Has anyone ever heard of “Moral Decency” standards for club modules???


B

BurlingtonNorthern

New Member
I’m nearing completion of an “S”-scale (1:64th scale) module, to be incorporated into a club layout, which includes, among other things a refueling facility {copied off a NYS&W prototype in Hackensack, NJ-just lettered for BN), row houses, commercial structures and light industry. Hidden among the other structures is a Motorcycle clubhouse (fashioned out of an old residence) and a biker/titty bar in the former row house adjacent to the clubhouse (which the bikers control). These two structures fit in perfectly with the “lived in” appearance of the half of the layout controlled by those of us who like to weather our equipment and structures and is not immediately apparent to those who are not looking- and hidden from anyone under 5ft (aka. minors).

While the guys in my club thought that these two structures were hilarious, they told me that I might not be able to set up this module with other clubs layouts when we create a combined layout due to “moral objections”…

Have any of you ever heard of such a thing on a model layout????

John P,

The bar, named 'HELLCATS' features a neon sign with the clubs name and a letter boards* proclaiming that the bar is holding an amateur topless jello wrestling competition that night!!!

*I created the signs by photographing a real sign, outside a real club and then printing the photo on overhead projector film-I then cut out the film and fitted it into the signs frame with a dim LED light behind it.

In the ally between HELLCATS and the New Sons of Liberty clubhouse, the club has a hose and tarps on which the participants can clean up. Two of the girls, who are still dripping with green jello but wearing bikini bottoms and club T-shirts**, are being hosed off by a member of the NSOL.

**These armature jello wrestlers were created by repainting girls from a beach scene and adding T-shirts made from modelers clay. In one case, one of the girls came with a large beach hat and I trimmed the brim off this, and added creases and a knot fashioned from zap-a-gap to give her a bandana.

On the side of the club itself, two signs on the club itself proclaim “GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!” and that “Under 21 not admitted”.

Finally, like all establishments of this nature, the windows at HELLCATS have been painted over, concealing what is inside-which is really nothing because I didn’t detail the interior.

While these scenes are certainly suggestive, none of them directly show anything inappropriate.
 
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I think its funny but im sure there will be some that worry about outlook of the club and they may not want that image? I guess it all depends on how its presented and the peope you run with.. ????
 
Sounds a little preposterous to me as it's all part of life and just depends on how a person wants to preceve it. My God Baudy Houses were always part of the landscape.
 
You haven't said how much nudity is shown, if any. Are there explicit advertising signs outside the bar?

I do know a club which features a nude beach, but it's all good innocent fun. Ain't sayin' where.
 
I think we should all stop putting grafitti on freight cars, especially since some of it represents known, violent gangs. No more McDonalds or Burger Kings either since they promote obesity. That Coke tanker in another thread should be banned too because Coke causes tooth decay and diabetes. :rolleyes:

As long as something isn't downright pornographic, I think we should let people alone. We are trying to reproduce real life on our layouts and real life can get gritty at times.
 
BN- anytime you display your (club)layout to the "public", you are going to be judged by different standards than a layout in a private location.
Although I do not mind "bawdy" scenes, a father with a 5 year old daughter in arms might not want to explain what some people are NOT wearing in a scene.
If you are aiming for a "family" audience, censor your layout.
If a private layout, but open to the general public and anyone may view, post a sign that some scenes are not "G" rated.
IMHO, but you do what you wish.
Mikey
 
UP2CSX said:
As long as something isn't downright pornographic, I think we should let people alone. We are trying to reproduce real life on our layouts and real life can get gritty at times.
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I agree completely. I've had things on some of my layouts that some 'good upright churchgoing' folks didn't agree with. But since it's wasn't their layout I gave them a choice. Overlook it or don't let the door knob hit ya where the good lord split ya. My words exactly. Over 95% stayed.

PNKFLOYD said:
If a private layout, but open to the general public and anyone may view, post a sign that some scenes are not "G" rated.
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My layout is not G rated but you gotta look toward the back of it and be tall enough to see the spicy scenes.
 
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It doesn't matter what you put on your module. Sooner or later someone will find something to object to. As long as it doesn't offend the majority of folks, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Barring nudity/sex: If you drive down a street and see it, then it should be allowed on the layout public or private. A scene being suggestive is only a perception of the individual viewer and that may not be shared by others.

