# Monomaniacs of the world, PLEASE lay some more rail in your one-track minds **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 16, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639 "2005-04-16T15:15:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EmeraldGrue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/21 "2005-04-17T15:52:23Z")
Oh yeah, see [today’s Dilbert](http://home.overzealous.com:8080/comics/dilbert/20050417)… ---
**Author:** ![Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humanist)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/22 "2005-04-17T17:44:07Z")
Srictly for the purpose of fighting ignorance (it is not my intention to ruin a good rant), I should point out the possibility that some of the people who persist in this sort of behavior may, like myself, have some form of Asperger’s Syndrome. From the [OASIS web site](http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html): > [@](#): > > Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. If this is the case, indirect hinting is unlikely to work, and a very direct, “I’m sorry, and I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I have no interest in X” may be the approach that works best. If you notice that most or all conversations with this person are about the same thing or some small set of related things, and they show no recognition of your attempts to change the subject, AS, and not thickheadedness, may be the reason. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/23 "2005-04-18T00:55:51Z")
Between **eleanorigby’s** cow conversation and **CanvasShoes,** I’m cracking up over here! > [@eleanorigby](#): > > “Can you tell a Guernsey from a (uh-I don’t know the types of cows…help!)?” [Common cattle breeds:](http://cattle-today.com/) Holsteins, Jerseys, Charolais, Herefords. [Oreo cows!](http://cattle-today.com/Belted%20Galloway.htm) **Humanist,** thanks for the info on Asperger’s. It’s good to know the difference between someone who has Asperger’s and someone who’s just clueless. And there are a lot of clueless people out there. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/24 "2005-04-18T11:45:23Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > Between **eleanorigby’s** cow conversation and **CanvasShoes,** I’m cracking up over here! Well, I can’t take credit. Any little tricks I know I learned from my daughter. The child was and is brilliant. Her grasp of clever play on words, sarcasm and just plain ole smart assedness started at the tender age of three. At 16 she convinced my then boyfriend, admittedly a rather braindead all brawn no brain creature, that having her fingernail pierced had actually hurt. She used all sorts of psuedo scientific explanations about how “you know these little straitions on your nail, well when a girl uses lots of polish and filing and stuff, they become more sensitized…blahdeblah more fake “science” stuff…”. > [@](#): > > [Oreo cows!](http://cattle-today.com/Belted%20Galloway.htm) I love oreo cows. > [@](#): > > **Humanist,** thanks for the info on Asperger’s. It’s good to know the difference between someone who has Asperger’s and someone who’s just clueless. And there are a lot of clueless people out there. Yes thank you, I’m going to visit that site. It has information on the other symptoms and such right? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/25 "2005-04-18T14:24:47Z")
Thanks, **magiceyes** --I was straining to remember Hostein, but had a dilithium crystal failure over here…ooh, wait, that’s just for speed, not memory, right? See? I need help! And “Oreo” cows is much cuter than “Belted Galloway”–sounds like either a fight or a drunk bovine! Thanks for the link re: Asperger’s. I don’t think this woman has it, but it is something that should be looked for. I DO like **Canvasshoes** solution to the problem, but there is a third way: Keep saying, “I’ll have to look into that.” next time she sees you, she she will ask if you have read whatever—you say again, “Ah, yes, I’ve been meaning to look into that. Tell me again, the merits of the Rapture?” Plaster smile on face etc. When she is done, say, “that’s something I’ll need to think about.” And walk away. Works every time, I tells ya! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/26 "2005-04-18T14:33:29Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Um, no they don’t. They have a single set blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Ohferchristsakes can’t you tell that no one cares? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/27 "2005-04-18T16:37:27Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ohferchristsakes can’t you tell that no one cares? But what’s going to happen to the trains when the controllers get Raptured? Huh? HUH? Didn’t think about THAT, didya? Cows are cute, but we can’t rely on them to take over, now can we? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/28 "2005-04-18T16:39:02Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Cows are cute, but we can’t rely on them to take over, now can we? When they do, we’ll use cowcatchers, most often used on American steam locomotives in the 19th century. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/29 "2005-04-18T17:16:51Z")
Fortunately, I was a Speech/Communications major as an undergrad, so I really had a chance to hone my “active listening” (which translates into making the speaker _think_ you’re really listening when you’re really thinking about what you’re going to have for dinner that night). It’s an invaluable skill which I use often when talking to my mother (mom, your Atkins diet is really only interesting to _you_) and during really boring law school lectures. The S.O. works as a free-lance computer specialist/fixer-upper guy and is an avid golfer. So, guess what some of his favorite conversational topics are? Fortunately with him I don’t have to fake anything. When the droning becomes unbearable I just tilt my head to the side and begin mock snoring. If he keeps going over my snoring I’ll just mock-snore louder. Works every time. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humanist)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/30 "2005-04-18T17:28:08Z")
