The Enthusiaist Problem

I totally understand where the original poster here is coming from. I was never really THAT into the whole enthusiast scene to begin with, but to be quite honest, I have really moved a lot away from it, beginning last season and even moreso this one.

I haven't even been to an amusement park this summer, and I only really plan on going to one, which is Cedar Point in 2 weeks. And the only reason I'm excited about going there is because I'm going to be introducing someone new to the park where I worked and lived for 3 summers, and I'm excited to share that with him.

I think another part of my problem is the fact that other pursuits and interests have taken up the time and resources that coastering used to, like anime and DDR.

The bottom line is that a large part of the community, to me just ISN'T FUN ANYMORE and when you're in something for fun, and it stops being fun, it's time to bow out.

I still want to keep in touch with all of the people I've met through this hobby though. Tobe I know I'll always be in touch with you, you're one of my better friends even after all we've been through. Putz, haven't talked to you in ages, but then again I got a new screen name and I know how you don't usually respond to names you don't know. Others, message me every once in awhile, ask me what's up and I'll talk to you guys...I'm not as scary or mean as I may seem sometimes. AIM info is in profile.

This reminds me of the eagles... "After the Thrill is Gone".... now I got it stuck in my head... ahhhh the 80's ( ;

I've read similar posts to this in the past and I believe that if someone gets to this point they probably never were a Coaster Enthusiast - they're an Adrenaline Junkie. I would suggest trying to change your philosophy for riding coasters (not an easy thing to do) and look to something else to get the adrenaline rush. Something like skydiving comes to mind.

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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

I think it depends on where you are coastering. If I am experiencing a new park with all new coasters, then I tend to feel like I used to feel (i.e., nervous) before riding. I agree, that seems to really add to the overall experience, but just because I don't get very nervous anymore doesn't mean it still isn't fun.

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"That's DOCTOR Evil. I didn't spend six years in evil medical school to be called 'Mr. Thank You Very Much.'"

Some good therapy may be to attend an enthusiast event like SRM, where you can ride coasters with a large group of folks who share the same interest. This year's SRM was my first enthusiast event, and I honestly can't wait to attend another. I never expected to have so much fun and meet so many nice folks.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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After more than 35 years riding the coasters of Cedar Point, I still have fun and find them exciting every time I visit. I'm never bored at CP. If there are lines for some of the larger coasters (MF, Raptor, Magnum, TTD) I'm just as happy to ride the smaller ones.

I'm just now able to start visiting other parks and riding different coasters as well, so I guess that helps keep my "enthusiasm" fresh.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

I have always said that the day I become bored with a coaster is the day I decide to leave this hobby. Ever since I started to really get into coasters (June 16th, 1990, 4:30pm for those that are playing at home), I knew this was going to be something that I would have a hard time just "letting go."

Don't get me wrong. There are a select few coasters I have no desire to ride again. I am not bored of those rides. I just think they are not my type of ride.

I have never had the 'losing of a thril'l on any ride before. Perhaps it's just the way I look at a ride. I don't like to compare rides to other rides. I like to look at a ride for what it has to offer instead of what it doesn't. Since I started doing that, my love for this hobby has increased drastically.

I sometimes feel sorry for those people that get off rides and say things like, "Too bad. This doesn't feel anything like
(insert random coaster here.)" To me, they are depriving themselves of a better ride experience by doing that. To each his own.

When I took part in a coaster marathon that took place at SFOG a few weeks ago, I remembered a few people asking me if I was tired of riding the coaster so many times. I told them no. Even after the 360 laps, I wasn't bored of the ride. I guess it all depends on how you look at things.

My advice would be for you not to stop riding coasters but rather try and look at rides in a different way. That may help you out a lot.

After 12 rides or so on Dragster, I still get nervous like it was my first ride. I cherish those moments because they are rare for me, but I still find other rides thrilling even though I don't find them as scary.

-Sean (who thinks the word 'scared' will have a brand new meaning for him on Aug 12th.)

I guess I look at it differently. I rode the Blue Streak ever Summer of my life from the time I was big enough to get on it until I was 18 two or three times a trip two or three or more times a year. Did it get to not as scary ? Yes. Did it get boring? Never. See even though i had rode it so much there are certain things that always made it great.

I picked the BS because it is the most tame coaster I rode on a consistant basis. You see there were the things that you look forward to like the airtime on the hills and overall experience of the ride itself. There always seemed to be a father or mother that have their kid on there for the first "big" rollercaoaster ride. You would see that the kid is terrified to get on it but as you go through the ride you see that kids terror go to aprehension to outright excitement to be on the ride. While I may not have the same stomach churning thrill I can see it on that kids face and live vicariously through them because I know how that kid feels because I felt the same way when I was their age. C'mon how many of us have talked to a kid or their father before a ride and not smiled because we remember when we were that age? That is part of riding a coaster, not just adding to the count but seeing how everyone else reacts to the ride.

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DEK said:
I've read similar posts to this in the past and I believe that if someone gets to this point they probably never were a Coaster Enthusiast - they're an Adrenaline Junkie. I would suggest trying to change your philosophy for riding coasters (not an easy thing to do) and look to something else to get the adrenaline rush. Something like skydiving comes to mind.

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I don't think, for me at least, that this is necessarily the case. The main reason I was into this hobby so deeply was because of the community, I think, and since I have started to move away from the community, the hobby has lost a lot of interest to me.

I live in Oregon,so I am only able to ride 4-5 times a year. This keeps the ride experience fresh for me.

Like Rideman, I am also interested in the engineering and history of coasters as well as the ride experience. Coasters also fit in well with my other hobbies,model railroading and railfanning. Coasters are basically gravity powered railroads.

My prescription for you if the coaster experience has gone flat. Go to Vancouver BC and drive to 2901 East Hastings Ave.(PNE/Playland)and take a seat in the last car on Coasters' Prior & Church inspired trains. The thrill will be back! Just ask Nasai.:)

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Meet me at the PNE in 2003. Happy 45th birthday,Coaster!

I guess I am lucky in the fact that I am insanely afraid of heights (just ask a few of the people that walked up the stairs of Zoombabwe with me). This keeps the fear element in riding any coaster for me. I still get that rush of adrenaline. One of my favorite coasters to ride are the impulse coasters. I still walk off of them shaking (that is if I manage to fit in those tiny seats, I only get to ride about half the time). Last time I rode Millenium Force I had the shakes for about a half hour after I rode. I never felt so alive after that experience. One can only imagine what TTD would do to me...

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore