How to spot a coaster enthusiast:
Who decided that it's the obnoxious over the top behavior that defines what an enthusiast is? I wouldn't call that being an enthusiast, I'd call it being a jerk (well, I'd add a few descriptive terms).
Just like people who root for sports teams. Not every "fan" throws objects onto the playing field, gets rip-roaring drunk and starts fights-- not even in Philly. And most fans are able to distance themselves from that sort, without ever denying or being embarrassed to admit they're fans. So why should it be any different with coasters?
When have you ever heard someone saying "I'm not a fan of (insert team name here). I'm just someone who likes to watch all their games and hope that they win"?
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. :)
200 Shockwave, Six Flags Magic Mountain
300 Hurricane, Boomers Recreation Center, Florida
400 Talon or Hydra, Dorney Park, Pennsylvania 10/6/06! :)
"If I enjoy boating, I'm known as a 'boating enthusiast', why can't I just be known as a 'guy who likes to boat a lot?"
That sums it up perfectly.
I just don't even like the word "enthusiast". Not when it comes to coasters, cars, bodybuilding/working out, whatever. I'm not an "enthusiast" of the word. :)
I'll jump in and say that I really do not want to be associated with the actions of the "jerks", because quite honestly, they suck.
I don't mind meeting with other people that enjoy parks and coasters, but I've had run-ins with enough obnoxious ones that had me hating life and completely destroyed my fun that I really try to pick my battles wisely, if you know what I mean.
Nate, if you're reading this, you know who I'm talking about. ;)
edit: I'm absolutely insulted that you would say that I waddle and quack, you insensitive jerk! ;)
*** Edited 8/17/2006 6:26:00 PM UTC by Raven-Phile***
RatherGoodBear said:
Exactly, millrace.Who decided that it's the obnoxious over the top behavior that defines what an enthusiast is? I wouldn't call that being an enthusiast, I'd call it being a jerk (well, I'd add a few descriptive terms).
The people that see these people from the outside looking in.
When I saw that both times I was still a member of the "club". But I didn't flash my card at anyone (unless there was a discount on tickets involved), I didn't try to tell the operators how I should ride, and I just locked myself in and was happy with the ride. Safely. With the lap bar touching my lap like you're supposed to.
Of course, the ride operators didn't associate me with being a coaster enthusiast. They associated the idiots who were flashing their cards, riding unsafely and telling them how to run the rides as the enthusiasts, and when I talked with these people, they would often give me funny looks. At the time, message boards were often times full of ways to trick the operators into letting you ride with your lap bars up, and which rides were the best to stand while riding, and stupid stuff that eventually came to a head after the Raven incident, where now more people who aren't stupid are talking up.
Coaster enthusiasses [spelling done purposely) really ruined it for coaster enthusiasts, and why I just like sitting and safely riding the rides that I enjoy when I get a chance.
Oh yeah!
Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."
if any of the events you described happened during some event or ERT, you were considered an "enthusiast."
If people want to walk away and say don't count me as one of them, fine. But the more people who do that, the higher the percentage of jerks there are left.
Another thing I can't stand is the use of "GP". We're ALL part of the general public, like it or not. I've heard too many of those "jerks" say things like "I would have gotten my 357,000th ride on the beast, if the stupid GP wasn't in the way." And stuff like "Oh, they're just GP, they don't know anything."
So what? you know more about amusement parks and roller coasters than they do, does that mean that they aren't allowed to enjoy them, too? If iot wasn't for general attendance at amusement parks, things like ERT wouldn't be possible. Really, the enthusiass (henceforth to be known as)thinks that he's a V.I.P when he's at an amusment park, and that's just not the case, especially on a regular operating day.
RatherGoodBear said:
thecoasterguy,if any of the events you described happened during some event or ERT, you were considered an "enthusiast."
No. Both were during the regular operating season in the middle of the day. Both were on wooden coasters.
I would have been even more embarassed if I had somehow been associated with these people. :(
Congrats on your 200th ApolloAndy, and congratulations on that "Special" Milestone Coaster, be it a Kiddie Coaster, anything by Vekoma, or that Arse-Kicking Wooden Coaster that you were able to "Save" for that Special Occaision! :) ! *** Edited 8/17/2006 10:48:13 PM UTC by Borntocoast***
I ride kiddie coasters for FUN, not "just for the credit". Ask either of the ops running Lil Phantom the Saturday before last, LOL. There was no line, and it's a pretty sweet ride, so even though I didn't "need" to ride, I did....twice!
I don't even care for gravy...perhaps it's best I just return my ACE card? ;)
RGB summed up my feelings nicely: If people want to walk away and say don't count me as one of them, fine. But the more people who do that, the higher the percentage of jerks there are left.
rollergator said:
I'm just a lousy enthusiast because I don't know, or care, what ORDER I rode them in...I never know, or care to know, what my "landmark" rides are...I ride kiddie coasters for FUN, not "just for the credit". Ask either of the ops running Lil Phantom the Saturday before last, LOL. There was no line, and it's a pretty sweet ride, so even though I didn't "need" to ride, I did....twice!
I'm the same way. Yet another strike against me being a true enthusiast. I won't ride rides that I'm not interested in. Sorry Vekoma kiddie coasters, unless there is no line I won't be seeing you. I also have no idea how many coasters I have been on, or in what order they were, or anything like that. I have memorable rides on some coasters, both good and bad, and I think that people who go around to parks and check off each ride are often times missing part of the charm that makes the parks what they are in the first place.
Having said that, I keep thinking that someday I'd like to sit down and write out all of the rides that I have been on just for the sake of remembering them. For instance, I know that King Cobra at King's Island is now just a memory, and I've been on that. I also know that there are probably a dozen or so 'other' rides that I have been on that aren't around any more, and I would like to keep track of that.
Oh well, I guess that is a "someday when I have free time" (AKA "nice thought") type of dream for now.
("Hi, Robbie.")
I met a couple of guys at Holiwood Nights (which was my first ACE event) who stared in disbelief when I told them that I didn't bother with the wild mouse at SFKK the day before. I just said, "Well, I don't really like wild mice all that much and there was kind of a long line and I was hungry and didn't want park food so I just left." Blank stares ensued, followed by, "What about the credit?" I hadn't really encountered this "credit" thing yet. I proceeded to NOT tell them that I had also left behind T2 (I haven't got time for the pain...) and Greezed Lightning (down when I walked by, but up as I headed out to my car). But I still consider myself an enthusiast. The only thing better than riding them, to me, is standing in line and chatting up someone who loves them as much as I do.
I've been to a couple more events since then and have met more cool, interesting people and far fewer assholes than this thread would imply that there are in these organizations.
My friends will not permit me to purchase a fanny pack, but there's nothing they can do to keep me away from gravy.
Thanks for letting me share.
>at the age of 7 years old, you wish rides would run at capacity, before you can even spell.
LOL... i was looking through my old journals from kindergarden [1st grade?] and I found the following entry on June 4th, 1993
I will go to daren lake.
ther are new rids at darereen lake.
I will go on the preader.
I hope ther will be two trans.
It will go fast.
I hop my mom will go on.
We will go on the new rids.
thought that was pretty funny... and you guys say the GP doesn't notice these things? (my parents were not coaster addicts like me). I wrote 7 entries on darien lake in a row... and that's all i really talked about in the journal since the season started, o geez... ; oh, and I apprently thought it was bumpy even back in '93, so maybe it wasn't any smoother back then =P
// Alan J
*** Edited 8/20/2006 1:48:05 AM UTC by SFDL_Dude***
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