Park Enthusiasts or Snobs?

I have noticed the banter on this page and have made some observations. I also made the same observations while working at a park.

I suddenly see these people filtering into parks. Not being able to enjoy anythin because they are their to judge more than they are to have a good time. They go into a park looking for problems. While the general public enjoys themselves, these people just comment on every little thing.

I consider myself an enthusiast. However when I go to a park I try to objectively enjoy the park. While I see these people be overlly critical of everything.

My question is do you believe some people like commenting on parks more than they like to visit them? If so don't you think this is snobby. Parks have always been a place to escape. Now these so called enthusiasts (a new breed, not your common enthusiast) seems to have become fine wine experts and not roller coaster fans.

Love the sig, thogh the fanboys around here will be on you in an instant.

Second, I get the feeling that this might close since ______ doesn't like negative things.

Third, Enthusiasses are the worst to come across. I don't care if I'm in line with one or walking and being bumped into by one. They think that parks must live up to their ratings only and as best shown by a recent Coastermania, they will ***** and moan until they get their way, thinking something is owed to them.

Last, enthusiasts, enjoy the park for what it is, enjoy the coasters for what they are and by all means, they have fun. (without breaking any rules).

"Fanboys", eh?

It seems that you're the one with Cedar Point in your name, and you're calling other people fanboys??....

Oh Yeah...and Top Thrill Dragster did work, I managed to get a number of rides on it this past season. (just an FYI...)

Josh *** Edited 1/6/2004 5:11:33 AM UTC by Raven-Phile***

Yes I have Cedarpoint in my name. I'm impressed you can read. but when was the last time you saw me defending the "hallowed" and "holy" park? I thought so.

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CedarPoint_Mark said:
I'm impressed you can read

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Hoohoo , Jerk.... Seriously, that was ice cold.

This topic can really do one of two things. Either...

1.It will be closed(not likely).

2.It will become one of those classic uber-topic descussions that has 7 plus pages.

I do believe some people go to parks looking for things to hate. I have been one of those people. I went to SFKK looking for a bad time. I rode Chang. Not Bad. I rode T2. Not bad. I rode Thunder Run. INFREAKINGCREDIBLE! The park had me from there. I ended up having a great time , with many memories, and a few rides cracking my Top-Ten lists.

The best thing to do is to know that something about this park is supposed to be bad, then focus on the other stuff.

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Plus, I was desperately afraid of the thought of riding SOB, and it ended up being my absolute Favorite Coaster.

Mark's signature shows just how amazing his character is that he can't stay away from that which he doesn't like. Anyway...

Enthusiasses/snobs have been around since forever. The worst of them don't even post on the Internet, so in that respect, they've got a one-up on the people who complain about the people who complain.

However, such people are precisely the reason that I'm not terribly social in enthusiast circles unless there's alcohol to be had (though I'm not going to drink that nasty stuff that Nasai totes around to campgrounds).

One of the pioneer's of the industry, mlariccy, went to parks just to identify problems. He took those problems, eliminated them, added some magic and created Disneyland.

If WoA would have taken the time to listen to some enthusiasts, or did some research, they might not be in the position they are in today.

Something Cedar Point did years ago, though they haven't done it for quite some time, is they sent their employees to other parks. It was considered a business trip so they could see what was going on, pick up on some things that worked and some things that didn't, and see how their park might benefit from the ideas.

People who like music critique new CD's. People who like movies critique the latest blockbuster. Their are sites devoted to picking apart just about every aspect of American life. We like amusement parks. We like to chat about what is working and what isn't in the industry. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

Saying, "Six Flags Sucks" is snobby and really doesn't add anything to the conversation.

It's true that the worst of 'em don't even bother complaining on message boards. Most of them have been banned from various boards anyway.

The simplest way of handling the enthusiasses is to just NOT hang with them or go away on your own if they start doing something or complaining about something that you would rather not be associated with.

I would rather be by myself than hang with people who constantly complain or look for trouble at parks. Luckily it not too hard to hook up with more positive/fun people to hang with, especially at events.

I go to a park to hang with friends, play games, ride coasters, and just appreciate the visit. Parks are NOT a place for politics and troublemaking.

You guys also have to remember that the general public can be just as idiotic. How many of times have you seen them breaking park rules or acting like arses?

-Tina

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CedarPoint_Mark said:
I'm impressed you can read.

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hurr hurr hurr - the kid's a comedian, too.

I'll have to agree with Tina, I go to CP sometimes just to relax and shoot some video/take pictures. Granted I won't leave without taking a ride or 2, but that's beside the point. I, however, HATE being by myself at parks. I'm a very social person and I can't stand not having anyone to talk to.

Skipper has a great point as well, everyone critiques the things they like, so why shouldn't we? When I'm not having a good time at a park, I'm going to speak my mind about it.

-Josh

I personally hate being around enthusiasts...for the most part. Because if they are not crying about this or that, they are going...look at me, I'm so cool, I one clicked the lap bar and now I'm going to undo my seatbelt and raise my legs up on the hills. But in defense of those good ones, the ones out there who don't run off stats, or tell you in every detail why B&M coasters are better and so on. I like those people. Id say about 85% of enthusiasts I meet in the parks are people I would never spend a day at the park with.

I'm not a snob. I just hate coasters and parks. And I'm better than you because of it.

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Id say about 85% of enthusiasts I meet in the parks are people I would never spend a day at the park with.

