Ignorance.
Of course I HAD to interject, as any of us would.
Hmm. I think this is where you went wrong.
Unfortunately, Real Life tends to intrude upon my "enthusiasm" more often than not. Between job duties, the kids, keeping the house standing, etc. etc. there just isn't time to do much more than visit the local park infrequently, and take a couple of vacations each year that may or may not involve a park somewhere. *** Edited 6/16/2007 2:16:02 PM UTC by Brian Noble***
I work with guys that recite the Indians, Browns and CAvs rosters for the last 8 years with each palyers individual stats. Now that's nerdy.
Great Lakes Brewery Patron...
-Mark
Not surprising to me (or probably anyone else around me), in my personality pitfalls, I will do the enjoyable thing over the thing I should be doing. So in the "Putting it Together" section of the book in Step 1 or so, it asked "How have your personality pitfalls affected you?"
It hurt (but was good to know) to write down answers like "I could've been writing new CDs/organizing/looking for more work/looking for a different job, but I went to the amusement park/s instead." or "I was on Coasterbuzz, other amusement websites etc. instead of doing other things." or "I could've paid down some more of my debt, but went to ten parks last year."
In fact, here I am writing this reply and I'm thinking "I should really be doing something else—like packing for the trip next week to KW, GL, CP, and KI. ;) Hey, the car is vacuumed and washed, so at least I've done something today before going to work.
My last thought on whether or not you should feel "ashamed" of your hobby comes courtesy of my extroverted, type-A middle sister Valerie . My younger sister Cindy once said to me something about coaster-geeks in a condescending fashion. Valerie snapped back with "And what hobbies do you have?" She really has none outside of reading books. Ouch.
I will sometime have small conversations with other people about coasters only if they bring it up, but I do not at all find it difficult to change topics. I can't say the same when I was a teenager. People couldn't shut me up when it came to coasters and in retrospect I admit it could have been annoying.
Now-a-days I can care less how tall or fast a ride is. Fun factor is what I find important. I'll still stand in line for hours to ride, but I go to parks for everything they have to offer, not just coasters.
I used to have a very bad attitude towards hobbies the majority of society got into like sports and automobiles. I came to the realization many years ago that it was *MY* hobbie that was strange, and thus I am the weirdo.
I have a 1963 Imperial convertible, and prefer old 50s and 60s iron (and early 70s) to the modern slabs of metal they call cars today.
Conicidentally, (maybe not) I prefer traditional parks like Kennywood, and I can't wait for Hershey and Knobel's next week, versus the unlit metal "slabs" they call rides at say, ...ok, I won't mention where again...
Other hobbies unclude old pinball machines, (once again, prefer the old electro-mechanicals) or photographing buses (yes, I said buses)... and there is a forum for "bus whackers" to discuss what bus got scrapped and what bus got repainted which color (I kid you not!) And emergency services and fire apparatus. (See www.hoopieworld.com)
Alas, I am approaching middle age. Ok, in my eyes, anyway. Many would say I'm already well there .(46). One thing I do notice, some of the topics have "overlapped" on the amusement ride, emergency services, and transit talk forums.... so is there some kind of common ground? Probably.
I like to read stats, and now I can pretty much recite the height, drop, length, etc. of every roller coaster since 1990. Just a little hobby of mine when I have the time. People think I am a "waste of brain" but they can just...
Now my son who is five lives for coasters. Every park we go to he is asking all the employees about the stats for the rides. How tall is the first drop? How fast does it go?, etc, etc. Most of the time they look at him like he's nuts and and say" I dunno." Some think he's a cool little kid and start talking it up with him. rcdb.com is in the kid's favorites on the computer.
Maybe its my fault. He has always been tall for his age. He rode the Phoenix at Knoebels in training pants. Who knows why we are the way we are. who cares, really. Nothing to hide or be ashamed of in my book.
When it comes to who manufactured what parts on what coaster, I don't care. I don't have a problem with someone who does know, as long as they don't think that knowledge makes them a more important person.
Truth is, no matter what your interests are, you're going to cross paths with someone you can define as an "enthusiass." Whether it be stamp collecting, music, sports, spelunking-- there's always going to be someone who thinks they know it all, and aren't afraid to tell you so.
I admit sometimes I feel embarrassed by someone's enthusiass behavior (in any field), but I'm more embarrassed for them. I never worry that someone's going to think less of me or associate me with that behavior because I happen to share the same interest as the know it all.
What is ironic here is that I've been corrected or taken to task on a few of my posts by people who insist they aren't enthusiasts (yet do seem to know it all and make sure everyone knows it). Like I said, it doesn't bother me, I'm just along to ride. I don't have a problem with enthusiasts. Now industry insiders-- that's a whole other story. :)
Yep. Mom even dragged my butt on the Zipper, which became my all time fave! She at that time would have been about my age now, maybe a couple of years younger. Pretty cool mom in her 40s to be riding the Zipper, I'd have to say! (This, of course, on about the third day of standing there in awe watching it torture it's riders and me not having the coco's to actually get on it. ) One ride and I wished I had jumped on at first sight!
