Credit whores

ApolloAndy said:"B:TR is the best invert in the world!!!11one"

Indeed it is.

Except Afterburner is better.

^ Eh, really, one can make an argument for pretty much any of the designs up to and including Talon. You can't go wrong with any of them. I just happen to think that they got it right the first time. California's Flight Deck tops my bucket list of coasters because it looks like they took the already compressed excellence of Batman and tried to compress it some more (much the same as what Afterburner is to Montu).

I'm all about rising clones. For me, I just enjoy credit-whoring because I find it thoroughly enjoyable building a large track record. I don't do it to throw it in people's faces that I've ridden more coasters than they have. I just do it because I feel like I gain more appreciation for the hobby the more I ride. I also feel like I appreciate the truly great rides more because I realize just how many rides they stand above.

As far as production models are concerned, I like having Boomerang after Boomerang on my track record. My last Batman-The Ride (OG) was one of my most sought-after credits.

I guess the ultimate reason, though, that I like credit-whoring is because I like to feel as though there's a master checklist of coasters in the world and I like having a lot of check marks.

Oh, and Carrie, I started reading your post, but then I noticed you haven't been on at least 200 coasters, so I stopped.

I will ride any coaster I can except those that have a maximum height requirement (either requiring a kid or a height limit regardless if you have a kid or not like Little Laser). It would be nice to see parks not be so strict about requiring a kid if there is no line but I have never even attempted to ride one of those coasters without a kid.

I have also noticed that the parks that are pay per ride are more likely not to have that rule in place. In Ocean City, NJ for example both parks have some very small kiddie coasters that anyone can ride and would likely would have restrictions in places at gated park.

I ride Blackbeard's almost every time I go to Great Adventure but I don't consider it a kiddie coaster, more of a junior coaster or a family coaster. With no seatbelts or seat divider, if you sit in the last few rows of the train, you can get thrown around.

Hi. I'm Mike. I'm a recovering credit whore.

It's been a year since I last scored a credit, though there have been some near slips. A few weeks ago I pulled up next to a parking lot carnival, just out of force of habit. Yeah, I know I was setting myself up for temptation, but I couldn't help it. It was like the lights on the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round music were sucking me in...

Anyway, that's when I saw it. A portable Pinfari mouse. My heart skipped a beat. I wanted it so bad! I could feel the cool fiberglass of the car, the lap bar slipping down over my head, just like old times...

I fought the urge. Resisted my feet that would lead me up to the nearest ticket booth. I tried to bargain with myself. "It's just one credit," I told myself. "It's not even a permanent installation so it doesn't really count. Nobody will know. I won't even put it in my track record." I tried talking myself down to the Dragon Wagon nearby, but deep down knew I was lying to myself. Even that one lousy kiddie credit would be enough to send me on a binge tour of East coast Six Flags parks, from which I wouldn't surface until the end of summer.

One day at a time.

RCMAC mentioned Camden Parks kiddy coaster (in Huntington, WV). Lil' Dipper is really really fun, and stands at a very short height of 17 feet tall. I would really feel bad for a coaster enthusiast who would pass up this ride just because it's a kiddy coaster.

Yeah, L'il Dipper is actually quite fun.

ApolloAndy said: Depends on the opinion though. If someone writes a TR and says "B:TR is the best invert in the world!!!11one" it means completely different things if all they have is a B:TR and an SLC or if they are Richard Bannister. That said, my current track record on this site is about 80+ coasters short of where I actually am because I'm too lazy to update.

I can see your point where the track record may add more context to something like that. But the thing is, no matter the track record, it's still just one person's opinion based on their preference. If there's one thing I've learned in my time with CBuzz, it's that everyone's opinions and preferences vary widely when it comes to coaster experiences. So whether the track record is 800 or 8, I would take a statement like that as someone's opinion and nothing more.

Sirloindude said: Oh, and Carrie, I started reading your post, but then I noticed you haven't been on at least 200 coasters, so I stopped.

I knew it!!!

