Kennywood - what's up with The Exterminator???

---

booberrylives said:

Maybe you can meet with the people who actually created and designed the ride...

---

You are currently speaking to one of those people.

---

Arguing back and forth because someone here works on the ride is pointless.

---

There's a difference between someone who works on the ride and someone, like me, who built the friggin' thing. I know more about that ride than everybody on this board put together. Don't believe me? I'll probably be the one who deletes your voicemail, too. :(

Wow, what a thread.

Ok, to be fair, booberry is new here and didn't know kpjp's position at Kennywood. However, the regulars here DO know that. Perfect textbook example of why one should always hang out and read a forum (newsgroup, mailing list, what have you) for a while, and get a feel for the place, before posting...

It's about time someone else had to take people's crap around here. :)

Joel: For the record, I don't care what effects work when I visit, as long as the ride itself operates. Best mouse ever!

---

kpjb said:

Don't believe me? I'll probably be the one who deletes your voicemail, too.

---

On it's own this quote is nothing special, but in context this is the single greatest thing ever typed on these forums.

---

kpjb said:

Don't believe me? I'll probably be the one who deletes your voicemail, too.

---

Nope, one of your fellow associates or maybe even your boss DID call me back today. And you know what, he was more professional, friendly, and businesslike than "everyboard on this board put together." He acknowledged every point I made about what wasn't working on the ride (how they recently fixed the fog machines, that quite a few of the other effects were still down including slime alley and the rat arm, etc. and that they were trying to deal with all these issues). That's how mature people handle a comment, question, or complaint, especially in business. Once again, Kennywood shines in this regard.

I'm sorry to say that I have found this whole group to be extremely juvenile - rallying up when they feel like they don't know as much as the op, suckering up to a creator of a popular ride to look good, or for whatever reason challenging anyone who brings up a question or comment that they don't agree with or know nothing about. Fine, that's cool. Enjoy it. Have a great time here.

I finally found out what I originally asked about on this thread. Not from anyone here who are basically just grand-standing, but directly from a ride-tech supervisor who had the maturity and decency to call me back long-distance to tell me the truth and to basically corroborate what I said wasn't working on the ride all along. And nope, it's not because kids were scared. It's just because things aren't currently working and they are aware of the issues and are working to remedy this situation. Cool.

Have a happy life, fellows. Enjoy the rides. I hope you have more fun at the parks than you do ripping into people on these forums. Life is short - what goes around comes around. I have no more roller-coaster questions. If I ever do, I'm going right to the top instead of the back alleys. Peace-out.

jeez! booberry, i hope you know you sound like a total jerkwad. every one of your posts has been overflowing with jackassery. and by the way, before you try to use your bizarro-logic trick of discrediting me by clicking on my profile and reporting how many posts i've made, let me save you the trouble and say it's not that many. i'm truly a casual, objective observer here, and i can say with confidence that you're looking dumber than a bag of hammers. each post you make is deepening the hole you're digging.

Perhaps it's your attitude here which has been rather hostile that has led to the "juvenile" attitudes you think you have received.

I agree it's always nice to expereince a dark ride with all the effects working. But that is the nature of the beast. There isn't a single dark ride that I have ever been on where something isn't amiss at one time or another. It's not easy keeping all that stuff working each day. To get that worked up over something that happens on all dark rides is a little bit much.

Write a letter perhaps, but a phone call? Could you imagine if every coaster nut called the parks about each little thing? Not only would that be incredibly distracting, but we'd also end up looking like exactly that to the parks....nuts.

I second the guy who called you "asshat". Use your brain for something better like business school at your local community college.

LOL!

You guys are too funny.

Exterminator rocks (with or without effects...could care less) but it can't hold a candle to the new Mousey at Del Grosso's as far as intensity.

-Tina

P.S. Welcome to Cbuzz booberry! :-)

*** Edited 8/4/2004 9:51:59 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

If things go according to plan, I'll be at DelGrosso's for a little while tomorrow. Knowing the mouse there runs well makes that all the more likely -- thanks Tina!

---

booberrylives said:

...one of your fellow associates or maybe even your boss DID call me back today...they recently fixed the fog machines, that quite a few of the other effects were still down including slime alley and the rat arm, etc. and that they were trying to deal with all these issues).

---

Hmmm... so in essence, he said exactly what I told you around the top of this thread. The rat arm's broke, the fog was recently fixed. Maybe he treated you more businesslike because you didn't challenge him on everything he said.