I try to practice the same theory with my son, who is 9, and it works well. He loves most everything. The only ones he kind of has qualms about is the Pirate Ship and the Swing Shot, (he feels like is is falling out due to the extended "weightlessness"). But, to his credit, he got on and tried 'em. He loves some of the wicked stuff (even the Pittfall tends to freak ME out a bit, he adores it). Just trying to repeat some of what I thought was mom's good upbringing, I guess. Worked for me :)
RatherGoodBear said:
What is ironic here is that I've been corrected or taken to task on a few of my posts by people who insist they aren't enthusiasts (yet do seem to know it all and make sure everyone knows it).
I find that quite amusing as well. There are some who go to great lengths to distance themselves from the moniker of enthusiast (even as far as putting it in their sig line), yet they love to belittle someone who doesn't have the coaster knowledge that they do.
Anybody who thinks they are better than someone else because they know more about coasters is a truly pathetic individual in my eyes.
What does any of this have to do with correcting a hot chick? For the moment…I’ll throw my superficial attitude toward the superior sex aside and come at this from another direction.
Why correct anybody on “facts” if you have no close relationship with them to begin with? This is true no matter the subject matter. You only set yourself up for confrontation over something that is just not that important. Most of us here realize that in the modern era…the appropriate spot for confrontation is on the internet message board where risk of violence is low…and most importantly, you really don’t have to hang with the people you confront. In this case…the need to correct a co-worker leaves you in a position where there is good chance you will cross paths AND possibly have to deal with collateral damage from whatever perspective she deems necessary to blab to other co-workers. This is a messy situation created that need not be.
Now…back in character…since we are all donning true colors in the love-fest of a thread. I’ll shoot from the hip with nary a censor to the tongue/fingers…at least until I tire.
I love rollercoasters and I’m not ashamed. I’m bored with rollercoaster statistics and I could care a less. I’ve lost almost all urge to visit a Six Flags or Cedar Fair park. I think Disney is truly the happiest place on earth. I think Universal Studios Orlando is run worse than your average Six Flags Park but I will continue to go there because their attractions are so damn good. I think any participation in rollercoaster club activities is not cool to the general public. I think most of us realize that our little hobby is pretty geeky which is why so many of us do all we can to distance ourselves from “them.” I think that most men in coaster clubs have never been too lucky with the opposite sex. I think women are way more important than hobbies. I frankly have zero desire to form a personal relationship with anybody I meet through a message board as I find the thought rather creepy. I think Jeff is the most pompous jerk of a website administrator on the planet which is what makes his site so darnn interesting in the mold of a Simon Cowell. I think the plethora of personalities and disagreements on this forum are more reason for success than the content. I think…sorry got to go…Star Trek is on!
*** Edited 6/20/2007 9:54:14 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***
Because this is a coaster message board and the “personality types” prevalent have completely ignored this most important of truths to instead concentrate on the validities of debating coaster statistics and the waning enthusiast credentials of the aging club member.
Now tell me again why the general public thinks coaster enthusiasm is a bit geeky? ;)
*** Edited 6/21/2007 2:43:24 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***
But that's just me.
-CO
NOTE: Severe fecal impaction may render the above words highly debatable.
In any case, yah, the original poster seemed a bit confrontational. Could have phrased it, "Oh really? I understood that blah blah blah was the case...I wonder if it was an older program or something?"
This would allow the lifeguard to save face. Otherwise it just becomes a pissing contest.
Jeffrey R Smith said:
Missed this thread for a few days…and now everybody is denouncing their “enthusiast” credentials. Out of curiosity…are other coaster sites filled with so many non-enthusiastic enthusiasts? I say this in all sincerity as I’ve not visited another site in years as I’m already wasting too much life on the internet.
I know I'm not denouncing my coaster enthusiasm. I'm not ashamed to admit that I know the designers, manufacturers and even heights of most coasters in North America. I also happen to know the size of the engine installed in a 1997 Dodge Dakota, and might be able to tell you how much horsepower and torque it produces. Of course, to know those things is strange... unlike knowing Jorge Posada's lifetime batting average and how many home runs he hit in his rookie year ;)
I frankly have zero desire to form a personal relationship with anybody I meet through a message board as I find the thought rather creepy.
I usually get what you're saying, but you've lost me on this one. To me, people are the only reason I participate in internet forums. I don't set out to make a new friend, but if that happens, I'm certainly not going to be averse to it. I have no problem getting together with someone and talking about the common interest that we share, and I'm definitely not against getting to know more about that person. But maybe that's just me...
I don't bother memorizing statistics of coasters. Not that I don't care (sometimes I do and sometimes I don't), but that's what RCDB is for. I can free my mind for other things.
Dodge Dakotas built around the time of the switchover from the first generation trucks to the second generation ones usually used 3.9L V6s and 5.2L V8s, good for about 180 and 220 horsepower, respectively.
I couldn't even tell you the engine I have in my own car.
You must be logged in to post
