Enthusiasm-Inherited?

[Just a little story...and some bragging from an uncle]

My nephew Connor, who just turned 6 last weekend, went to SFMM with his Dad this Saturday. He's heard his crazy uncle and grandfather talk about coasters since he was born, has seen a lot of the videos we've purchased, and sat and watched us ride.

As soon as he was old enough my sister started taking him on some family-friendly coasters, always being careful to check his reaction and never forcing him to ride anything he didn't want to ride. He's only had one bad experience, on Matterhorn, but only because it was dark and he didn't like the monster.

After a taste of the Disney and SFMM kiddie coasters he began getting an urge to try something bigger and last Christmas his Mom took him on his first adult *and* looping coaster, Revolution. That one ride was all it took...he caught coaster fever! A week later we were enjoying a family day at Knotts and I got to take him on his first launched coaster [Monty] and Grandpa got to show him his first woodie, Ghostrider.

In the 10 months between last Christmas and 6th birthday he's already racked up an impressive track record of 28 coasters:

SFMM's Canyon Blaster, Colossus, Gold Rusher, Goliath Jr, Ninja, Revolution, and Superman The Escape; Knott's Ghostrider, Montezooma, Jaguar, Timerline Twister and Boomerang; Disneyland's Matterhorn, Space Mtn, Big Thunder, and Gadget's Go Coaster; DCA's California
Screaming and Mulholland Madness; and SFOT's Flashback, Judge Roy Scream, La Vibora, Mine Train, Mini-Mine Train, Runaway Mtn, Shockwave, Texas Giant, Titan, and Wile E Coyote.

So what did my fearless 6-yr-old nephew add to his track record this weekend: only Goliath and X. And he *loved* X! He's 50" tall and is already setting his sights on Xcelerator, Batman, Riddler, and others this summer. It's only a matter of time before he starts asking his grandpa and uncle about parks in other states.

So....is the love of the coaster thrill in the genes? I'm beginning to think so....

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

Well Matt, I have to say its more of a "looking up to" sort of thing. The Big Brother syndrome so to speak

Basically anything Dave has ever taken on as a hobby or even movie and book types I have as well and none of those are what anyone else in our family enjoys.

Dave got me into trains, he got me into coasters by dragging me on Magnum in 89 and then following it up with a trip to King's Island in 2001. I got into Clancy books and Star Trek movies from him as well.

I have always looked up to him and I guess that included me ending up enjoying the same things.

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From SFKK in April to Dragster's Last Train of the year, thanks everyone for such amazing friendships.

I think my daughter is into coaster just because that's what we spend much of our leisure time doing. The real test will be when she's older. Will she keep up the enthusiasm or hate "those stupid rides that mom & dad do"?

As of now she loves it (82 coaster & she turns 6 next week) and has posters, pennants and on-ride pics in her room.

I'm still not sure if it's a genuine love of coasters or 'just what we do'.

My son just turned two and is terrified of even simple kiddie rides, but anytime he sees a coaster in pics, videos or real life he get this deep growling voice and goes "rolla coasta!" So we'll see where he ends up.

I have a funny feeling that while they both enjoy the parks and coasters, it may not be pure enthusiasm but rather just what we do. Either way they're racking up some pretty cool childhood memories. :)

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www.coasterimage.com

For those keeping score at home, that's nurture two, nature one....oh wait, I get to vote too. Make it three-one....;)

bill, over 54"
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

My question wasn't a serious one. He enjoys them...that's all that matters. We'll make the most of it so long as it lasts.

mOOSH

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

I assumed that over 54" conveyed a level of seriousness and dignity befitting such a solemn topic...:)
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

My dad said he liked coasters "when he was younger" and my mom gets motion sickness just watching the Travel Channel so I am not sure if it's inherited.

My paternal grandparents were ride ops and security for SDC most of thier adult lives so that must be were I got the "gene".

Connor reminds me of one of my best friends' son, Nate. Last year we took him to Carowinds and it was his first time being on a coaster beides the Beastie at PKI. The little guy was so funny and wanted to go on the big rides first thing. He saw Top Gun and wanted to RIDE it and only it. Well, he was not tall enough and it just broke his heart.

He must of rode the Hurler and Ghoster Coaster about 1000 times though! Later that week I gave him a Guide To Ride and he already has a "must do" list. LOL!

-Tina

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Gimme speed, height, airtime and plenty of LAUNCH!!!

*** This post was edited by coasterqueenTRN 10/28/2003 7:26:05 AM ***

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So....is the love of the coaster thrill in the genes?

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If it is, it must be recessive. My folks positively hate coasters, and in fact nearly anything that goes too fast, high, or far. Being good diligent parents, they still took us to Cedar Point every year, plus the obligatory trip to the Mouse House. Of the three of us sons, I'm the only one who is completely crazy; the other two can take or leave 'em.