That is, of course, if the call did in fact take place...something I'm sort of skeptical of since there's only one fog machine (you pluralized it) and since I've never heard anyone in the park refer to a "slime alley." (There is a "slime light", but that's worked all year.) It seems coincidental that when you realized who I was that you suddenly got a phone call from someone who just happened to agree with everything you said.

---

booberrylives said:

peace-out.

---

Indeed.

When I rode Exterminator in May/June, I remember thinking that the ride was eerily silent in the "main" room. It was somewhat cool just hearing us squeel, but I would have rather hear/saw other stuff.

Alright, im gonna go out on a limb here, and just say it. A lot of people in this thread have indeed acted VERY Juvinile, just as booberry said. KPJB, you included. I did not have the oppourtunity to Ride Exterminator when I was at the park this year, but I do recall with absolute certainty, that while going up the lift hill, about half way up, maybe a little more, there is an extermanitor that talks and moves, cant remember for sure if he shooted steam at you, but I think he very well might have. I remember this VERY well from when I rode the ride my first time, in its very first season in 1999. And Ive been back to Kennywood every year since then, minus 2002, and not once in those 3 years(like I said, I didnt ride it this year), was that exterminator working properly. In fact, every time besides that first ride, it wasnt even lit up. I mean, you couldnt even see it...its about 2 feet away from you going up the lift hill, and youd never know it was even there. Dosent make a sound, and surely dosent move. Has this been changed since I last rode it in 2003? I have no clue. Has it operated properly at all since its first season? I have no idea on that either. All I know is what I said allready...it hasnt worked ANY of the times ive rode it since that first season. Im not all that familar with most of the other effects.

Anyways, bottom line, it is indeed dissapointing that all the effects dont work properly. It was a very neat ride that first season, and while its still good, it just isnt quite the same without a lot of the effects working. Some people here need to try a little harder at respecting the opinions of others. I mean, I admire booberry, faced with criticism from so many of you, im suprised he kept his composure for as long as he did. At least he tried to be nice, and disagree in a kind manner, but you guys just kept bashing him to no end. Booberry did eventually lose it in the end, but I cant blame him. Anyone would lose it when faced with all that bashing. I feel sorry for him. He knew what he saw, he knew what happened...I mean hes obviously not some idiot 12 year old. I feel like us rollercoaster fans are better people that those that posted here. Maybe im wrong.

Way to go! Glad we got rid of another new guy. You guys certainly showed him how uncool he was! :-)

I wouldn't consider what I did bashing or juvenile, Jason. He asked a question and I answered it to the best of my ability.

His question went unanswered for three days. I figured I'd let him know what was going on. He simply would not believe the answer to the question he asked.

This was my response:

---

I said:Hmmm... I'm not sure what sirens you're referring to... the sound in the Exterminator is digital, and can't be altered, so the sounds that are there now are the same as they've ever been.

The fog machine was broken earlier in the year, but as far as I know has been working ever since it was fixed last week.

The only trick that I know of that isn't working is Sally's Rat Arm trick... that'll be looked at in the off season.

---

Pretty concise. He chose to argue with people who know much more about the subject than him. I'll be courteous to anyone, but if you try to pick a fight or question me, all bets are off.

I'll stand by my assertions that the boiler room sign never blinked, there were never different sound effects or buzzers in the ride, and that the fog had been repaired since he had ridden.

Everything else on the last page was self-inflicted.

Ok you two, please explain what I said that was juvenile that brought on a creepy stalker-esque investigation into my number of posts on this site and the following accusations about me based on said post count (which if you calculate it out is less than 2 posts per day, hardly qualifying as "always here" or "obcessed"). I tried to partially agree with the guy, he twists what I said to support his viewpoint, and when I point out that Kennywood execs and customer service have much better things to do (like say, run a park?) than answer some guy's complaint about a ride being great, but not perfect, I get stalked and attacked. And we're the juvenile ones?

The guy (kpjb) built the damn ride. He know's what's up with it.

**Warning: Juvenile moment to follow**
Jeffery take your 338 wood and shove it, ok? No one said we were too cool, we were supporting the guy who built the ride and trying to show this new guy LOGIC ... but I guess it would be a lot "cooler" to listen to some whiner who bothers Kennywood about a ride when he doesn't even frequent the park that much than listen to a guy who built/maintains the ride, huh?. Oh well, guess we are cool, and you're not. Now I'm going to enjoy my pancakes ...

Actually it is 339! They have not added Avalance to the track record yet! :-) They are not all wood. Wood is just my preference in coasters.

CB is such a friendly place if we just know who works at what park and who has friends working at another park, etc....

