Let me first start off by saying I LOVE the hobby that is radio control, and not all RC people are elitists. However, there are a few bad apples out there and they need to be called out.

Has this ever happened to you? You get online to look at the latest cool RC models. You research it for hours, and learn as much as you possibly can before ever stepping foot into your local hobby store. Once there, money in hand, the guy behind the counter scoffs at your inquiry. He then proceeds to tell you why that model sucks, and makes you feel as though your an idiot for even considering it. Devastated and beaten down you leave the store with nothing but a bad feeling for the hobby. If this has ever happened to you, perhaps you will be able to relate to this article.

It seems that there are a lot of hobby shops around too vested in thier own opinions and products. When did flying an electric helicopter vs a nitro helicopter become a major issue? Does it really matter which version you prefer? Has anyone but me noticed this attitude that is given if you disagree with someone about which type of controller to use, Futaba or JR? Should I be made to feel like an asshole because I like to drive my RC car with a stick controller vs a pistol grip? Or fly my helicopter using FM instead of a PCM? Does it really matter? If I am a customer and I want to by a model or accessory in your store, shouldn’t you be happy that I’m even in your store and not online ordering the same thing from towerhobbies for 20% less?

Listen, I’m not saying that the man behind the counter can’t have an opinion. By all means, give me some advice and steer me in a direction, but check the attitude. Don’t roll your eyes when I say I want to put a .18tz engine in my Traxxas Revo, or ask me why I would ever want to do that. Just because YOU wouldn’t do that doesn’t mean it can’t, or shouldn’t be done. Support me, encourage a fellow hobbyist to push the limits of his car.

But it’s not just the hobby shop people. Ever been on a RC forum? One would assume that the other forum participants are going to be like-minded and that communication will come easily, but that is often not the case. If you dare speak out of turn in one of these forums or voice an opinion that differs from the collective, you will be publicly humiliated in an onslaught of name calling and virtual rock hurling. Forget about asking a question in the wrong thread. You might as well have called everyone in the forum’s mother a whore. Not only will this get you a virtual body slam it could even get you booted from the site. Of course not every site is like this, but there is a fair amount of them out there.

In the words of Rodney King, “…can we all get along?” After all, we are trying to enjoy the same hobby. For some reason or another we enjoy flying or driving small model replicas of full sized vehicles. Why do we have to arduously disagree as to the make, model, or type of RC “toy” we have? I think we should embrace opinions that differ from ours and not feel threatened by them. If we can do this it would encourage new hobbyist and further the development of more advanced models, thus increasing revenues for local shop owners.

The next time a new hobbyist posts a ridiculous question or comes into your local hobby shop looking for the latest junk model, don’t greet them with sarcasm and a virtual tongue lashing. Smile, be polite, and try and steer them in the right direction. If they disagree with you, then agree to disagree.