"Enthusiast" a Misnomer?

Over in the "overrated/underrated" thread, it amazes me how people write things like -- "the MF first drop is great, after that, it's a bore, etc." It seems that many of us on this board a a bit jaded and spoiled.

Wouldn't it be fair to say that the people who enjoy coasters the most are probably not those of us who visit parks 10-12 times per year, but those who rarely visit parks but enjoy coasters? For them, the thrill is fresh.

From personal experience --Once I began to visit my home park frequently (7-8 times per year), the rides at the park began to bore me. Coasters lost their luster a bit.

Maybe a better term for some of us "enthusiasts" would be "Coaster Experts".

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Buy "Stereotype Be" from Kevin Max at Amazon.com

If this site is any indication, very few of the "enthusiasts" qualify as "coaster experts," and of those that do, even fewer have the grace to pull it off.

We're enthusiasts because we'd rather do this over most things.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
I am stereotypical.

Coaster experts? I disagree. :) While many people can fire off specs and names of coasters, most of us really don't know much. Those that think they know the most, usually know the least! Coaster freaks, coaster nuts, coaster nerds, a much more appropriate name for us! How bout coaster hobbyists?
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

I only drive Fords because Chevies are just not what I like.

How is that any different from me saying Millenium Force doesn't do a thing for me, I would rather ride Magnum?

Most of us are DEFINITELY not experts.
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UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible
*** This post was edited by MagnumForce 7/1/2003 11:40:33 PM ***

One of the more interesting terms thrown around recently was enthusiasses. Rather unfortunate, but I guess it fits some people. Refunds for SRM come to mind.

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Mike Anderson

Agreed. I heard the refund thing too, but I don't think that was the case. The line at guest relations was to turn in your locker key :) I suppose it is possible though...

Regardless, enthusiasses can be a very apt term.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Main Entry: en·thu·si·ast
Pronunciation: -"ast, -&st
Function: noun
Date: 1570
: a person filled with enthusiasm : as a : one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit <a sports car enthusiast> b : one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Sounds applicable to me.

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Testicle [n.] - a humorous question on an exam.

I am most definitly an enthusiast. I get Enthused(sp?) when I go to a park, I get happy when I get on a coaster. As I was tellin PittDesigner in an AIM chat earlier, I've only ridden 3 coastes that I didn't care for: Adventure Express @ PKI(not bad theming, but I was expecting that last lift hill to lead to a nice drop, left me un fulfilled), and the Hurler Twins, which just make me get a headache. I still ride all three if I am at that particular park. I like riding all coasters no matter what because if nothing else, I can say I've done it and Now I know if the Hype was true or not. So yes, I am an entusiast, Coaster Nerd, Coaster Geek, coaster Hobbyiest, but definitly not an expert, as you can see from my track record(i've only been on 45 coasters that I know of, and only 44 of those are listed anywhere, one was at a state fair), so I think that term applies to me:)
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President, C.R.A.P. (Coaster Rescurers And Preservationists).

I think that enthusiast applies, and I think that what you're talking about (thinking, somehow, that Millennium Force is not a great ride) is exactly why the term enthusiass is floating around.

At least, I'm under the assumption that enthusiast and enthusiass aren't two names for the same thing, but 'enthusiass' is a term an enthusiast could be labeled, if he said something like, oh, "Millennium Force is so forceless that it should be ripped out..."

...and meant it...

But that SRM example works great too.

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"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

Viper at SFGADV should be ripped out, and I mean it.

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UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

I would say that I am much more of an "amusement park enthusiast" then a "coaster enthusiast." I am interested in much much more than coasters and, in fact, my interests fall far from the typical "coaster enthusiast" stereotype.

Consider:
I've never ridden a boomerang (not a fan of traveling backwards on a coaster).
I'm not obsessed with air time.
I *enjoy* Raging Wolf Bobs, Hercules, and Mean Streak.
I have no plans of riding Top Thrill Dragster any time soon even though I'm 2 hours away from it.
I've never been to an enthusiast event.
I don't chase "credits," I'm more interested in experience a park completely then running around, grabbing the coasters, and moving onto the next park.
Some of my favorite parks fall short in the coaster category.
I always take time to ride the antique cars, trains, boats, etc. all the "non-extreme" rides.
I'm not an adrenaline junkie or a "thrill seeker."
I'm prone to motion sickness (especially on B&M coasters).
I have a severe fear of heights (which doesn't keep me off coasters but drop rides are pretty much ruled out).
When I hear "flying coaster" I think of the Kangaroo at Kennywood rather than those weird new coasters.
I've never even seen a DDR machine, much less played one.