Too bad the new guy will never learn the secret handshake! Soldier accused booberry of being on acid did not have one person (even jan) tell him he was out of line. Yet I make one sarcastic remark and am told to “shove-it!” Soldier must know the secret handshake or at the very least know somebody that works at a park which would immunize him from the sarcasm and downright rude treatment so many get on this board. The inside jokes and super secret cliques have gotten stale. It is too bad that so many cannot see the double standard applied to who does and does not get a free pass in CB.

Booberry seemed like a good guy who had legitimate takes and links to back his claims. For whatever reason, some of you took it upon yourselves to make him look and feel like an idiot! He tried to be polite, yet firm in his take, and you guys turned it to personal insult. So now we’ve lost a guy who could have added some diversity of thought to the board. I find this very sad.

Preach on jason---I agree. Booberry---I doubt you come back and who could blame you!

Uh oh...here comes the bait again. To be honest Jeffrey, although I thought the acid comment in bad taste, I wasn't sure Soldier was joking in a friendly way or baiting him.

I agree that many folks here tend to over-react (myself included) and get into feeding frenzies. I too have been the victim of snappy people. But to generalize that the entire board is the same way is ludicrous. And when you go making snotty little remarks like that, what do you expect? Honestly?

Rude treatment? From what I've seen, the rudeness exhibited here is usually in response to some other rudeness...wouldn't you agree?

Perhaps if you quit being nasty around here (name-calling, blanket statements, etc.), you'll find it a very friendly place no matter what your opinions are. You went wrong assuming that people don't like you because you have a different opinion than many people. The real reason you get so much heat is because of your nasty attitude.

*** Edited 8/4/2004 10:53:50 PM UTC by janfrederick***

Ummm... It didn't sound to me like the guy was interested in being here anyways. His only objective here at Coasterbuzz was to start this ONE topic. He said it himself.

I really don't think that anyone ran him off. It wasn't his plan to stay.

CoasterqueenTRN, You finally got to ride DelGrosso's Crazy Mouse. Isn't it great? I rode it the day after my Kennywood trip last month and it was very interesting to ride them both so close together. As much as I like Exterminator, DelGrosso's Mouse seems much more intense. It's also nice to see people's faces and hear their screams while watching the ride.

*** Edited 8/5/2004 12:31:13 AM UTC by dexter***

Jan:

I agree with your takes! I'm a little too bitter! I did not start out that way back when I started on CB. It has developed over time. This post is a perfect example. I can see why people are short with me as I've obviously had enough and ruffled some feathers, but what did booberry do? He came with a legitimate post and put a lot of energy in it. Whether you agree with him or not, he showed a lot of passion. Look what happened to him. This is the exact type of thread that has made me quite disgusted with those who post regularly.

I've seen guys shouted down and run off for simple spelling errors. It is obvious that on any coaster issue that in any way might have any political component to it (lawsuits, weight issues, etc) that only a certain take on a certain side of the political spectrum is readily accepted. There is no diversity of views. It is moderated in a very short and deliberate way. It seems to me, that the vast majority has fallen in line with a very narrow range of likes and ideas. I've been threatened to be banned from CB for using the term "fatty" while at the same time having my legitimate thread about KBF hijacked by those who used sexual (gay) innuendo. Apparently my takes are offensive, but the other stuff is not. This does not mean I care a bit about the innuendo, as I don't. They have the same right to speak as I feel I should.

I just think CB has become very cliquish and unwelcoming to anybody new. Frankly, most new posters do not or care who works at what park of who has friends at what park. I've been here for 2 years and until today had no idea who kpjb is or let alone that he worked at KW. That is great for kpbj, but really means nothing to booberry! It took me 3 months to know Jeff was actually the owner/moderator (?). I just thought he was another poster who had some stuff I agreed with and other stuff I did not. When I disagreed with Jeff, there was an onslaught of Jeff defenders that came out of the woodwork. I can certainly see how this type of behavior may just make some people decide to leave CB all together. What good does this do? Certainly, it is not too welcoming to new club members to have so many inside jokes that are impossible to decipher. Pancakes anybody? It is just not a very welcoming place and seems to be full of people who are quick to chastise. Those without thick skin certainly will not last long here!

You seem like a pretty cool person jan! I'm sorry if I've offended you. I just ask that IF you are going to call me out for my offensive takes which certainly may come again, then try to offer some balance when those who know the secret handshake are offensive too!

P.S. What have you got against Barney the Dinosaur? :-) Ruthless inside joke that should not be included!