The site is more directed at parents raising children with AS, but yes, it is a large repository of information on the condition. Of course, AS isn’t the only reason that someone would have difficulty relating to (or even reading) your desire to steer the conversation in a different direction. What I recommend to close family and friends when dealing with me (so that I get practice at reading social cues) is that they attempt through normal conversational methods (body language, indirect verbal hinting) to change the subject twice when I’m starting to wear thin. After this, use direct language. There are many polite ways to do this. “You are a valued friend/co-worker, but your conversation about X is distracting me. Could we continue this later, when I can give you my full attention?” Somewhat dangerous, but this works pretty well: “I appreciate your depth of knowledge about X, but I am not conversant in this subject. I’d like to get back to you about it when I’ve read some more on it. Could you write down the name of a good book/author/website about it?” If they persist in informing you of the subject, insist that you’re too busy for that right now. “I would be pleased to compare notes with you about the movie after I’ve seen it. Until then, I don’t have any information at all to share with you.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/31 "2005-04-18T18:36:22Z")
This could have been a fairly interesting thread on trains, without all the hijacks concerning Fig Newton cows and Asparagus Syndrome and whatnot. Me, I’ve often wondered why someone hasn’t made an HO scale model electric-powered steam locomotive where the current from the track runs a heating element that boils the water in the boiler. Aside from having to wait a while when starting off to build up a head of stem (surely realistc?) that would be sweet. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/32 "2005-04-18T18:55:59Z")
They had cows at Petticoat Junction, I’m pretty sure. Nor sure if they were Hostein’s or Geurnsey’s though. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/33 "2005-04-18T19:16:04Z")
Holstein cows are black and white, and Guernseys are generally brown. Holsteins give much, much more milk than Guernseys do, but Guernsey milk is good and rich. My great-uncle raised Guernseys almost exclusively, but started bringing in Holsteins so he could increase his profit margin. When we would visit his brother, my Grandfather, we would be treated to very good milk and fresh cream. Where is every one? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/34 "2005-04-18T20:31:35Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Me, I’ve often wondered why someone hasn’t made an HO scale model electric-powered steam locomotive where the current from the track runs a heating element that boils the water in the boiler. Aside from having to wait a while when starting off to build up a head of stem (surely realistc?) that would be sweet. Blame my dad. I had this idea long ago (though it would have been more like N scale or 1 scale). Instead of electricity, though, you would put combustable materials inside the coal chamber, then light them with a match. For some reason my wimp of a dad wasn’t too keen on his 9-year-old son playing with fire in the living room to create a pressurized steam chamber out of taped-together soup cans. I guess the idea of a pressurized container of boiling water attached to a small fire racing around the shag carpetting at top speeds didn’t jive with his warped ideas of safe engineering practices. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/35 "2005-04-18T20:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=El\_Kabong] This could have been a fairly interesting thread on trains, without all the hijacks concerning Fig Newton cows and Asparagus Syndrome and whatnot. QUOTE] Uh oh! I just realized…Thou shalt not boil the cookie in the milk of its mother… does that mean that dunking Oreos in milk is not kosher? :eek: Not sure what aspargus has to do with it, though. We all know you can’t let cows eat asparagus, it makes their milk smell funny. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/36 "2005-04-18T20:38:33Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Not sure what aspargus has to do with it, though. We all know you can’t let cows eat asparagus, it makes their milk smell funny. ☹ Yeah, but you ever feed a cow chocolate? Mmmm… ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/37 "2005-04-18T21:04:48Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Yeah, but you ever feed a cow chocolate? Mmmm… Yum, chocolate milk! **StarvingButStrong,** is it wrong to dunk your oreo cookies in the milk from oreo cows? I hope not, because oreos are so much better with milk! Holsteins are Gateway Cows. (Silly, not _that_ kind of Gateway Cow–the kind of cow that’s on Gateway computer boxes!) > [@](#): > > I had this idea long ago (though it would have been more like N scale or 1 scale). Instead of electricity, though, you would put combustable materials inside the coal chamber, then light them with a match. For some reason my wimp of a dad wasn’t too keen on his 9-year-old son playing with fire in the living room to create a pressurized steam chamber out of taped-together soup cans. I guess the idea of a pressurized container of boiling water attached to a small fire racing around the shag carpetting at top speeds didn’t jive with his warped ideas of safe engineering practices. **tdn,** you really do need to meet my brother. I think you’re kindred spirits! If it’s more dangerous, that makes it more fun, right? And if it involves fire, that’s even better! ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/38 "2005-04-19T01:50:26Z")
Having read the OASIS site, I am confident none of the people exhibiting the behaviour in the OP were AS sufferers, as they had none of the other symptoms, and would do the “One track mind” thing on a number of different subjects, just one at a time. And again, the people I had this experience with were completely normal in other ways, just oblivious as to when they were being one-track minded. Whew, now I don’t feel quite so bad about the unfortunate “My Mother the Car” incident back in 02. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/39 "2005-04-20T00:08:20Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ohferchristsakes can’t you tell that no one cares? I just don’t have it in me to type out the whole history of railroading now. I’ll just leave it at calling you a poopyhead. Oh, sorry, forgot - “Attack the post, not the poster.” Okay, your post is a poopyhead. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639/40 "2005-04-20T02:54:21Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Well, I can’t take credit. Any little tricks I know I learned from my daughter. The child was and is brilliant. Her grasp of clever play on words, sarcasm and just plain ole smart assedness started at the tender age of three. **CanvasShoes** , your daughter is so cool! I’m sure you deserve some of the credit–she had to get it from somewhere! I’ve never known any 3-year old smartasses. I’m impressed. But the reallly important thing is, does she like to talk about cows? Or trains? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monomaniacs-of-the-world-please-lay-some-more-rail-in-your-one-track-minds/299639.md?page=3)