20,000th on Excellerator

You're both missing the point. I don't care if you think it's "cruel" or whatever to judge the guy. Maybe he has OCD or something. Who knows. My opinion stands that it would be a sad existence.

And what do I have to do with it? And worse, what do my sites have to do with it? Why is it that some of you have to bring up over and over again that I spend time building these sites that you apparently enjoy, and then bitch and moan about how I make money on them? What does that have to do with a guy who took 20,000 spins on a roller coaster?

The thing gets me about it (and the thing that makes riding Xcelerator different from fishing or golfing or building a website or even watching television) is that you're essentially repeating the exact same experience over and over and over again. Seriously, read that again: the exact same experience over and over again. Nothing is different between the 75th Xcelerator ride and the 19,581st. That's not a hobby or an interest, it's a compulsion and an obsession.

I don't think anyone is saying the guy doesn't have a right to do what he's doing. I also don't think anyone is saying that he *shouldn't* ride Xcelerator as much as he wants. But just as he's free to do what he wants with his time, everyone else is entitled to their own opinion about his obsession.

-Nate
*** Edited 1/23/2007 5:10:31 PM UTC by coasterdude318***

^ "exact same experience over and over again."

Hehe, that's the reason I'd find it easier to believe if the guy had 20,000 laps on a WOODEN coaster (OK, maybe not 20K, but, say 1K)....I'd likely get too bored riding a steel coaster after about 15-20 laps.

I love how it was Peabody that originally said that it was a sad existence, but nobody gave a rat's ass until Jeff agreed, and now all the hate is directed at him. I swear people simply lurk here waiting for some reason to bitch about the webmaster... and reading up on his blog?!? Get a friggin' life.

Anyhow, back to the task at hand: I don't think it's a sad life, I just don't particularly think that it's a fun one. I don't see the accomplishment of riding a ride any particular number of times.

I ride coasters because I enjoy them... I find them fun or fast or thrilling, or some combination thereof. I can't see enjoying anything that I've done repeatedly 20,000 times.

I think Fairuza Balk is pretty damn hot, but after 20,000 times I'd be sick of her, too.

I don't know if you're referring to me, but I was only directing my comments at Jeff because he was the one that maintained the guy's life was sad. Maybe some people do wait for Jeff to make comments and attack him, I really don't know. All I know is that I've been on this site for close to seven years now, so I know that isn't the case with me. That said, I think it's kinda sad that as soon as people start calling Jeff on what he said, a dozen people crawl out of the woodwork and defend him. I'm not sure what that's all about, and frankly I don't really care.

Jeff, you fail to understand the point of a debate. You give your statement as if it's worthy of being printed in some sort of bible. Maybe you think the guy's existence is sad... if so, that's fine... you're clearly entitled to your own opinion. But that's just what it is- an opinion. And not only is it an opinion, it's an opinion of someone you know nothing about. You get on my case when I bash Michael Eisner because I've made comments about a guy I don't even know, yet you are doing the exact same thing. Again, what gives? What puts you in a position to do something that you tell others they are wrong for doing? Last time I checked, you were a human like everyone else.

I brought up the fact that you spent hours and hours to create a website because that is an example of what YOU chose to do with your time, just like this guy chooses to spend hours and hours riding a roller coaster. My problem is that because this guy spends his time doing something that you don't understand, it automatically makes his life "sad". As if your choice of hobbies is the be-all, end-all way to whittle away the hours...

And why insult people for reading Jeff's blog? Um, isn't that why he links to it in his signature? If people weren't supposed to read it, I doubt he would draw attention to it.

*** Edited 1/23/2007 6:57:12 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

I don't fail to understand anything. There's nothing to debate! I put out my opinion, take it or leave it. My opinion isn't right or wrong, and at this point I'm not interested in changing it. Did I say somewhere, "This be the holy word of God, and it is indisputable?" Joel is absolutely correct in that the only reason anyone gives me crap about anything is because it says "Webmaster" in my signature.

What I do in my spare time is irrelevant, because none of it is something I've done 20,000 times, exactly the same, every time. In between everything I do are 20,000 other different experiences that, for me, make my life infinitely more interesting. Again, if this guy wants to ride something that many times, more power to him, but for me that would be a sad and monotonous existence. Your mileage may vary, and I still won't care if you agree with me.

No, Rob, I wasn't referring to you, just a general culture/tone around here... not even particularly related to this specific thread. (I've been here only 6 months fewer than you, so I know that you're not a bandwagon jumper.) People jump on others a lot around here. Jeff particularly. This specific instance I find particularly amusing because he wasn't even the originator of the comment. It's people, usually newer to the site, wanting to take on the "big man"... and any sort of posturing like this I find funny.

Also, I hope that I'm not one of the people you refer to as "crawl[ing] out of the woodwork [to] defend him," as I clearly disagreed with him in my post. In fact, I disagree with both of you. As usual, I'm somewhere in the middle.

