Forum Sensitivity

Things new members need to know about this forum before they decide to stick around:

Carrie hates babies.
Lord Gonchar hates everyone.
Jeff is better than us because he got stuck on Superman.
I'm constipated and therefore grumpy.

I'm being sarcastic. Possibly.

Dammit, no, now I'm better than you because I had a walk down on Expedition Everest.

High five!

Yeah, but Disney has yet to erect a Jeff Putz shrine in front of Everest. Plus I don't think I could exceed the amazingness of the SFA avatar I made for you.

New members will get the wrong idea if this is the first thread they read.

This is turning into a virtual love fest. What's next now that we've all gushed?

Vater, Gonch, Jeff, and Timber-Rider hit the road to help him pick up his Platinum Pass since he obviously can't drive.

You can decide who's who on your own.

Quick, someone get Vater that bran muffin already!

I have waited to post here because I wanted to make sure that I contributed something to this thread that is going to advance the discussion.

I, like a few others who have 'come out of the woodwork' for this post, am more of a 'CB lurker', since 2006. I have posted very few times, mainly due to the fact that I have felt that, as someone previously mentioned, that the community here is quite insular, and cliquey. I have not felt any desire to start sparring with someone, as reading the forums is a time killing hobby. I don't feel the need to be 'that' invested.

However, I have always felt torn between two opinions of this website. I feel as though it may be helpful for me to explain to some of the more established and less established members reading this thread.

First, I thoroughly enjoy reading the informed opinions of the CB membership, because I know that the majority of posters here are intelligent, knowledgeable, literate and passionate contributors looking for serious discussion on the topic. I come here to increase my knowledge on the topic so I can impress the hundreds of friends in my real life that flock to me desperate to be informed about Cedar Point's marketing strategies. There is not another website that allows me to achieve such guru like status among my constituency.

Second, despite my respect for this site, I often view Coaster Buzz as an unwelcoming community, with various members exhibiting elitist (which, I am a firm believer is NOT a dirty word) behaviour that discourages well-meaning people from asking questions or attempting to participate. I am not suggesting these people are trolls. What I have noticed is that many of those who feel attacked appear to be enthusiasts who are not able to articulate their thoughts in as eloquent a manner as the majority of the regular contributors to this site. Due to the relatively high standards of communication that are enforced by most here, new members/posters often feel attacked: they seem unable to process the direct and efficient style of address used here, and interpret 'style' emotionally.

I am not suggesting that anyone dumbs themselves down. What I am trying to suggest is that it may be possible to attempt to show some patience with those new to the community. This can be a fabulous place to 'waste time talking about something that brings a lot of joy to all of us. Perhaps it is not a bad idea to foster a little of that same joy in those who wish to start participating.

There are a few posters here who are beyond patience. There comes a time when someone just doesn't "get it", and needs to be taken down a peg or 2.

Even then, some just keep on going.

Great post SquareOne42. I've been lurking this site for years and rarely post. Coasterbuzz is extremely unwelcoming. The "community" is way too cliquey and many give off an elitist vibe. I get many of the inside jokes, but new members would not. And you talk about new members making noise? This thread is noise.

Don't you need more than one clique to be "cliquey?" If there's only one clique, then that's just a "community."

While I agree that this thread is mostly noise and drama, again, with the clique comments: If you don't enjoy being here then you're not being forced to be here. Regardless of how long you've been here.

I get told I'm wrong for that, but...obviously this thread points out that some times, some people don't need to be here when they're unhappy.

I stand by that.

Edit: And furthermore, the whole idea that there needs to be more love and rainbows and unicorns around here kinda sickens me. We've tried that. It's not working. People aren't growing, they're festering.

You can call it whatever you want but this isn't the first time its been brought up.

Human beings are so very strange.

You find a place very unwelcoming, but continue to hang around?

I can't even remember how or why I joined this site. I don't recall ever feeling "unwelcome" or "extremely welcomed".

But I do know one thing...if I found an online community unwelcome or uninviting, I wouldn't "hang out there".

