Showing my CoasterBuzz Pride

I think there’s a definite change in the air. This boomer is late to the party, but I just relatively recently discovered the reels, and I have fallen into that rabbit hole on many a night, consuming hundreds of the little buggers. Just think of what that medium has done for hard working, thoughtful fellows like Richard Bannister. Sorry, man.
Vines, Tik Tok, and reels are short, inexpensive, accessible, and often just plain accidental. Instant entertainment and even more instant gratification, requiring no work, no thought, and no time from the user or the producer.
Read? What’s that?

I battle with severe self loathing every time I go down the damn reels rabbit hole. It's a maddening time suck. It's like biting my nails--I don't even know I'm doing it until I've scrolled through 37 mindless videos that aren't even worth watching.

Same. It's frustrating but I also love laughing at dogs doing dumb ****. I refuse to join TikTok.

RE: Trip reports. If it's somewhere I am going soon, has something new, or if it is creatively written I will read it.

Vater:

37 mindless videos

In a row?!

Vater:

I don't even know I'm doing it until I've scrolled through 37 mindless videos that aren't even worth watching.

Wait - are you my wife????

Maybe?

Yeah, I won't install TikTok. I've mostly gone the opposite direction with social media. The doomscrolling wasn't good for me, and what I see does not actually interest or challenge me, it just wastes time. If I'm going to engage in passive entertainment, we seem to be in a new golden age of television (because of streaming), and there are a small number of YouTubers making really interesting and deep science and technology videos. Beyond that, I'd rather try to engage making more things.

This may be an unpopular opinion but there are entirely too many choices of what to watch. As I get older I seem to have less time and desire to start a new show. If I watch anything it tends to be reruns of the Office, Frasier, or Seinfeld. At least I know what I'm getting with those and I don't have to be fully engaged to enjoy.

Ditched Facebook 10 years ago, one of the best things I’ve ever done. Never had a Twitter account, never had TikTok. I don’t have a google account (I use hotmail) but I do waste a lot of time on YouTube. Still check out sites like this though, even if I don’t post much.

Even later than RCMAC to this party.

I joined Pointbuzz first, ran across it when you could start scouring the internet for "what's coming next" clues...no idea what ride was on the way, but that was also before we ventured off into the world and discovered parks beyond CP and Kings Island.

I remember joining here and just lurking for awhile. It was just...different...than other forums I had come across, and still is. In good ways.

Still don't why I used different names, but the same avatar, for the two buzzes.

Off the boards, I have had the unexpected opportunity to meet and get to know several of you, and aside from that one guy (you know who you are) it's been great.

Not to get repetitive, but this site is a crash course in how to learn how to respectfully disagree with others (or not and face the consequences by the neighborhood). I'm not kidding when I say that Coasterbuzz was actually my go-to during the pandemic to stay informed, because I knew the conversation was more nuanced and informed than 98% of the bull**** on the internets.

I'm late to the party and I thought I would just drop in to give another endorsement for quality over quantity. I read and semi-regularly post on just 2 message boards (this and one other), down from about a dozen or so 20 years ago. Both have just a fraction of the daily posts from a decade ago, but the tone, maturity, and quality of the discussion is light years ahead and a refreshing respite from the social media echo chambers.

A while back one of my best friends was devastated when one of his favorite websites closed down. He really liked it there, it was right up his alley, and he loved the conversations they always had. I tried to console him in a feeble way and he said “Look at it this way. What if CoasterBuzz closed down all of a sudden? What would you do?”
And I said “SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!”