Shows what you know anyway. Everyone knows after 150 coasters, every coaster feels like you're marathoning the same one over and over and over again... ;-)

Carrie, we've had this discussion over and over again. Even if you do marathon the same ride over and over again, it can be completely different. Have you forgotten lap 10 on Steel Force already? Low dew point for the win!

I think after lap 8 I started tuning you out. ;-) (Just kidding, of course!)

And in case anyone is wondering, Justin and I are sharing some love over our Steel Force marathon for Coasting for Kids. If you haven't done it before, I highly recommend it, either at Dorney or one of the other CF parks. You not only get to help out those in need at the Give Kids the World village, but you also get to make awesome new friends. :-)

^^ I second that emotion.

Credit-Whoring For Kids - coming to a family entertainment center near you in 2013.

Oh...I'm getting a vision... It could be an event consisting of riding every kiddie coaster you can find over a month long period...

If a tail-wind adds a bit of extra oomph to a ride, does it count as an extra credit?

I won't go out of my way to ride a ride that I know I won't like. Mine trains, boomerangs, kiddie rides, etc. are just not worth it to me. For example:

Career trips: Cedar Point (3), Hersheypark (3), SFOT (1 - dead day, no lines)

Combined Disaster Transport, Corkscrew, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Jr. Gemini, Woodstock Express, Roller Soaker, Sidewinder, Trailblazer, Mini Mine Train, Runaway Mine Train, Canyon Blast rides: 0

Of those parks, I've ridden the following rides once, ever, each: Magnum, Mean Streak, Iron Dragon, Gemini, Judge Roy Scream, La Vibora.

I will likely never ride those rides again (unless I hear sufficient buzz that they've been improved via new trains, re-tracking, etc.), and I'm fine with that.

I love roller coasters though. I love the thrill, the adrenaline rush, and the pure fun that can be had riding them. I don't love them because they exist. I will not subject myself to a ride that I know I don't/won't enjoy just because I'm standing in front of it. My interest in coasters is purely hedonistic: if I know (or am reasonably sure) that I will enjoy it, it is worth my time.

What's that, it's 20 minutes to closing time and I still haven't gotten that mine train credit? I still haven't been on Mean Streak OR GEMINI this visit!?

...better get in line for a night ride on Millennium Force.

I know this isn't necessarily the same thing, but I do often look at someone's track records. Not to validate an opinion, as I've said countless times that no one's opinion is more 'valid', but I do like to have context. I checked Coasterhound's track record for his discussion in the SFoT got 'shafted' thread to get some context on what he's ridden.

Matt Scott always says that a person usually has a decent handle on knowing what they like at about 200 credits. I mostly agree with that. I'm closing in on 300, and I can say that my tastes from 100 to 200 was a big change, but from 200 to 3oo, I'm pretty set on what I like, what I'd like to try, and what I can pass on. I can almost tell you exactly which coasters shaped my tastes.

I will say, though, that I do often enjoy kiddy coasters. Especially highly themed ones. But they're definitely not something I'll insist on riding. Heck, I'd be almost at 300 if I didn't skip kiddy coasters most of the time.

sirloindude said:

Have you forgotten lap 10 on Steel Force already? Low dew point for the win!

What's dew got to do with it?

What's dew, but--

Mike Gallagher said:

I second that emotion.

Hmm...well played, Mike. Right in time.

Whoa. 200 coasters in order to get a handle on what one likes? That seems like a bit much.

I would imagine one's interest shifts more based on age, health, life circumstance, etc and less based on the number of coasters ridden. At least that's the case for me.

I think too much emphasis gets put on a person's track record. It really doesn't add credibility in my book any more than someone with a small track record reduces credibility... there are so many other things to focus on to reduce credibility. ;-)

Let's say Coasterhound had a 500 coaster track record and came out with that opinion about SFoT...what would you have done with his thought then? (And maybe he/she does...I haven't looked at it.)

I'm closing in on 300 and I still don't have a perfect handle on what I like, save intensity. There are also some rides I could live on, but they aren't in my top 10.

Actually, that raises another important point. I don't even know what my top 10 are anymore.