Thankfully, my wife also has the gene; her first Magnum ride (that she was initially terrified by) had her laughing uncontrollably on the return run. So, hopefully both kids are in the club. So far, my five year old daughter has yet to ride anything she didn't love. My three year old son has had a few unpleasant rides, but has widened his scope over time, so a Dad can hope!

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

I wish I had kids... :(

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The squirrel is only screaming because it hates the new restraints.

That remonds me of a joke my grandfather likes to say whenever a young woman comments on how cute kids are...

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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

Throw me in the "nuture" pile. My parents and extended family all fall into the "I get sick just looking at them" category. But after my brother went to SFGAm on a field trip back in 1985, the way he described it made it sound like the most wonderful place in the world to an 8-year-old Olsor. By the time I finally got to go myself, I was overwhelmed, and had caught the bug.

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"Did I say 'corpse hatch?' I meant 'innocence tube.'"
- Montgomery Burns

My parents never really liked coasters, or theme parks for that matter, until I did. My dad loves them now, but my mom's "first coaster" was the Jokers Revenge at SFFT 2 years before it's last season. The headache she got on that thing kept her from ever riding another coaster ever again. Mom's and Vekoma's don't mix.

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The squirrel is only screaming because it hates the new restraints.
*** This post was edited by one sided soldier 10/28/2003 1:09:56 PM ***

Definitely not inherited here!
Before she married, my Mom was talked into a ride on Riverview's Bobs and swore she'd never ride a coaster again. Someone did convince her to ride the CI Cyclone later, but that was it! Hasn't been on a coaster since. Dad was never even on one, as far as I know.
My sister, Jan, and I are the park/coaster fans, our brother ambivalent. Luckily, Jan's sons seem to have "inherited" coaster fever.

I never went to a theme/amusement park when i was a kid/teenager and dont remeber riding any roller coasters till i was a adult' I got the bug at wdw of all palces and it grw from their.
Now my wide doesnt like roller coasters much at all while my 3 kids have taken up my love for roller coasters and love riding them. SO i dont know if its in the gene's, but it sure is fun!!!!

While I would not consider my parents enthusiasts, they never passed up an opportunity to ride a coaster. I remember riding many coasters with them while growing up. Granted they don't ride like they used to anymore, but they will occasionally venture on to one. My dad took a spin on Silver Comet at MFI with me this summer and my mom rode Blue Streak at Conneaut with me last summer. They even rode Steel Phantom before it's demise.

Inherited or nurtured? Who cares, I'm just glad they gave me a lot of great memories growing up.

I'm with Brian on the recessive gene theory, and that it skips generations.

My brother and I were introduced to coasters by our grandfather, who took us to CP every year since 1977. He would always cajole us onto the rides by calling us "Charlie Tuna":)

My mother absolutely hates the things.

On the other hand, I've got my own kids well on their way in the hobby. My daughter had her first ride at two and loved it. Earlier this year, just before her third birthday, she even tackled the Matterhorn at Disneyland ("It was too bumpy":)). My son, at one-and-a-half, already loves to sit on my lap at the PC and watch me browse through the pictures at RCDB.

Daddy's not going to let the "gene" skip them!:)

Later,
EV
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"Everybody has desperate days of quiet questioning.
Everybody has times when they feel like they don't fit in."
- Color Theory, So Many Ways, 2001

Well, there does *seem* to be a report of some scientific merit that suggests a genetic link....a so-called "thrill-seeking gene". As with most things in life, I imagine that there is some *gray area*, where neither genetic predisposition nor environmental variables can fully explain the outcomes realized....

My guess at this point is that "enthusiasts" are made more often than born, but both factors are likely contributory rather than *determinative*....

bill, needs to learn more monosyllabic terms....;)
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

you mean short words?

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

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Mamoosh said:
After a taste of the Disney and SFMM kiddie coasters he began getting an urge to try something bigger and last Christmas his Mom took him on his first adult *and* looping coaster, Revolution. That one ride was all it took...he caught coaster fever!

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I can certainly relate to that. While I had already conquered a few (5, I think) coasters at the age of six, it wasn't until I rode Sooperdooperlooper that I became truly obsessed. I couldn't stop thinking about that coaster for weeks! Ol' Anton will always be the king of steel in my eyes.

Seems Connor's got good taste! :)

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-Mike
Say hello to all the apples on the ground--
They were once in your eyes but you sneezed them out while sleeping -MJK
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I think I caught the enthusiast bug when I was 4 and my dad put me on a Super Slide with him. I don't think too many of these exist anymore, but it was a very tall slide (probably somewhere around 75 to 100 feet tall) with about 15 parallel "tracks" people slid down on a potato sack over many undulations. I'm not sure if King's Island still has theirs on the Coney Mall. I came off it pale as a ghost and queasy, but deep inside I loved it. Not quite a coaster but close. From there I think it was a matter of me being nurtured by my parents with many visits to Opryland, Six Flags, and WDW til I got old enough to make park visits on my own.
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Nashville needs a theme park!