One TTD Media Day Shot to hold you over.

Paul Ruben is a tool. Not only does he say the same thing about every damn ride in the world, this asshole goes up in front of the entire line, some people call him on it, and he says to them, "Lines don't apply to me."

Jerk.

If I were really interested in getting some great sound bites from someone who has been on a lot of rides, I'd ask Bob Coker, who can actually write and form complete thoughts. I'll never understand why people put Ruben in every damn TV show. What the hell is Park World and who reads it? I've yet to speak to anyone who has even seen it. Do a Google search on his name and you'll see he's made a career of proclaiming every ride ever made the best ride ever. What's worse is that everyone quotes him in press releases.

Sorry, I just need to bring up this ARN&R story again...

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Noticed that the "stadium" style seating on TTD is defeated by the front row being a tall row....shame, because I feel like MF's 1-2 is the best excitement/wait ratio on crowded days.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph

"Lines don't apply to me"??? Are you freaking kidding me? That is the most enthuiasstic thing I've ever heard.

And to think I was a little excited when I saw his familiar face on a returning train.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Okay, if he said the whole "lines dont apply to me" bit, that *is* the statement of a jerk. But in reality, that is true. If the park allows him to be ushered to the front of the line, then indeed lines do NOT apply to him. A person would be a prentious prick to actually say such a thing, but that doesnt make it any less true.

I for one do not see the big fuss amoung enthusiasts over this guy. On tape, he doesnt seem any less coherent than any of the others they get for these shows. As a "celebrity", I conjecture that he gets the same amount of "perks" as many other celebs. I see DJs urshered to the front of lines often and we are not talking about media days, I'm talking about regular crowded summer Saturdays.

And why NOT put Paul on TV? You know exactly what you are going to get. A non-threatening, some-what personable figure, with an almost grandfatherly-like quality who will heap praise upon your park/ride. And who cares what the "industry" thinks of Park World magazine? These spots are for the GP. I know when I walk into my local Waldenbooks and scan the racks, I dont see tons of issues of Amusement Today or Amusement Business either. Park World, regardless of its true industry standing, is a completely believable, and official *sounding* magazine that will give credibility to Paul in the eyes of the masses.

And I'll tell you why BC isnt the person you'll see on the TV spots. Mr. Coker is a PHENOMENAL writer. I absolutely *adore* reading his allusions and illustrations. However, Mr. Coker doesnt have a "non-threatening" look. Honestly, it's more of a look that one would associate with a Trekkie. Now that's not meant as a knock (you all can see in my profile pic how much of a nerd *I* am), just truth. I just think that parks feel that Paul's look is "cherub-like" and thus more readily accepted by the "great unwashed".

Of course this could all just be baloney I pulled from my arse. In either case, I just dont understand all the ire towards Paul Rueben. Let's concentrate that ire at a more deserving source....THE FRENCH!

lata, jeremy

--who does not really hate the French

Parks like Paul because he will gush about their attractions no matter how good or mediocre they really are. Since he is editor of some obscure industry rag that sounds official, he gets instant credibility with people who aren't "in-the-know". It's all about good PR!

BTW, I'm now the publisher of Arcade World, ready to gush about manufacturer's latest arcade game masterpieces! Read my latest review here!

p.s. Nice sig ApolloAndy!

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Tim Brown (Cleveland Plain Dealer) about TTD: "Think of it like sex: a lot of anticipation for an instant of whoopee. But man, with whoopee this intense, who cares how long you have to wait?"

I think Jeremy nailed it (as usual). This guy delivers exactly what the parks want. It's rarely the most qualified person that gets the gig. There's too many variables (especially in mainstream media) and Rueben has them all. I don't think it matters if Park World is nothing more than two words on a business card, this guy weaseled his way in and we're stuck with him.

There's no excuse for being an enthusiass (God, I hate people like that) but I'd be out there schlepping "This is the single greatest coaster I've ever ridden. A perfect addition to the greatest park." praises on anyone who'd look my way if it got me half the access he gets.

