What I see on this board disturbs me to no end. Frequently, over the past few weeks, there have been several news items about injuries and law suits involving coasters. What I see in response to them, especially on this board, I find really disheartening.
We all know that rollercoasters are safe, and the public knows that, too. When someone attacks the safety of amusement park rides, we all come to the defense, because we all know that rides are overwhelmingly safe. BUT, some people ARE injured, or killed on rides, believe it or not. We saw plenty of it last year.
Some of these law suits may be legitimate, some may not be, be we are not scientists, and we are not lawyers, and we are not judges. It seriously pisses me off when somebody reports a new law suit against a park, and so many people on here are so quick to make fun of the victim, claim that the victim is out for a "quick buck" or that the vicitm "only wants attention." WE DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE, AND WE DON'T KNOW THE FACTS OF THEIR CASE.
Just because we like coasters, so many of us tend to put parks on such high pedestals. So many of us read one thing about an injury in a park, and immediately assume that it is not viable, or it HAD to have been the fault of the rider, but you know what? We just don't know, but so many of us are so quick to make our own assumptions, just because we like coasters, which in the end, doesn't have anything to do with anything. Just because you know a lot about coasters does not mean that you are anymore intelligent, or smart, or qualified to make desicions about law suits against parks.
So, what is the effect of this? Personally, I would hate to think what would happen if a casual visitor visited this site and saw some of the things you people say. When you actually MAKE FUN OF, and RIDICULE people who are injured on rides, or claim to have been injured on rides, it sheds a negative light on coaster enthusiasts everywhere, and all the rest of just want to ride coasters, and enjoy them. People will see the things a few of you are saying, and make assumptions about the whole coaster community, and that really scares me.
Thanks for reading.
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WARNING: THIS POST MAY ACTUALLY INCLUDE SARCASM AND OR HUMOR. PLEASE CONSIDER BEFORE RESPONDING.
Good point.
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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!
http://www.woodencoaster.com
As I have said before, there are unforgivable lapses on the part of parks. In these cases, law suits are appropriate. There is no excuse for the use of incorrectly sized hardware, antirollback dogs made of the wrong material, and I'm sure I could find numerous others. The recent suit won against Great Escape seems to have been legitamate for example.
I try to avoid "making fun" of people, but it does seem that there are many frivolous law suits filed against parks. In some ways the most tragic may well be those cases when someone has a serious problem that they are searching for for cause to go with and latch on to their ride on a coaster, minor car accident, medical test, or other item as a cause for their pain, when no one really knows.
Think Happy toughs
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True of all great coasters of the past and present, and future
it's a ride you'll remember for the rest of your lifeand probably will want to ride again.
I think it's really like the issue of operations... There's a big difference between a small error or problem and a doctor's malpractice. You could probably relate these to coasters, as the malpractice being in small traveling carnivals that do not inspect their rides.
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
