it. Evidently, some people (always men)have a need to compartmentise things in their mind and recording hundreds of train numbers and filling in gaps fulfills that need.

I still see him now and then and he has since extended his hobby to flying to foreign rail stations and repeating the exercise all over again.

Regards

Mick...who briefly train spotted as a 10 yr old schoolboy.

Anyone with more than 5 posts on any forum is an anorak.

behavior unless you are in Greece...

duncan

[This message was edited by djc on SUNDAY 05 May 2002 at 17:43.]

I can sleep, now, too. thanks for the replies!

Now I'm wondering if we have a local equivalent. I think the term "geek" doesn't quite convey the obsessive/compulsive nature of "anorak".


E.

I prefer to refer to myself as an utter gimp

Gary,

Intersting, might be fun if you have to explain this one to our foreign cousins!!! As an aside, I hope the images of black PVC (boxes?), snakes and binding posts goes away soon!

Dave

So who's got one? And wears it in public??

I'll admit I've got the record bag (actually, I'm on my 2nd as the first one has seen better days)


- keeps the butties fresh till lunch and carries the daily supply of CDs to the office.

Steve
(un-anoraked)

- In the summer I usually wear a "Fjallraven" Goretex anorak.
- I am interested in trains (have a modell railroad)
- When I goes into a Hifi shop I usually have read all there is about the bits and pieces I'm intersted in and like to think that I have an "informed" view about them.
- I am active on this forum.
- It's some time since I had a girlfriend (they seem to dislike the above).

Johan R

Ah I have a very nice and tollerant girlfriend, does this downgrade my /gimp/geek/anorak status?

Plus she has all her limbs intact, only five digits per hand etc.

nonetheless

Is she into trains?

Herman

No, but she is a scientist

... a morbid fear of trainspotters.

cheers

Nigel

Seriously, I think it's an acceptable way of defining Asperger's Syndrome .....

Funnily enough, I had my dealer round last week installing some gear. I mentioned this forum and some ideas about box locations, cable dressing etc, to which he replyed:

"Well of course most people on the forum are anoraks"

And thats from someone in the industry. So if you are more concerned about which direction your screw heads on your mains block are pointing than the music, chill out and just listen to the music.