The term "Gravy Buffet"

How true.

I guess it's bad to 1) Talk coasters while at an amusement park; 2) Associate with coaster enthusiasts; 3) Claim to be a coaster enthusiast; and 4) Show passion for amusement parks, but it's okay to spend time on a coaster website? Does the whole technology aspect of internet enthusiasm cancel out the geekiness of the hobby?

I guess I should clarify. The wording was bad Judgement on my part.

I enjoy a bit of trivia, but I am no complete encyclopedia of Coaster knowledge.

My buddy and I were repeatedly insulted by bold comments such as "you do not deserve an ace card if" you did not know this or that fact. A joke I can take no problem, but insulting tones of voice and elitist attitudes are a whole different thing.

We were both told that we did not deserve Ace cards because we had not been to a specific park (at that time). I cannot remember what park, perhaps Holiday World or Knoebles. I admit, there was a joke made about "handing over your ACE cards" but it went to far.

Among other things, I have a hard time grasping the concept that they (and many other ACE Members) have that a park OWES them something. The fact that they had to wait in line and were not allowed to choose their seat was appalling to them.

I guess I should also mention that this instance was just one of a few at different parks and some events. The "Pulling out of the Ace Card" is not just a joke, it is based in reality for some individuals.

I thought ACE was for people who enjoy Coasters, not only for people who know every in and out about them and have to be consumed by them all the time.

I understand there are many decent ACE members, my apologies to them. It is unfortunate that there are so many Asses that affect the image of the entire group. I just chose to not be associated with ACE anymore.

*** Edited 9/4/2007 9:40:13 PM UTC by James K***

Thanks for clarifying. That being the case, I don't blame you for being disgusted with ACE because of the members you came in contact with. Those are the types of enthusiasts that give ACE a bad name. No one should be ridiculed because they haven't visited a specific park or ridden a specific roller coaster, especially when a lot of ACE members aren't able to see past Cedar Point, Kings Island and Magic Mountain.

Years ago I was friends with this guy that went to a well-known and well-respected amusement park (not going to mention any names) and wanted to take a bunch of pictures. He contacted the park ahead of time and kindly asked for an escort "behind the scenes" so he could photograph the coasters from beyond the midway. The park kindly declined, stating that walkbacks only make sense when large groups are involved. He should have ended it there but didn't, having gone to the park and treated himself to his own behind the scenes tour before getting caught, then caught again. Both times he threw into the conversation that he was an ACE member. I stopped going to parks with him when we went to another well-known and well-respected park and he put up a huge fight over one-train operation on the park's signature coaster, saying that he traveled from far away (he didn't- the park was local to him) and that the second train should be added since he was an ACE member.

Those are the types of ACE members that give the club a bad rep, but there is more to it than just ignorant buffoons. ACE distributes some excellent publications and there are many ACE members that do not fit the mold of the stereotypical spoiled loser.

When an ACE card means THAT much to you...you aren't playing with a full deck :)

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Rob Ascough said:
ACE distributes some excellent publications

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Are they on time now? I always talk crap about that but for all I know maybe they took care of that a long time ago. Just curious.

^Re: ACE Publications. "On time" is a different concept in the Internet Age. The news items may be mostly "old news" to those of us in cyberspace by the time we get hand-held publications, but the pictures are really good, and the writing is well-done. They are also doing a much better job the last couple years of sticking to a tighter distribution schedule. I wasn't planning to relate this story, but now it seems like "You Asked For It". ;)

I didn't receive my last quarterly magazine (the ones with the sweet color pics) when my friends started talking about it. No worries, I was headed out for vacation anyway. When I got back after my long trip (TR honestly is coming soon, LOL), the latest newsletter had arrived, but still no quarterly. I e-mailed an inquiry, which was forwarded to the correct person and I got a phone call getting my address for the re-mailing....within 2 days I think. A couple days later, the publication was in my hands. Promptness has improved greatly, and service levels were VERY high.

That's just my experience.

Re: "Gravy Buffet". Whatever. If making fun of someone else for whatever differences they have gets you jollies....well....you know where I'm going with that.... ;)

P.S. "Gravy" (no buffet) has been morphed over time into a term referring to all sorts of prizes and goodies parks hand out at events. Also referreed to as "trinkets", "shwag", "souvenirs", and at various events, "booty".

JamesK, you can hang out with more laid back ACE peeps like me. :) I won't flash my card, nor do I like gravy. ;)

You are always going to see the good, bad, and ugly of ANY enthusiast club, whether it's coasters or anything else.

