An observation of attitudes

hey fellow Buzzers...this is something thats been on my mind for some time, but wasnt sure i wanted to post anything about it. but i feel it should be said....so here goes....

the past 10 days ive been on a trip out to the midwest, and it encompassed SRM, Coastermania, and BeastBuzz. these are my first real enthusiast events that ive been to, save PPP and a GOCC event last fall. I believe that aside from friendship, our most common bond as a community is our love for coasters and their respective parks. but ive noticed something amongst some members of our community...and that is a selfish, self centered attitude when it comes to enthusiast events.

three examples...heres the first one....At Beastbuzz saturday, after our second consecutive ride on the Beast, which was our fourth ride of the night, we were all getting off the train, i actually heard someone say very loudly "thats it?? this sucks!!"...and they said it within earshot of Jeff Seibert, PKI's PR director, who bent over backwords to cater to our group that day. i also heard some others talk about how dissapointed they were that we only got a couple rides on the four rides we ERT'd on that night.....

second example.....at Coastermania, sadly as most of us know, Dragster was down due to technical difficulties. now i confess, i was very disapointed, as i came a great distance to ride it...but hey, poo happens...but there were some people that i over heard who would not stop whining about it. even after the fact that CP opened MF for evening ERT (which means that MF ran for nearly 20 hours), and opened Disaster Transport, and Gemini. not to mention, handing out exit passes for TTD AND another attraction.....

third example, and this one is a whammy....Sat night of Stark Raven Mad. we all know what tragically happened that night. now i HOPE and PRAY that this is just a rumor, but i overheard that after Pat Koch canceled the ERT for sat night, someone actually complained and tried to get a refund....i tell ya, if that is true, then shame on that person.

its all a matter of respect guys. when we go to a park, and they offer us an event, and give us ERT and food and all that, no matter how much we payed for it, we should be thankful, not selfish. im sure that this post doesnt apply to most of you at all, its just something that ive observed, and something that i felt i needed to share with you all. It is in no way directed at anyone person, hence i didnt mention any names.

let me encourage you...next time you attend an enthusiast event of any kind, and one of the park's representatives is there, please, no matter how lousy a time you might have had, go up to them and thank them for being so kind as to open up their park to you and your group. you never know how much you might be encouraging them, and/or just how much good you might be doing for the overall opinion of our community.

thanks for reading:)

Tim...who is stepping off his soap box now

Michigan r0x0rs! :)

I agree with you 100%. As somone who enjoys coasters as much as every one else here, I cannot associate myself with the "enthusiasts" that I run into from day to day at the park. Almost all of them have made it clear the the park should be catered to them, and that they are somehow better than the rest of the guests at the park. This is why I usually choose not to associate myself. I'll just go ride my favorite rides quitely on regular operating days with friends who enjoy discussing the amusment industry.

If I would have heard any such comments made at BeastBuzz I would most certainly make it a point to ask that person not to bother registering for next year. Everything the park gave us, save for the meal we paid for, was offered by the park, not something I asked for.

And of course, my feeling is that I'd much rather knock out a total of nine cycles on four different rides (which might have took six hours during the normal day) than sit on the same ride for an hour. The park kept four crews late for our sake... and the only acceptable response to that should be thanks.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM
*** This post was edited by Jeff 6/10/2003 8:27:34 PM ***

I agree Tim, I thought CP bent over backwards for us at CMania. The SRM Display disgusted me, and I heard the person say it.

I guess it just goes to the fact that some people go to events with the outlook of having fun no matter what, while others just go looking for things that go wrong.

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UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

These are signs of enthusiassm.

Now, I admit, I put "TTD WAS DOWN FOR COASTERMANIA!!!!!!!" in my new signature, but the park really did make up for it. Big, free, lunch, with free taffy, and the "special boarding passes" that got me of MF in the front.

MF ROCKS!!!!!!!

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MAGNUM HURTS!!!!!!!
TTD WAS DOWN FOR COASTERMANIA!!!!!!!
I CAN'T MAKE A GOOD SIGNATURE!!!!!!!

Absolutely correct Tim. The attitudes of some people amaze me. Let's face it, the parks don't really make any money off of enthusiast events. Just to have it is doing us a favor that we should be thankful for.

Take SRM, $30 for the event.
20 something to get in (didn't look up the exact price)
2 all you can eat dinners
1 breakfast
Almost 8 hours of ERT over 2 days
There were 4 ops on Legend, 2 or 3 on Raven, plus 1 for every other ride that was open. Add in their hourly wage and I just can't see how the park could make money off of it. If anything they're losing money.

Just don't let those with bad attitudes ruin it for the rest of us. The last 2 events I have been to I have met some of the best people. Most of whom are Coasterbuzz members. For that I thank everyone I have met over the past few weeks.If you have stayed away from events because of this, get out to the next one you can and enjoy yourself. You'll be glad you did!

