Former Waco news anchor takes GM position at Six Flags Over Texas

This isn't really news. I don't think most people outside SFOT employees and the woman's family care about this. I'm sorry for being so blunt, but after being a member for 15 years or so (and a lurker for 20), I'm starting to get real vibes that this place is dying. I realize that amusement industry news is pretty rare unless you look hard for it, I get that, but the coaster radio guys have been keeping it interesting for like 18 years now. They always have something new to talk about a couple times a month. Why doesn't this community? I will say the forums are still pretty good for discussion, I'm not trying to diss the site or anything.

What has happened to Coaster Buzz?

An update to this, I don't think she even lasted 6 months as the park's GM.

Dissing is precisely what you're doing. Why else would you reference a year-old thread? That's super lame. If you want more news, you know where the contribute button is.

Do you know how many people with Six Flags email addresses follow the site? Of course you wouldn't. We've followed executive and leadership action from the start, and will continue to do so.

bjames:

the coaster radio guys

Who?

"I WANT ATTENTION!" Level unlocked.

bjames:

I'm starting to get real vibes that this place is dying.

It would be pretty pathetic complaining about this article if it was today's news, let alone being from a year ago and using it as an example of how the site is declining...

Also, major parks getting new GMs has always been big news. If you care about a park you'd want to know when it has new leadership, so I think saying this is only relevant to employees and family members is not a valid assessment. GMs can have a major impact on how a park is presented to guests.

The fact that most news reported doesn't concern me does not mean it's not news. Perhaps someone had an off night?

bjames:

They always have something new to talk about a couple times a month. Why doesn't this community?

Ask not what Coasterbuzz can do for you – ask what you can do for Coasterbuzz.

Kind of an odd bump? Did she lose her job or something?

I would say this was news a year ago for sure. I’ve always liked that park, even though I’m not a big Six Flags fan.

I’m guessing they saw it in the Rollback section of the homepage for today. Definitely an “old man yells at sky” moment here.

bjames:

I'm not trying to diss the site or anything

except you used the previous 10 sentences to do just that.

PhantomTails:

It would be pretty pathetic complaining about this article if it was today's news, let alone being from a year ago and using it as an example of how the site is declining...

Exactly. It completely ignores the fact that there have been dozens of new news posts since then that have generated plenty of lively discussions.

Practically every amusement park news article I've submitted ends up on the forum after a day or two. If you think the news section is not entertaining or informative enough, be the change. CoasterBuzz is not just a website, it is also a community.

I will give you this though, I also do not find articles about new park managers interesting. But I'm sure some people do. Just skim over the stuff you don't care about, like a normal person.

In saying that, I do hope you are doing well, bjames. Cheers.

I was reflecting on this a bit today. I had a three-hour drive (reason in a moment) ahead of me, and I was listening to the Smartless podcast. I adore the hosts, their love for each other and the wonder they have for their guests. Bateman, Hayes and Arnett are fantastic. And I thought, "Wow, these cats have been doing this for almost three years." Then I remembered, I did a podcast that started in September, 2005, with some friends I met through this site. We did it for seven years, until we outgrew it, had kids, priorities changed, or whatever. Mostly it just felt like we were talking about the same thing over and over again. In a lot of ways, I feel like we did something weird, got tired of it and stopped, before it ever became cool. I'd like a hole-punch in my hipster card.

But you know what? We made more than 200 hours of something that didn't exist until we made it. The most satisfying thing in the world to me is the idea that something does not exist, and then you make it, and it does. That's pretty crazy.

Over 23 years ago I started this site. Two years before that I started that other one. Over the years, I've taken it less seriously, and myself less seriously, but I've had some striking moments where the bigger context of what I created surprised me. I've been to several weddings where people have realized that if it wasn't for this community, we might not have known each other. I've vacationed with people I met here. I recently got a random message from a guy I haven't seen in two decades that insisted that the people he met here may have saved his life. That feels crazy and dramatic, but I'm not going to invalidate the guy.

So that road trip today is the second I've taken to make a documentary film. I am incredibly worried that it will suck, but I'm going to put the work into it anyway and see what happens. And when I'm done with it and release it unto the world, a thing that did not previously exist will, because I made it.

Whether or not what I do is valuable is certainly up for debate. But if you're the kind of person that just does a random drive-by to tear down the things that they made for you to enjoy for free, you should feel like a world-class dick.

What are you creating?

Jeff, CoasterBuzz is the reason I got a PC way back in the days of dial-up. I've visited this site almost every day since I found it about 22 years ago.

You're not the only one who has made good friends on this site. Many people here have befriended others who are here. You made something much bigger than yourself.

I want to personally, and publicly, say thank you for creating this website and community. It will always be my favorite place on the web.

I can't wait to see your documentary. Stop it with that imposter syndrome crap. I'm sure it's not going to suck.

LostKause:

CoasterBuzz is not just a website, it is also a community.