^ Nope, I wasn't insinuating you were one of those. It's the same as the people that jump on the "let's go after Jeff" bandwagon... as soon as he says something that conflicts with something else said, a dozen people- usually ones rather new to the site- jump to his defense. I guess certain people want to take down the big man while others want to stand behind him. Kinda like in the real world!

Jeff, it's all in your delivery. There is a big- no, make that HUGE- difference in saying "he leads and sad and monotonous existence" and "for me, that would be a sad and monotonous existence." The difference is that you are insulting the guy by saying the former and simply stating your own feelings by saying the latter. I'm sure riding a coaster 20K times is beyond your interest in the hobby, but to claim the guy has a meaningless life (or however you phrased it) because he does something with his time that you would never do is just wrong.

Have you ever stopped to think that people pick on you for reasons other than your title of "webmaster"... like the way you make sarcastic, wise-guy comments? It's also that you contradict yourself. You don't like people making assumptions about the person you are but have no qualms about making assumptions of others. You put yourself out there all the time and make the details of your life and your personality known to all and yet you complain when people call you on it. Can't have it both ways, man.

*** Edited 1/23/2007 8:30:14 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

Why is it that people failing to see a point that has been spoon-fed is so funny?

I could repost my last post, or I could do a ^^^^ like the kids do.

I guess I am the "attacker." Actually, I would rather consider myself the defender. I think Rob sums it up well as to the proper approach to comment on Mr. Kreiger. I cannot agree with him more. I guess I am not afraid to step up when I see someone being cruel like Jeff was, in my opinion. It is especially surprising when it comes from the website admin that would on most sites be stopping that type of post. Maybe it would never matter, but for all we know Mr. Kreiger reads this board. Why take the chance of hurting someone?

I never knew there was a "go after Jeff bandwagon" but I can understand it if he continually operates in this vein. I also called Peabody on this too, but maybe that was lost in the noise. I think Rob and I have stated the case well, but if it cannot make those that posted that way see the potential for harm, I can do no more.

Found on Dr. Phil's website "Dr. Phil has a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from North Texas State University with a dual area of emphasis in clinical and behavioral medicine."

---

Jeff said:
Yeah, I think it's sad. If you don't agree with me, don't agree with me, but don't pretend you know me.

Anything like this is absurd. Seriously. Does this guy have a family or a wife? I think this is exactly like the World of Warcraft dropout story, only at least he's getting a little exercise.

By the way, Walt, I don't think Dr. Phil is actually a doctor.

---

Wow! Just Wow.

I guess next time I'm enjoying a whole night of ERT at a park event, I'll feel just a little taste of what a sad and lonely man this guy must be. LOL.

I've met the guy. He's a good guy who's retired and happened to find a coaster he thinks is one of the best things he's experienced. He doesn't make a big deal out of it, doesn't abuse the rules or make a spectacle of himself. He pays his admission just as casually as you or I might drop $15.00 bucks on a couple of beers after work.

I'm neither judging nor defending how he chooses to spend his time, it is what it is. I just know that most of us love to peak in on other's lives and make judgements, especially those who don't bother hide their eccentricities. Would our lives hold up to public scrutiny if people knew everything? I think not.

I don't know the guy so I can't comment on the quality of his life. But he enjoys the ride...he's not hurting anyone...and the park gets some PR. Seems like a win-win-win situation to me ;)

Exactly. Not really sad, no matter how you look at it.

Don't celebrate yet, Rob ;) That was my attempt at a middle-of-the-road approach to the topic. I am taking neither side of the debate/argument/discussion.

Knowing if "it" -- i.e. his life, the fact that he's ridden the ride so much, or whatever aspect one wants to point to -- is "sad" or not requires knowing the man. While I can appreciate your desire to come to his defendse [for lack of a better word] I suspect neither you, Jeff, myself, or anyone else who's commented can say with 100% accuracy if "it" is "sad" or not.

So allow me to rephrase what I said above: sad or not he enjoys the ride...he's not hurting anyone...and the park gets some PR. Seems like a win-win-win situation to me ;)

I "kill kittens" every day. For every person here, who knows anything about online terminology, you know what I'm saying.

The difference is I don't risk my job, lifestyle, or waste hours upon hours to do it. That said, I think we're all entitled to do ANYTHING we want and not be judged by it, but guess what? We do.

This guy and his 20,000 laps? My opinion?

Sad.

I have no problem with that opinion.

There are people who are 61 who are in nursing homes, have Alzheimer's, or any other number of debilitating or terminal diseases. There are people in their 30's in the same boat. There are plenty of people who didn't make it to either age.

Be thankful that you're able to do whatever it is you do that brings you pleasure... ride the same coaster, run a website, kill kitties... because there are many who aren't.

Just adding some perspective here.

Amen RGB! ;)