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Hmm, not that I'm anti-social or anything, but I think that percentage would apply to the general population...in my case anyway...

As for the original post, I think that most hobbies have an element of extremists. It has nothing to do with coasters/parks, and everything to do with needing to see a shrink, or, in Jeff's case, needing a stiff drink. ;)

And Jeff/Nasai, what was it? Wasn't Cusano Ròjo was it? ;)

I'm not going to bother thinking up some comment on Mark, hey, his first name is Cedar Point too....wonder if he has a nutty brother?

I NEVER EVER EVER NEVER go to a park to be a critic. I've only ever been to Myrtle Beach's parks, SFA, SFGAm, PCar, PKD, PKI, Kennywood, and Camden once when I was young. The only time I've ever had problems with a park was SFGAm. Not that there was anything in particular, It was just a case of anticipointment. That was 4 years ago, and I know I could go back now and have lots of fun. I think part of it was the group I was with and other outside circumstances.. The coasters there were fun, but I just felt Bla about the place all day. Even so, I didn't go to a site and whine about it. I did a TR on my website, and The only thing I really said was I wasn't impressed.

There are always good and bad things I see at a park. If I see something that I feel is a problem, I have no qualms about going to Customer Service and reporting it, if it deserves to be reported(extremely rude people, unsafe behavior, and the like). Thankfully the times I've went to Customer Service to Brag on a park have greatly outnumbered the times I've complained.

I feel that the Entusiasses that complain about every thing must enjoy being in a pissy mood, so if that is how they have fun, let it be, I've given up on saying anything.

Parks, just like any business, aren't perfect. Like a Wal-Mart being out of stock on an item I want(not Need), some parks are gonna have issues with rides. I've still not riden Hypersonic, but that wasn't the only reason i went to PKD. The only time I'm gonna go to a park for One ride, is if I've been to the park alot, rode all the rides before, and am just going for the new exp., and even then, if its a good park, I'm gonna have fun.

I'm not a fanboy of any park. I've liked all the parks I've been to equally for some reason or another, and I'm sure I'll always find good in every park I go to. If I go to a park that is really dirty, not run well, has rude people, is unsafe, etc., I just won't go back. I may give a warning to people on here saying whats going on, but I'm not gonna whine.

Thats just me... *** Edited 1/6/2004 3:18:51 PM UTC by TeknoScorpion***

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TeknoScorpion said:
I'm not going to bother thinking up some comment on Mark, hey, his first name is Cedar Point too....wonder if he has a nutty brother?

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Hey I've met the kid in person once, he's not a 14-year-old Jeff stalker.

ANYWAYS, enthusiasses just seem to be the type of people who enjoy being angry and pissy. They're like park trolls who can't stop complaining.

You know what's just as bad as an enthusiass?

Some thin-skinned person who can't handle soemone else's opinion of their local park; as if, "Hey, Cedar Flags Worlds of Whatever sucks" means they smell funny and nobody likes 'em much. You know, I'm actually starting to think it does already! What makes you think I have to accept your opinion? I don't have to like what you like or be impressed by it one bit. Whether or not you choose to be a doormat is up to you--but I'm not obligated to crawl on all fours sniffing for daisies or excuse service that I believe to suck. Where am I, The Emperor's New Amusement Park?

Get over yourselves, for crying out loud. Yeesh.

-CO

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CoastaPlaya said:
but I'm not obligated to crawl on all fours sniffing for daisies or excuse service that I believe to suck
-CO

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I can agree with that statement easily. Its like the whole WoA thing. I've never been there, but if I were to go, I'd be going to ride rides. I don't think you should have to go "sniffing for daisies", going to a park should be easy fun(meaning, you should have an easy time having fun). If the service totally sucks, and this is what you've heard from other people, why not warn people what to expect when they go.

I know that when I go to WoA this summer that I'm not going to expect anything(I'm not going to expect the worst from what I've heard, I just won't have any expectations), and if the park is good, I'll comment on it. If the park is bad, I'll do the same, but I'm not gonna come on here and do a long post about how the park sucks, is gonna close, mgt. needs to go, etc.

Eventually any park not doing good is going to lose enough business that they'll either a) shape up or b) ship out.

I've been to the Emperor's New Amusement Park. It sucked. One train operation, little or no food stands open, everyone was smoking, and the clientele was ... well, less than desirable.
*** Edited 1/6/2004 3:53:55 PM UTC by Gemini***

janfrederick - Nasai was drinking Wild Turkey.

mOOSH

I prefer not to associate with enthusiasts. For the most part the ones I run into are complete morons, with the mentality that the park was built for them and them only and having to wait in the queues is absurd. Plus a good number of them are really rude. This is not to say all enthusiasts are that way, but a small number is all thats needed to show negativity. Lets face it idiots come in all races, religions, classes, and ages. But I will say of all my hobbies and the people I interact with for them coaster people have to be the absolute worst hands down. My main problem was during CM @ CP you have handicaped people trying to make their way up the exit ramps to ride, you have the riders exiting down the ramps, then you have the enthusiasts running them both over to get up the ramp to use there vip or whatever there called passes. As if waiting behind the kid limping up the ramp is really going to put you out. I would think that as a so called "enthusiast" shouldn't you hold yourself above the rest of the idiots.

Ugh... that's the stuff! It smelled like car wax!