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Ripple Rock Amusement Park

Funny you mention DDR, millrace. I am most certainly a coaster enthusiast in the sense that I love riding them, am absolutely fascinated by their design and engineering, and make time to travel to new and different parks each year to sample the coasters that each has to offer.

While I find it interesting to watch, I have never set foot on a DDR machine, nor do I understand the connection between it and roller coaster enthusiasts.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk

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MAnderson said:
One of the more interesting terms thrown around recently was enthusiasses. Rather unfortunate, but I guess it fits some people. Refunds for SRM come to mind.

---

Paula (Raven Maven) had cleared this up in another thread. Only one person requested a refund (none given) the rest of the people were there to get their $5 deposit back for the locker keys....

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

You know A lot of us roller coaster enthusiasts have other huge intrests in other hobbies. Like DDR or pinball. Personally I go to SFGAm about 30-40 times a season. The rides don't get boring only the waits. As to say that roller coaster enthusiats are "experts" than that is not true. Have you ever watched Thrill Rides on The discovery channel? They occasionally get these guys who talk about roller coasters as if they have never visited a forum on any site in their lives. Oh well As long as they enjoy coasters there A ok by me.

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Are You Ready To Take The Red Pill? Matrix RCT parks
Enter The Matrix V.2

Millrace brought up the term that describes me better I think than enthusiast - adrenaline junkie. I think there are three categories of coaster "enthusaists".

There are the enthusiasses which complain about every ride but their #1, can't understand why anyone likes any coaster but their #1, spouts off stats to anyone who will listen and chases credits like crazy.

There are the amusement park enthusiasts who enjoy the whole experience, and the coasters just happen to be a big part of that. The one memeber of these forums that seems to stick in my mind as being that type is SLFAKE, he's always talking about the benefits of a park as a whole, and I think that's a real good way to go about things.

Then there are the adrenaline junkies like myself who just enjoy the rush, the thrill of speed, that living on the edge of disaster feeling, who just enjoy coasters because of the rush and can have almost as much fun driving fast in a car, jumping on a trampoline or any other activity which just gives you that rush that opens your eyes and makes you go "wow!".

Most of us I think fit into the last two categories, or are a mix of those two, but we all know a few in the first ...

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"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

I think I agree with Millrace's assessment and fit the following of his statements to myself as well...

Consider:
I'm not obsessed with air time. (I like it, but not obsessed with it)

I *enjoy* Raging Wolf Bobs, Hercules, and Mean Streak. (nerver rode WolfBobs or Mean Streak, but I like Hercules)

I have no plans of riding Top Thrill Dragster any time soon (I can wait until next year or the year after... besides, it really doesn't interest me that much)

I've never been to an enthusiast event. (I hear people talk about ERT on Phoenix during Phal Phun Phest and possibly long lines of Enthusiasts... but why bother with that when I can go any time and have practically walk ons?)

I don't chase "credits," I'm more interested in experience a park completely then running around, grabbing the coasters, and moving onto the next park. (while I do keep a count, I would never think of just going to a park, riding one coaster, and then leaving with out looking around at the rest of the park)

I always take time to ride the antique cars, trains, boats, etc. all the "non-extreme" rides. (add onto that Carrousels, Swinging ships, bumper cars, Flyers if they have them, and of course DARK RIDES)

When I hear "flying coaster" I think of the Kangaroo at Kennywood rather than those weird new coasters. (I thought I was the only one who remembered what the original Flying Coaters were)

I've never even seen a DDR machine, much less played one. (Agreed... WHY has this suddenly become joined with coasters at the hip?)

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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 7/2/2003 9:27:36 AM ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 7/2/2003 9:28:46 AM ***

That is the way to think my friend. That is the way to think.

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Are You Ready To Take The Red Pill? Matrix RCT parks
Enter The Matrix V.2

Geeks! Come on! We're geeks. Sheesh, get it right. Geeks etc. However, I think those of us who can't enjoy 'certain' rides have crossed over into snobdom.

Either way, it's all good. When we had a similar thread a couple years ago, some people were actually offended by the idea of being thought of as a geek. For those of you who might feel threatened now, get a sense of humor! ;)
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"I'm a coaster cowboy, on a steel rail I ride..." - Bon Jon Bovi

What I see here occurs with just about any avocation. You have people who enjoy the whole experience, using it as a form of relaxation, and then there are the "foamers" whose entire life revolves around it. Quite frankly, it's this mix that keeps things interesting.

to maintain a health Mental balance one must not center themselves around on subject/idea/topic. For this will bring you great mis fortune. Believe me I am a doctor.

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Are You Ready To Take The Red Pill? Matrix RCT parks
Enter The Matrix V.2
*** This post was edited by Dr.Strangelove 7/2/2003 1:10:08 PM ***