Thrill-Seekers at Higher Alcoholism Risk

I don't think alcoholism and thrillseeking are related in any way to be honest, and I take all these "studies" with a grain of salt as well.

-Tina

But Barry, that happens when an "outsider" invades a gathering of "hardcore" participants. I'm a coaster tool. My wife is a wine buff. We pretty much trade off events. I drink wine and know the difference between a merlot and a shiraz but dont know the difference between McWilliams and Yellow Tail. Likewise, my wife can tell the difference between Laser and NITRO, but wouldnt know Schwarzkopf from B&M.

You know how coaster tools act with conversations peppered with "S:ROS"-this or "PKI"-that and "airtime", "lats" and "forceless" all over the place. Well wine snobs have their own jargon with "oaky" and "floral" coupled with "nose", "feet" and "finish". Half the time, I dont know what they are talking about. I just know if it makes my mouth happy. But she gets into with the other wine brats, much like I get into it with you guys/gals.

The behavior is quite similar. You've those wine brats who turn up their nose at all but the vintage/reserva "high end" wines like those coaster purists who think that if it aint wood it's no good (apologies Johnie Cochoran). Then you have the "I'm happy just to be drinking" crowd like the "any coaster beats working" group.

This behavior is also seen at Comic Book conventions, Star Trek conventions, NASCAR races, Fantasy Sports Camps, video games, cooking/food, etc.. It's not the enthusiasm of the attraction that causes people to become compulsive. It's the compulsion in the person that cause them to be enthusiastic. They just latch onto one thing or another and that becomes their obsession.

I'm just happy my obsessions are fun and (relatively) safe. :)
lata, jeremy
--posting a lot lately....

(edit: changed an analogy a bit) *** Edited 6/28/2006 5:24:44 PM UTC by 2Hostyl***

But are coaster people even considered thrill seekers? We don't get elevated heart rates because we're so used to the rides. It's sure as hell not an "active" crowd when you consider the huge percentage of enthusiasts that are overweight.

Risk-taking and living on the edge can be characteristic of a kind of personality that is very compatible with alcoholic/addictive tendencies. People who are looking to get "high" on alcohol or drugs experience the same phenom that people who are looking to get "high" on coaster air time or coaster speed undergo.

The same could be said for people who get high JUST THINKING about their next funnel cake or cheese on a stick or deep-fried Snickers.

These are all part and parcel of an addictive/obsessive/compulsive cycle, in much the same fashion that we exhibit those tendencies here on this board, by salivating over even the slightest dollop of news to come over the transom about the latest steel or woodie or whatever. . .

Still, there are bound to be elevated blood pressures, increased heart rates, accelerated adrenalin flows, as a new ride or thrill is presented. I know that, over the years, as I ride each ride for the first time, there is a certain amount of uncertainty as to just how "scary" it is going to be for me. My firsts on TTD and MF @ CP were all very memorable, very scary rides.

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Jeff said:
But are coaster people even considered thrill seekers? We don't get elevated heart rates because we're so used to the rides. It's sure as hell not an "active" crowd when you consider the huge percentage of enthusiasts that are overweight.

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I think Jeff hit the nail on the head.
I'd also add to that: What exactly is a Thrill Seeker?
My ex wife use to dive off cliffs (20-30 feet drops) but the thought of bungee jumping freaked her out.
I'll ski fast and do jumps and spins, but i won't drive 100 mph on the freeway.

There HAS to be a rather high quotient of thrill-seekers amongst us. Maybe I'm myopic on this point because I am definitely one of them. I LOVE to bungee jump, drive fast, go rappelling and kayak down through whitewater rapids. The faster, the better; the rougher, the more enjoyable.

And while I know that, collectively, we are not viewed as the most nimble, or physically fit, of bunches, coaster enthusiasts ARE taking a certain amount of stress and strain on their muscles and body, to endure/enjoy the sport of riding roller coasters.

There is a degree of athleticism involved as well. Knowing how to hang through some of those tough negative G's and how to effectively "surf wood" can require stamina and strength that can only be built up over time on roller coasters.

I think we *are* thrill seekers, in the sense that we are all seeking a thrill. Even the most jaded of coaster riders still seeks out coasters hoping to find an experience that gives them a new (or perhaps old) sense of euphoria. For some, that is blow out your ears intensity, for others that's the precious feeling of weightlessness, for still other it's just laugh out loud fun. In many ways, it *does* resemble a crack addict, always looking forward to the next high, hoping it will be all that she remembered from before.