However, I'm not exactly "cherub-like". The tagline on my interviews would most likely read "Serial Killer Enjoys Coaster"

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www.coasterimage.com

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2Hostyl said:
If the park allows him to be ushered to the front of the line, then indeed lines do NOT apply to him.

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True... but the operation here was very clear. If you were media waiting to get a spot, you entered up the employee stairs on the midway, not bypass the hundreds of enthusiasts and invited guests through the normal line.

I've personally never met the guy, but as a journalist I find his routine tiresome and not credible. Every quote sounds the same. The circulation count of his rag is unknown. The only credibility he has that he's been on a couple hundred rides, which doesn't mean much to me when every ride is "#1" or "best" or "raises the bar." I have a Web site that attracts a quarter-million visitors every month, but that doesn't make me an expert or credible.

As a person, I just find his behaviour in the above instance ridiculous, especially in the context that people waited for three hours. I don't care who you are, that's not how you treat people. Professional media people are not like that. Most like what they do and want to share your enthusiasm, not treat you like some second-class citizen.

And Coker was in a show recently, and he was far more insightful and had more to say than Ruben ever has.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Paul is a quote-whore, so of course he always gets on publicity spots. Just like Peter Travers gets his name in a lot of movie advertisements when he gives glowing reviews to horrid movies. It's mutually beneficial for them, the park gets someone saying great things about their ride, and he gets face time on TV allowing him to promote himself to other parks to say great things about their rides.

However, being a quote-whore means that everything he says is suspect. You can't trust him to say if a ride isn't good, so him saying a ride is great means absolutely nothing. That's why enthusiasts hate him, his words are empty and meaningless to them.

So here's the question: What coaster does Paul hate? ;)

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Love,
The Mole

I remember reading an interesting story once about Mr. Ruben...

Apparently, soon after SFO and it's three new coasters opened in 2000 Mr. Ruben called up the park and pressed them to give him a chance to tour the park and take photographs of the rides for Park World. He then showed up without any sort of camera and began demanding no-wait access to the rides. When the chaperone that the park had provided (and Paul apparently tried to claim he didn't need) refused his demands for such access...Mr. Ruben stormed out of the park and went home.

I guess SFO/SFWoA did nail one part of Public Relations right on target.

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James Draeger
-in search of a new signature

Actually, Paul's back on ARN&R! www.absolutelyreliable.com

Pure brilliance at it's finest.

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Corey
Parking-$7. Admission to BGW-$Free w/ Platnium Pass. Lunch at Trapper's Smokehouse-$13.
Graduating Anheiseur-Busch Beer School with 3 of your greatest coaster buddies-PRICELESS

I don't see what the big deal is about Paul even before this (minus the possible quote above). Usually the rides I see him talking about are some of the best or newest technologically out there and I'm not surprised he's making those comments. If you heard him call Iron Dragon, Flashback, or Windjammer the best coaster he's ever been on, that's another story. He seems rather harmless to me. I'm not going to dislike or be jealous of someone just because some parks give him extra benefits or that he thinks or says every coaster is the best.

Since this was brought up, did anyone actually think TTD "sucked" or was "horrid" and that any of Paul's comments about the ride were exaggerated or false?

But being an enthusiass is a completely different topic altogether.

-Danny

Hey there, i just thought i would add that TTD is getting lots of Tv coverage over here in Australia as well!!! It seems that roller coasters are still big news, especially when they are that big and fast.

Can't wait to ride it when i am over there in september.

G'day mate, saw TTD on 6pm Nine News here in Sydney. Kinda unusual as the networks never showed MF, however Goliath & X got airtime on their debuts which shows how much attention SFMM wants!

As usual the news got a few facts wrong; Top Fuel Dragster,120m/394ft, 200kmh/124mph - although it's said to be running that fast and AUS$130/US$81 for a go on this 17 second ride & no bloody mention it's a pay once ride all you like park!

$81 DOLLARS! HOLLY! It's only $44 for admission for one day!

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Love,
The Mole

Does anybody have a picture of paul ruben? I dont know him and I was wondering if I've ever seen him on a show.