Heck, I say, let's all get naked and go for a swim. yea! :D
 
I'm involved in a puppet show where one of the ogres ate too much candy and had to go number two. Some parents objected to the use of the words number two and had the line removed from the play.

Sheesh.
 
Rediculous! Sounds to me like someone is getting to PC for thier own good. They are probably just miffed because they didn't think of it first! If it is, as you say, out of the view of minors and really has to be looked for to be seen, then let it stay.
Some of the advertisements on billboards and in magazines these days are a lot worse than some of the things I have seen on model railroads!
Have you looked at an issue of Cosmo lately?
 
John P,

The bar, named 'HELLCATS' features a neon sign with the clubs name and a letter boards* proclaiming that the bar is holding an amateur topless jello wrestling competition that night!!!

*I created the signs by photographing a real sign, outside a real club and then printing the photo on overhead projector film-I then cut out the film and fitted it into the signs frame with a dim LED light behind it.

In the ally between HELLCATS and the New Sons of Liberty clubhouse, the club has a hose and tarps on which the participants can clean up. Two of the girls, who are still dripping with green jello but wearing bikini bottoms and club T-shirts**, are being hosed off by a member of the NSOL.

**These armature jello wrestlers were created by repainting girls from a beach scene and adding T-shirts made from modelers clay. In one case, one of the girls came with a large beach hat and I trimmed the brim off this, and added creases and a knot fashioned from zap-a-gap to give her a bandana.

On the side of the club itself, two signs on the club itself proclaim “GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!” and that “Under 21 not admitted”.

Finally, like all establishments of this nature, the windows at HELLCATS have been painted over, concealing what is inside-which is really nothing because I didn’t detail the interior.

While these scenes are certainly suggestive, none of them directly show anything inappropriate.
 
Barring nudity/sex: If you drive down a street and see it, then it should be allowed on the layout public or private. A scene being suggestive is only a perception of the individual viewer and that may not be shared by others.

Heck, I say, let's all get naked and go for a swim. yea!
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Not bloody likely it's just over 35 degree's, you would be frozen in a moment.

totally agree with others, They can just WALK ON BY if they don't like it !!!
 
SpaceMouse said:
I'm involved in a puppet show where one of the ogres ate too much candy and had to go number two. Some parents objected to the use of the words number two and had the line removed from the play.

Sheesh.
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Oh come on people that would have been a perfect place to work in a musical number. Diarrhea Cha cha cha. :D

Yep, I'm 29 years old and still find poop jokes funny.
 
Jeepers, I thought #2 was the "polite" way to say that. Hell of a note when natural body functions become taboo. People can be idiots with their sanctimonious Bull #2.;)
 
I have mixed feelings about it. I wouldn't have such things on my layout because they aren't important to me, and I don't associate them with either toys or railroading. That's not to say it doesn't exist, but it isn't necessary unless one is being scrupulous about actually making a representative scale model, in detail, of a particular locale.

I think folks should model what they wish to since what they wish to is a reflection of who they are. It is an honest statement to place before people what you really are. Just as you ought not to lie about yourself, what you find valuable or important in things to do with modelling a railroad should probably have some billing on yours. At the very least, those around you can then be accurately informed of what you feel is valued in your life. If you model nothing in particular, but address comprehensively the seamy side of life, it sends a message to those who would question you and seek a meaningful answer. Again, I would not feel comfortable sending such a message. The message I would want them to take is that there was a heavy seamy component to life in the era and in the place I am modelling, and I wish to be accurate.

For me, as my layout is entirely fanciful, a cat house is not a valued item, nor is its business a valued pursuit, so I would forego it.

-Crandell
 
Wow, that's heavy!
I believe that most bawdy scenes are simply done as a joke and nothing more. As for honky-tonks and cat houses, they were very much a part of trackside scenery in urban areas.
 
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Some excellent points, Crandell. OTOH, I wonder how many old west layouts don't have a red light district or bawdy house? As Rex said, these businesses were very much part of the modern era as well. If your layout has a "wrong side of the tracks", it seems like adult entertainment would be a normal part of the scene. Certainly, one should know their audience and make it as tasteful as possible but reality still exists.
 
UP2CSX said:
Some excellent points, Crandell. OTOH, I wonder how many old west layouts don't have a red light district or bawdy house?
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Just one? Any self respecting old west layout outta have more than one!:D

Doc
 
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