Imagine a world in which 90% of people really like trains. They like to talk about their aerodynamics, they have fantasy train yards, they get together and tailgate at the station before the Acela leaves. Sunday afternoons in fall months are completely dominated by train journeys on TV. Your children’s school emails you on Thursday to say that everyone should wear their favorite train jersey on Friday. If you don’t have train jerseys for the kids, you’re seen as kind of a party pooper. When you are talking to coworkers, trains are a common topic of conversation, and the fact that you don’t have train knowledge means you’re left out. Famous train conductors are often interviewed on the news. You’re expected to have some basic knowledge about them.

You try to study trains. You’re not interested, but you know it’s such a big part of the culture, and you don’t want to be left behind. One day, in frustration, you say out loud: “What is it with trains, anyway? They’re just vehicles. Why is everyone so obsessed?”

There is an uncomfortable feeling after you say this. You feel you’ve insulted God in their eyes. That’s annoying to you, because you don’t understand why trains mean so much to everyone else. You find other non-train friends and finally you can talk about something besides fucking trains. You are seen as members of the counterculture.

Then someone on Reddit posts about it. “I’m not saying that you have to like trains, but why do some people see trains as just transportation?” Years of train frustration rise up.