Spotters

Spotters are people who have an almost obsessional interest in something which contains a great deal of variety, but which the majority of people see as mundane, purely functional, and/or identical in form. This interest normally involves some form of collection or logging of detailed data or images, using physical, electronic, or mental means. The group commonly conform to one or more of several stereotypes, such as the wearing of an anorak, or damaged spectacles held together with sellotape or plaster, although these stereotypes do not define the group.The term seems to have been first applied to people interested in the minutiae of public transport operations, notably railways, although most modes of transport attract such groups of people. It has spread to include other subjects, such as the recognition of musical samples contained in dance and rap music, and the recall of sporting results and associated 'trivia'.Spotters may be considered geeks or nerds. Both are often social misfits, however spotters may be defined by their obsessional interest in a topic and the collection of associated apparently trivial data, where as geeks and nerds may just be interested in something unusual.Common terms for spotters include trainspotters, gricers, twitchers (birds), greasers (trains), bashers (trains, mainly travelling), cranks, sellotape, and anoraks. However, the use of the term anorak has recently been adopted to refer to computer geeks, who are not normally spotters.This category lists sites about spotters as people in society, and their relationship to society. It does not list sites which contain resources useful to spotters, such as databases of vehicles, rolling stock, or records, although it may contain sites primarily aimed at helping people become spotters or supporting generic spotter lifestyles.

Trainspotting - Describes the appearance, behavior, and interests of British trainspotters, with glossary of terms.
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Guardian Unlimited: Notes and Queries - Discusses the meaning and derivation of the term anorak as applied to a person.
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How to Tell Apart a Trainspotter's Top 10 from a DJ's Top 10 - Humorous list of differences between music trainspotters and normal Disc Jockeys.
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Memories of a Train Spotting Lady - Personal history of becoming a trainspotter, with poetic opus.
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Trainspotting - Personal view of reasons for a change in opinion towards trainspotting.
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What is Aircraft Spotting - Contains history, different areas of interest, and personal experiences.
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Guardian Unlimited: Ooh - Is that a Belgian F-16 - Examines the reasons why people plane spot and how it reflects underlying British eccentricity. By Stephen Moss.
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Anorak, a Term of Abuse - Defines and derivates anorak and trainspotting.
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Going Native - Describes trainspotter stereotypes, use of the term as an insult, and how spotting culture has changed over time.
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An Introduction to Trainspotting - Humorous, ironic guide, describing train spotting culture, use of data books, collection of numbers for obscure rolling stock, gaining entry to depots, and railway journalism.
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The Joys of Birdwatching - Defines and considers the appeal of birdwatching and twitching.
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Twitching - Birders, Rarities and Ethics - Contains classification of groups of birders and birder ethics.
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Basher Speak - Glossary of trainspotters' words and phrases.
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BBC News: Plane-spotters knew the risks - Discusses different views of plane spotters in Britain and Greece, following the arrest of a group of spotters on charges of spying. By Angelos Stangos.
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The Savvy Traveller: Trainspotting - Martin Stott's interviews with train spotters and railway enthusiasts in York. Text and audio.
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