Kinzel hints at 2011 ride in Sandusky Register

I'm sorry in advance for this, Carrie, I just couldn't pass the opportunity up...

Carrie M. said:
Maybe I'm just sensitive because I'm more likely to call it "the big swingy thing." :)

Doesn't this actually belong over in the gay thread? ;)

She said swingy not swishy.

The terms GP and enthusiast don't bother me. In coasters and amusement parks, there are various levels of interest and knowledge, just as in every other sport or hobby.

I follow minor league hockey. I have season tickets for a local team. There are people who might come to one game a year (the GP?) Many of them come just for something to do one night when there's a good giveaway, or as part of a group (company picnic?) They have no idea or interest what the team record is, who the opponent is, the names of any of the players, or even the rules of the game (mostly they just yell for someone to start fighting).

On the other hand, there are fans who not only go to every home game, but many away games too. They'll even take time off from work to go on a multi-day road trip across several states (sound familiar?), They know the stats on not only current players, but past ones. They know every team players have played for. They even know which referees are the worst ones. Some can be annoying with their spouting of statistics or the impatient "doesn't everybody know that factoid?" Others are actually a good source of knowledge for somebody new to following the game.

There are a few fans who think their high level of support for the team entitles them to special access to the front office, like they can dictate decisions the team makes. It's just one example, but it shows that there is a GP/enthusiast divide in just about everything.

We have to admit that because of our interest in coasters, and the fact we attend a great number of parks more often, there is a difference between us and the person who goes to a park once a year. Doesn't mean we have to act like tools because we have the knowledge and interest.

Agreed. I don't mind the term GP or enthusiast so long as neither one is used to indicate some level of superiority. It's an efficient way to differentiate those who know more about, or are more into, a particular subject and those who don't really have any strong opinion or such.

On a side note, does anyone remember that TR from a few years ago where that guy said he whipped out his ACE membership card on a couple other "GP" folks and it was like a drug bust? That I have a problem with. ;)

I don't think the difference is knowledge. I think it is passion. I think of "GP" as folks who consider a day at a theme park one of several potential nice ways to pass the time. I think of "enthusiasts" (or "fanboys") people who eat, sleep, and breathe it.

It's a spectrum, naturally, but it's an often effective shorthand.

Brian Noble said:
I don't think the difference is knowledge. I think it is passion.

That's a great way of putting it.

It's not about how much you know, it's about how much you care.

And the 'GP' doesn't care about the little things nearly as much as forums like this would have you believe.

I don't use the term "GP" to put them down, I use it to put us down.

How you can spot an entusiast vs member of the GP:

Enthusiast in 2010: Did you hear SFMM is going to run Superman The Escape's cars backwards?...not that it'll improve that Intamin POS!

GPer in 2010: I heard there's a new coaster at Magic Mountain that goes 100 mph? Have you ridden it yet?

Enthusiast: The OTSR's on that inverted coaster ruin the ride and if they ran different trains on their woodie I'd get more airtime. They ran with one empty seat on most trains which reduced capacity and a couple of coasters were only running one train.

GP: I really liked the coasters, can't wait to go back!

;)

Enthusiast: the rest of the ride after the MCBR grabbed was sluggish and lacked those pops of air time, while the trains were slowed down enough to feel jackhammering on the laterals.

GP: Wooden Coaster 1 is a really good value!

I really need to find a new hobby.

;)

Wooden Coaster 1 looks too intense for me!!!

Carrie M. said:
I really need to find a new hobby.

;)

Even consider being a Star Wars enthusiast?

That's what I did before I found CoasterBuzz.

Carrie M. said:
That's what I did before I found CoasterBuzz.

Oh.

Lord Gonchar said:
That's a great way of putting it.

It's not about how much you know, it's about how much you care.

When I first joined CoasterBuzz, my introductory post stated I didn't know much about the technical side of the hobby. I ride what I like and (hopefully) like what I ride. I consider myself an enthusiast, but I rarely use the term. But I like the line above, Gonch. That's the one thing we all have in common..we care about the damn parks, coasters, flats, and everything about the experience.

Carrie M. said:
That's what I did before I found CoasterBuzz.

I knew there was a reason I loved you! ;)

Me, or Carrie? (or both?)

Sorry, Moosh, but I only have a man-crush on you. With Carrie, it's the full-on deal. ;)

Awww, how sweet! I think it's only fair I tell you, though, I was just kidding about Star Wars. Please don't hate me for being an aruetii (or something.)

:) :) :)

My image of you is totally blown. I feel like a shaved Bantha. ;)