Le sigh...

Honestly, it's not as unwelcoming as some make it out to be. It's a social circle for coaster fans who would honestly prefer not to have their opinions drowned out in a sea of noise that pretty much everywhere on the internet is notorious for possessing. Like Jeff said, it isn't a clique. It's a community.

I also think that Coasterbuzz can be very welcoming. What gets new entrants in trouble is that they pull up the site, register immediately, and then flood the boards. I know that when I sign up for some forums, I don't jump right into the discussion immediately. I try to get a feel for the place and the people.

It's like real life. If you were at a party having a discussion with your friends and somebody came in, interrupted everyone, and proceeded to hit you with a thousand questions and comments before they've even properly introduced themselves, wouldn't you be like, "Um...who are you and what are you doing?" Why should websites be any different?

And honestly, there aren't many rules. Most fall under the general category of no stupidity or trolling being allowed. Is that so much to ask?

And now my wonderful Zoolander reference is nearly buried beneath a few ultra-sensitive posts.

Thanks a lot, ktrain & squareone. That was good for at least 3 - 4 more likes...maybe even from that big mean know-it-all Gonch.

Thanks a lot.

Pancakes are alright. He did not have a clipboard. I used to ride Paddlewheel all the time. Vater made me come back by showing up at New Element. Established communities can be unwelcoming, but mostly because there are already established relationships and it becomes intimidating to outsiders that want to feel like they belong. And I never cared for Zoolander.

My constructive criticism regarding how some react in an emotional way to the style of language used at CB (instead of interpreting it as the efficient and direct style that it is) seems to gain more weight with these last few posts.

My post was intended to provide some insight as to WHY certain members may feel sensitive and express some hurt. However, it seems as though what I posted has been misinterpreted, or, perhaps more accurately, has been met with indifference. Which is fine. I do not expect my opinion to be shared by anyone but myself. But, in turn, why is anyone surprised that posters such as Tyler, someone who is consistently told that he contributes nothing and needs to adjust the way he interacts here, unwilling to 'change', when the constructive criticism that a few of you have just received is met with indifference, ie: if you don't like it here, don't come here? (No offense meant to you Tyler, I am merely using this as an example to demonstrate my point).

In terms of misinterpretation, I also did not say that I personally have felt unwelcome at CoasterBuzz. I said that over the years, I have watched new and old members post , and response has appeared unwelcoming to less articulate members. There is a difference between those two things. As for 'sticking around', I view CoasterBuzz as a great source of knowledge . I do not feel the incessant need to post here, but that does not mean that I do not enjoy reading the threads, or have ever felt deterred from visiting the site.

I totally understand how some people can feel that CoasterBuzz is unwelcoming. It took years of me stubbornly sticking around here before I started to feel like people respected a few of the things I had to say, even if they disagreed with it. That's why I try to give people a chance.

I even had to change my screen name once because I was so embarrassed at how I was being treated by one specific D-bag, who got the ban-hammer just about the same time.

Looks to me that the Noobs around here are trying to do better. I enjoy some of their posts. Give them some time, and a little bit of friendly guidance.

I don't know why I keep coming back to this thread. I think it's pretty boring, and then I reply to it anyways. lol

Square, what you're saying is part of the problem. The establishment doesn't need to change. That's the reason for the indifference.

I don't care if people are sensitive or insensitive to the way things are around here.

I certainly don't care what anyone on here thinks of me.

Do I get annoyed and passionate with discussions? Sure. That's part of the fun. I'm the same in person. I'm certainly not 'nicer' in person, but sadly, many people feel empowered to be idiotic with anonymity. I have no problem telling someone that I think they're being annoying in person or online.

I wouldn't expect anything less from anyone else.

Travis - no. Just, no. It's over with the sensitivity and understanding. People only get so many chances, and there are quite a few who have overstayed their welcome, and refuse to budge or listen to the guidance.

It's even beyond "tough love" at this point, and it's moved on to the point where it ruins the enjoyment of conversation.

I think this has run its course. Opinions duly noted, let's move on.