Coaster Site Webmasters

Sometimes it seems like the people who get out there and make a coaster site are the same people who forget that we're all out here in these communities because we love amusement parks and coasters. All of the sudden they become enthusiasts of their site, and all else goes away.

For instance, I was on another board recently and mentioned Coasterbuzz being the main site I visit. The moderators came back and cried about the things that their site supposedly does so much better, while saying nothing positive at all about CB.

I also recently noticed an argument between two CP webmasters about why the other person's site sucked. Nothing postitive said about their own, only trashing the other.

On a personal level, it seems that there are two or three people intent on following my posts on different boards with rude statements about my site only to make themselves feel better about their own.

I thought that we were out here to provide information to each other and share a hobby. I wasn't aware that it was a knock-down drag-out brawl for a couple of hits.

Has anyone else noticed this to be the case?

A lot of people have the wrong idea about coaster sites. The point, IMO (and I don't see where I went wrong with this one), is that we all love coasters and we want more of them and more material on them, so it seems that the more sites, the better. And you're right, its just a hobby. I created my site just to give me something to do and so I could share all my coaster photos, vids, reviews, and other things with my fellow enthusiasts.

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|| Jonathan Hawkins ||
http://www.starcoasters.com
http://www.thrillspot.com

Sometimes egos get in the way. Sometimes it's age. People work hard on their sites and everyone thinks their own site is the best. But, as Mom always said, if you can't say something nice ...

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

My philosophy on it is dont mention other sites on a site if you dont want to be flamed...

I guess "human nature" kicks in with some people, and the enthusiasts that spend so much time on their own sites get very defensive of their work.

I just outright don't allow it here... If you start talking smack about a site, no matter how much I dislike that site, I nuke it. Posting that kind of nonsense shows you have no class, and frankly allowing it to continue in your forum isn't much better.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I really do think its ego, back in the day I used to work for a couple of sites that reported movie news, and in the beginning (this was 1996) everyone got along pretty well.

However, I've found that as soon as the press starts interviewing people, feelings get hurt and egos tend to swell which leads to a bad combination

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Excalibur Crew for 2002!

Same here Jeff, i dont and will never allow people talking crap about other sites.This isn't a big competetion, cause everyone knows there really isn't any big money in RollerCoaster sites, its all about the love of Theme Parks and RollerCoasters,and if your a webmaster or a coaster site and are in it for the money, then you better get out while you can. Also it would be great to see Rollercoaster sites working together more for the common cause of giving coaster fans a better experience.

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There is no good way to make money off the internet anymore no matter what the site. The only ones making the money are the ones that don't rely on the ad market are sites powered by subscription charging for access, ecommerce, and webhosting/services. That's why more sites are owned and operated by someone as a hobby (us, Jeff, etc) and paid out of pocket. Too bad the admarket is dead. It's not even worth it to put the ad's html code on your page. Rollercoaster sites all have competition (although I never knew about other coaster sites before, my first was WoC, then I clicked on their link to Coasterville and then their link to Coasterbuzz and look where I am now :) ) but in honesty, there aren't too many sites actually in a head to head battle for visitors.

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
http://www.woodencoaster.com

My point isn't why people defend their site. It's why they feel the need to attack another one.

*** This post was edited by Jacob on 2/27/2002. ***

The Messenjah said:
Also it would be great to see Rollercoaster sites working together more for the common cause of giving coaster fans a better experience.

I've been trying to do this, by getting different sites to join up with me and combine their info. with my site. So far I got one site to team up with me. I'm looking for others so please help. I've emailed a few sites and all of them responded but Alex's Place. Alex, if you're reading this, please contact me :)
Glenn716@aol.com

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Rollercoasters are my life, I think about them more than I think about....wait, thats all I think about :)

Proud Owner of www.coasterkingdom.cjb.net

The only problem I have is people who just seem like they hate you have never even met you.
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3.2.1 launch

bigkirby said:
"There is no good way to make money off the internet anymore no matter what the site."

That's not true. If you're in porn, you're rolling in the cash.

I'll agree to a certain point that ego plays a factor in things. Every other site submission we get for the sites section starts with "the best" or something like that. Still, I don't think that's really the issue that gets me, it's the non-site owners that go on a forum and start talking trash, then the owners who allow it to go on. Usually (when it comes to my sites) it's because someone got edited, deleted or banned, and they go out on a mission to slander and libel someone. Just keep in mind when you do that your freedom of speech might be guaranteed, but your protection from getting sued for making false, libelous statements is not.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I'm Bryan Wood. I'm a writer/editor for ThrillNetwork. I have to agree with everything said here. I hate the fact that everyone tries to "out-do" each other. I also delete all libelous and slandering posts whenever I see them at our site. Granted, I don't see everything. We all put time and effort into our sites, and it's discouraging to see people bashing each other. Personally, I check in with CoasterBuzz and Screamscape all the time, as well as ThrillNetwork. I wish people would stop fighting, not just in site vs. site, but the SFMM vs. CP wars, etc. We're all on these site for one purpose: we love parks and coasters. Everything has it's own unique features that set each other apart. The bickering brings down the integrity of one's site. I know this will never cease, because we don't live in a utopia. I'll see you all at the parks this summer...

*** This post was edited by SFOfreak on 2/27/2002. ***

About the porn thing that Jeff mentioned...

One of the student's fathers that my mom tutors runs a porn site. He drives a Mercedes CL500 and lives in a million dollar mansion out here in Calabasas, CA. I just thought that was pretty cool.

-Jeff

http://americacoasters.com

I think it also has to do with format. If you don't like somebody's format because its different then your's, your obviously gonna make fun of it and stuff like that.

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SFNE drops its "floor" for 2002! Visit www.geocities.com/sfneguy for info. and pics of SFNE, including the most unique constr. pics of SFNE on the web. Formerly known as srosatsfne.

I think it also has to do with format. If you don't like somebody's format because its different then your's, your obviously gonna make fun of it and stuff like that.

Errr... what? Why are you going to 'obviously' make fun of it because it is 'different' than yours? Which is another point: people need to worry more about the content of a site, not its design.

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|| Jonathan Hawkins ||
http://www.starcoasters.com
http://www.thrillspot.com

I know Jeff, but I thought I'd leave that out to keep a "family" discussion (rather than a family making)

:)

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
http://www.woodencoaster.com

If people need their egos fed, then Jeff should put "Best Web Site" in the Coasters' Choice Awards.

Of course, all the non-winners would argue for months about its bias and how they were screwed :)

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

*** This post was edited by Gemini on 2/28/2002. ***

That's precisely the reason that we make the nominations on that!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"