I have made a LOT of quality friends since I got into this as a main hobby. 99% of my friends are in it just to hang out and have fun, nothing more. You just have to learn to surround yourself with positive people and avoid the drama. I can't say a bad thing about ACE. I am not ashamed to say I have been a member for seven years. I LOVE Rollercoaster! and I love a lot of the events, primarily the smaller, Regional events. ACE first got me interested in preservation of the smaller parks.

I am a member of about five clubs, including Buzz and few private/public clubs. I think it's fun and it hasn't made me jaded like it has a lot of other peeps I have seen. I don't take it seriously. I mean why get jaded over a HOBBY? It doesn't make sense. :)

I am just fussier about what I like and don't like as far as coasters. ;)

That's just my two cents. ;)

-Tina

*** Edited 9/5/2007 12:40:00 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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matt. said:

Are they on time now? I always talk crap about that but for all I know maybe they took care of that a long time ago. Just curious.

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Actually, I'm not really sure. Years ago the publications ran hideously behind schedule but things seemed to improve in recent years. Maybe I was just more on top of that sort of thing years ago because the occasional ACE mailing was my only roller coaster fix. Now in the internet age, a plethora of info is available instantly so it's not like I need those publications, it's just nice when they arrive. I'm thinking they're pretty much on time, or close to it.

James K., you misquoted me. I think you made a little quoting mistake. :)

WildThingNative, I wasn't joking at all. "Why" oh "why" must everyone be so judgmental around these boards? Sometimes CoasterBuzz makes me smarter and sometimes it encourages me to dumb myself down to the emotional level of a 12 year old.

I don't need to look at my self esteem especially lately. I'm doing extremely well in that department.

A friend of mine who was an Acer and overweight just died in a car accident last week. Let's laugh at how fat he was, and that he didn't get to ride half of the coasters he wanted to before he died due to his weight problem. Isn't that the funniest thing you have EVER heard?...

There's a big difference between some light-hearted prodding of ACErs and bringing up someone who died.

Personally if I were dead I'd rather be remembered for who I was as a person and not used as a humorless and dour example of why people shouldn't make some occasional jokes about a certain group on an internet message board.

I dunno, trodding out a dead friend on a message board (of all places) and saying "You shouldn't be making fun of these people! This one DIED" is just incredibly overblown and weird to the guy sitting in front of this computer. *** Edited 9/5/2007 11:44:10 AM UTC by matt.***

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dexter said:

A friend of mine who was an Acer and overweight just died in a car accident last week. Let's laugh at how fat he was, and that he didn't get to ride half of the coasters he wanted to before he died due to his weight problem. Isn't that the funniest thing you have EVER heard?...

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Not really... but you bringing that up is one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard. As matt said, there is a difference between light-hearted joking and bringing up the subject of dead enthusiasts.

Believe or not Dex, I'm actually a proponent of going easy on you. 'Till about five minutes ago.

What the crap did that have to do with any discussion on this thread, this board or anywhere else? NOTHING. Nothing at all. Where you mix the two together is in your head and your head only. That only exists between your ears.

Not that it's anyone's business here...but my close friends here already know I'm leaving tomorrow for a relative's memorial this weekend. I'm wrapping up travel plans as I type and try to work. So its not as if I don't understand your loss. And recent loss. I'm doing that. Right now.

That having been said...did your Aspergers develop antisocial traits? Honestly. What's your deal?

A sense of humor, my friend. GET ONE.

-CO

EDIT: Added a period. Removed the letter 'e'

*** Edited 9/5/2007 3:00:01 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

Just a quick question, and you guys can go back to slagging the poster for being a sicko, and bringing up his dead friend.

Does ACE still publish the Rolller Coaster Guide? I had one from 2001(2000?), and it was excellent.

ACE published its Guide to Ride in the early 90's and 2000. There was a supplement to the first issue printed around 1995, but no supplement to the 2000 edition was printed. ACE is talking about another Guide to Ride, meaning it will probably be another brand-new edition, although I wouldn't expect it within the near future.

RCDB is my favorite "Guide to Ride".

*** Edited 9/5/2007 5:53:58 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

Call me a sicko or whatever. It's who I am. I almost won't deny that to an extent.

I don't know why I brought that up. I was thinking to myself, "Who do I know who is overweight and rides coasters?" Maybe it was just to get some of you to understand that the people you are laughing at because they are fat are actually "people" who could be a friend of yours, who could maybe die tomorrow.

At least I made you think, and that's all I ever wanted. I am sorry if I offended or disturbed anyone.

You made me think, but only about how twisted and demented you are. I don't get what you're getting at... at all.