Frank- who can't wait to see some fellow buzzers at Coaster Con next week

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In my CD player: Centaur - In Streams
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
Fu Manchu - California Crossing

I live in virginia and im only 14 so I cant really drive up there myself so to be honest if I were to somhow get my mom to plan a vacation to CP knowing that I wont able to come back for a few years I would of been cussing if TTD was down when I went there. I know it may seem selfish and stuff of me but I would be pissed.

Well Put Tim, Well Put. :>)

--Ryan "Wishing I had Met Everyone at SRM."

I agree. When I went to Cedar Point with NAPHA, we were suppose to get an hour ERT on TTD, it didn't run until an hour and a half later so the park opened MF and Magnum up. We got to ride then the park gave all of us a pass to come back later. People, who I doubt were members, complained.

I don't let anything ruin my trip to any park.

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~*Grab the brass ring!*~

Enthusiasts complaining?

Surely you're joking.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I've never been to an Enthusiast Event, but this years CoasterCon will be my first, and I'm anxiously awaiting it. I know I'll have a good time, no matter what happens.

I can understand being upset if a ride like TTD was down when you know you won't be returning for quite a few years, but I'm sure the other rides would more than make up for it.

After a nice session on Grizzly (PKD), Nightride's dad went up to the operating booth and shook the hand of the operator and said Thank You. I was amazed. That must've really made that person happy to see that someone appreciated their work so much, even when most people don't even really care about who is running it. But he took the time to say thanks. I really liked that.

I happen to be going with Nightride and his Dad for CC, and I'm betting that I'll have another similar experience, and have an excellent time. I'm looking forward to meeting more enthusiasts...and hopefully, not enthusiasses, as I've heard some of them be called before.

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Free Falls on Drop Zone: 10!
Batwing Flights: 7!
Superman: Ride of Steel Airtime-age: 10!

I've found a really nice way to say thanks (not just at enthusiast events) is to occasionally swing by the office on the way out and file compliments about the best 2-3 ride ops. I don't do it every time or it'd lose it's specialness, but doing so always seems to suprise the office.

If you hear a complaint that you disagree with, just share a complement just as loud or louder with a smile (only when appropriate of course). Might as well give credit when credit is due!
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-Jen (JDee)
*** This post was edited by JDee 6/10/2003 11:36:46 PM ***

Tim, I've never agreed with you more.

There does seem to be the attitude of superiority and ungratefulness floating around among some enthusiasts. Coasters and parks are about fun, not complaining.

Stop and give yourself a reality check sometimes. I know I had to do it a few times this weekend. It really made it much more fun when I put everything in prospective.
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- John
Safety is everybody's responsibility.

Jeff: There was one incident at BeastBuzz that bothered me and I can only hope Jeff S. didn't hear it; and perhaps you didn't either.

During the tour while watching SoB, numerous Buzzers were saying "Ouch", "Ow", etc. and making insulting comments about SoB while we were watching it. I was disgusted that anyone would have the nerve to make these comments at that time; especially when Jeff and his staff were obviously going out of their way to make our day memorable.

I would hope these Buzzers will think twice about insulting our host the next time.
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

i remember that too DEK....hey, call me nuts, but i actually like SoB....awesome at night :)

by the way, thanks for all the comments guys....its awesome to know that there are those of us who still actually go simply for the FUN of riding coasters :)

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"Happiness is the City of Hudson!!"

Michigan r0x0rs! :)

I think it's a reflection of our society. Too many people have become so self-centered because they've had it so easy their whole life, if everything isn't perfect for them, they've got to blame somebody.

I saw a man ask for a refund at the gate when we were leaving Holiday World after that silent walk on Saturday night. And, of course, it was Holiday World, and the gate attendant gladly fulfilled his request.

And the complaining at CoasterMania got a bit thick a couple of times; enough that I had to keep some distance for certain people to keep myself from unloading on them.

That said, however, I think it's a relitivly small group that complains; most are just out having fun, doing what they like to do best.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Be grateful that the parks host such events. They don't have to do it. It takes time and effort on the part of the organizers to put on a con, so showing a little grattiude to your hosts is not asking too much, don't you think? Leave the acerbic wit at home and enjoy the comradery(sic) of your fellow enthusiasts.Also remember to thank all of the people involved in putting on the event. If it seems that no one appreciates what has been done, there might not be one the following year.

wow chaindog.....wow...im sorry you had to see that man....i was literally praying that that was just a rumor..:(

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"Happiness is the City of Hudson!!"

Michigan r0x0rs! :)

Amen Tim. I totally agree with you, except for that little bit in your sig about Michigan, but I digress... ;)

If not for the close friends I've made, I would have lost interest in this hobby, and coasters would have had very little to do with it. My anger toward enthusiASSm has peaked with reports of how a few people acted after the HW tragedy and at Coastermania. I guess I should try to remember that it's quite a minority of enthusiasts who are out there actually doing things to give coaster enthusiasts a bad name, but still, one bad apple spoils the bunch (I know it's cliche, but hey, it applies!).
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- Chris

I put the "D" in DDR.
*** This post was edited by MooreOn 6/11/2003 12:38:08 AM ***