ACE: Uncomfortable hotel like a concentration camp

Posted | Contributed by Absolutely Reliable

[Ed. note: The following is humour, if it wasn't obvious enough for you. -J]

In a story about ACE's European Coaster Odyssey a few months back, ACE's Rollercoaster! magazine compared an uncomfortable hotel to a concentration camp. After receiving complaints, in its most recent issue, the editor defended the comparison as a valid "journalistic metaphor."

Today's ARN&R uncovers some of the other comparisons ACE is thinking about using ("Guests Waiting For X Understand the Pain of Stalin's Labor Camps") and provides a link to let ACE know that the comparison is idiotic.

(direct link)

Link: Absolutely Reliable News & Rumors

Wedge Antilles brings up the real problem, at least in my opinion, that ACE has and that is that ACE leadership seems to be out of touch with a good sized portion of the membership. I read the article and while understanding that the remark was used in humor and jest also thought it was rather insensitive and am glad it was addressed, even if a little half-heartedly, in the letter to the editor.
Thanks to all of the ACE volunteers and to all the plain old, regular, everyday ACE members whom are the reason ACE is around and why I am a member.

Jim Wolgamuth

Caveat
My above post is in reference to my opinion that Mr Seifert seemed out of touch with the fact that some ACErs and enthusiasts were offended by the article and letter to the editor response. Did not mean to imply that ACE as whole was out of touch with its members.
*** This post was edited by JWolg 10/29/2003 11:26:44 AM ***

janfrederick - yes and no. Those that were not offended by the comment are, IMHO, a lot less likely to speak their mind on the subject. I would also argue that most of the people who read that article are most likely unaware of the present discussion hear on CoasterBuzz. I hadn't even thought about the comment until I read the letter to the editor, and I hadn't thought of it again until today when I saw a mention of this discussion in rec.roller-coaster.

How many people read Rollercoaster magazine anyway? It has got to be several thousand at the very least, and with less than fifty contributors to this thread so far, we are dealing with a small percentage of the readers.

And Jeff - I agree the concept is silly, but before the release of TTT over here, there were comments from some quarters that the title should be changed to avoid offence.

I think this thing has been blown out of all proportion. I have no doubt that some people were offended. On the other hand, I feel that there are a certain number of people who have it in for the ACE executive no matter what they do, and that they are making the absolute most out of this issue.

Regards,
Richard

Jeff's avatar
Nonsense. What possible incentive would anyone have to have it "in" for the ACE execs? If Bill, et al, are anything like me, they probably could care less about them or the club's power structure. It's a stupid coaster club, not a nuclear super power.

(For the record, I feel much the same way about my own club, and I think there is a certain element of the enthusiast community that takes it all too seriously.)

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Mamoosh's avatar
"How many people read Rollercoaster magazine anyway?"

Well there are about 8,000 members, plus corporate and honorary members as well. I'd estimate their print run as in the range of 9,000-10,000 copies, allowing for overage and the sale of back issues.

Of those 8,000 members maybe 2-3% actively participate on CBuzz and other internet forums and newsgroups. I wouldn't take the number of responses here or on any other forum as an indication that the majority of ACE members don't care about this issue.

mOOSH

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The only 2004 Coaster Calendar still available, plus holiday & all-occasion cards. All at S&D Greetings.

janfrederick's avatar
My question for you Richard, would be to ask what you thought of the comment. Offensive? Don't care? Harmless? Not so harmless?

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Mamoosh - true, but likewise I wouldn't take the number of responses as an indication that the majority of ACE members *do* care about it.

janfrederick - I didn't honestly think anything of it whatsoever until I read the letter of complaint in the magazine, and even thinking about it now, the comment doesn't (and didn't) bother me one way or another.

Regards,
Richard

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http://www.bannister.org/coasters/

Mamoosh's avatar
True, Richard...I wasn't implying that, either.

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The only 2004 Coaster Calendar still available, plus holiday & all-occasion cards. All at S&D Greetings.

janfrederick's avatar
Perhaps I am wrong in thinking that this thread in any way represents the views of the "Silent Majority", but that still doesn't make the original remark any less tasteless IMHO, nor the response any more adequate.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

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