And I dont know about you Jeff, but I cetainly get physical reactions to rides, both in anticipation on the ride and during the ride itself.

But you dont have to be "active" to see something as a thrill. You can be a proud member of Beer Guts Across America (TM Stephanie Miller show) and still get a kick out of riding a motorcycle fast. Heck you could be a fat slob and get a kick out of auto-erotic asphixiation. Being a thrill-seeker has nothing to do with your physical shape.
lata, jeremy
--scared as hell of drop rides

^Jeremy, I am scared as hell of drop rides too. Drop Zone at PKI is absolutely horrifying for me. I'm never nervous in line, but, when we start climbing slowly, my heart rate starts to go up. When I really get terrified is when you pass the bungee tower. Then, if that's not bad enough, they hold you there for a minute(not literally) before they drop you. Afterwards, there is always elation in the fact that we are finally on solid ground. That ride scares me every time. No roller coaster does that for me.

Personally, I have always thought of us as thrill seekers.

I'm in good company. Power Tower freaks me out. the shot up or drop down makes no differance.
It is bad and I'm a chicken. That and ferris wheels.

Hm... actually, I don't think it's "Thrill" I'm looking for in a coaster ride, it's more like I want to get in contact with that place inside of me that remains completely quiet even when my body and hormones etc, go completely exstatic.
It's a very existential experience to me - like, nothing can happen to me now.
I'm not looking for a state of panic, but for a state of absolute relaxation - paradox as it may seem.
That's why I'm not into other "Thrills" that require a fast reaction.
A coaster is just the pure "you've can let it all go now, for a moment", and somehow, that feels soooo great.
:)
I am almost completely abstinent from alcohol, mainly because it always makes my skin feel like I'm made of rubber the next morning, and I'm not overweight either.
If I have the feeling it doesn't do me good, I won't eat or drink it.
Coaster rides are good for me though.
*** Edited 6/28/2006 7:20:17 PM UTC by superman***

Easy guys/girls! People who wanna drink beer at Beast buzz or whatever and have a good time - were not talking about you hear!

If you have a ALCOHOL OR DRUG PROBLEM, you will know :) Just because you get 2 hangovers a year or did something stupid when you were drunk once, doesn't mean you have a problem. Trust me!

I've heard of the connection between thrillseekers and alcoholism before. Look at X-athletes and professional sports and celebrities. But some people simply don't fall in to the category. It's just a little more common with thrill seekers I think...

Doesn't mean because your a coaster junkie that you need to be drunk or high all the time, don't worry!

I have a year and a half sober, and I'm finally able to 'get a life' and get back into coasters after a 8 year hiatus. Would be great to meet up with others in recovery - we really need to stick together.

Peace :)

Tina, I don't put too much stock in these kinds of "studies" either. Next week, it will be another group of people that will be the focus of the same study. Maybe an example would be are people who own bulldogs at higher risk for alcoholism? ;)

^LOL! Probably. This week I heard that eggs are good for you again, and that alcohol DOES increase brain cells instead of killling them. ;)

I also heard that Magnum was STILL sinking, and that the whole Six Flags sellout thing was a conspiracy. ;)

J7G3, check your PM's. :)

-Tina

*** Edited 6/29/2006 1:58:16 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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coasterqueenTRN said:
^LOL! Probably. This week I heard that eggs are good for you again, and that alcohol DOES increase brain cells instead of killling them.

I also heard that Magnum was STILL sinking, and that the whole Six Flags sellout thing was a conspiracy.

J7G3, check your PM's.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/29/2006 1:58:16 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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Tina, what's a PM?

^Private message.

Tina, I still stick by the government's food pyramid. I can't believe that no one, it seems, takes that very seriously. Or moderation for that matter.

Ok everyone, I just found out what a PM is here on Coasterbuzz. I was never a fast learner :)

Coasterbuzzer ... moderation to an addict (food, sex, booze, whatever) doesn't work. It's a disease. It's listed in the book "The Medical Model," and you can so some research if you like.

For the record, my group really tried to make an impact on that BeastBuzz keg... :)

I'll just be totally tasteless and insensitive and say "I'll drink to that!" (although I probably won't-- at least not alone-- well maybe one or two beers).

It's kinda funny RatherGoodBear... maybe not so much fun when it happens to you. I wish I could just have a couple beers :) But really, I need to whole case.