Have you converted someone?

bunchastuf said:
And if you're gay, you can be converted to straight ... on a roller coaster.

Great! Now I'm afraid to ride roller coasters again...thanks a lot.

In a way, I think I may have converted my mom. She won't admit it though.

When I was a kid, she would never go on any coaster. I finally got her on the Whizzer last summer, and she "actually kinda liked it." A few more times and she definitely liked it. Very strange. The answer was a solid NO all through the 1980s!

obxKevin said:

Great! Now I'm afraid to ride roller coasters again...thanks a lot.

Oh man, don't worry about that ... roller coaster, shmoller coaster.

When I was at the fair the last time and rode the Zipper, the sign said "must have two per tub." Now I don't know what riding the Zipper has to do with what happens in my own bathroom, but they certainly didn't mention anything about straight or gay - or converting, for that matter.

I thought that was rather open minded of them.

It really never ceases to amaze me. I just had a meeting with a 19 year old female student who has officially signed up to be part of next Fall's roller-coaster phobia group, and she literally was visibly shaken and short of breath just talking about the experience. Can't wait! :)

That said, if I am honest, thinking about riding Windseeker is fairly nerve-racking. That is going to be one heck of a thrill.

OhioStater said:
I will be happily converting young people until the day I retire.

I would of loved to have seen the on-ride photos for THAT Dragster ride!

That just goes to show that if you force a kid on any coaster when he/she clearly doesn't want to, it will scar them for life. It will scar them until they get "exposure" therapy anyway. ;)

It's outcome could be worse if you "trick" them into riding.

-Tina

Exactly. No one was tricked/forced/coerced, etc...it all came from within.

And Carrie, the pictures were priceless. :)

Follow-up to my post on previous page:

We'll have our first date tonight. But it's come out in our conversations and communication that a relative of her great-grandfather, possibly his brother, was William F. Mangels. Some historians on here may recognize that name. Mr. Mangels:

Designed one of the first wave machines, used at Palisades Park...

Designed the Tickler coaster at old Coney Island...

Invented the Whip...

So despite the fact she may not particularly LIKE coasters and parks, they're in her blood..and her genes.

*EDIT* I didn't know if CB etiquette would allow me to quote my own post...