video

Although I've never seen that happen, I could picture it...and it's kinda funny. Pulling out an ACE card? Reminds me of that scene in the Blues Brothers, "Are you cops or something?" "No ma'am, we're musicians."

Anyway, next time someone pulls out an ACE badge on someone, you should pull out your ACE card, tell them to take a deep breath, and then tell them how to get to the buffet. ;)

If I pull out my ACE card, it's either because I got my new one in the mail, need an admission discount, or just plain NEED to get on that kiddie coaster! ;)

LOL! :)

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dannerman said:
I got up and left the area because I did *NOT* want to find out who it belonged to. (Granted, I don't know if it was being use as a phone or as a camera at the point it flew off.. but both are equally stupid on a coaster, not to mention against park rules)

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Hmmm... I think I recall sometime this summer at Cedar Point, an incident involving an argument with the MF supervisor because someone wasn't allowed to hold onto his cell phone, and he was afraid it would fly out of his pocket.

I seem to recall the argument that said phone had flown out of said pocket once before, and it being hand-held was safer and more secure.

I'm having a little bit of trouble spotting the difference between the "idiot" on Talon, and the "enthusiast" on Millennium Force.

-Josh

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rOLLocOASt said:

Quite frankly, if you aren't an employed by the park you're currently visiting, you have no right to say a damn thing - except to a park employee.

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If my safety is in danger (or I perceive it is in danger) because of someone with a camera three rows ahead of me, I don't see the problem with asking them not to...

I do see a problem with being a jerk about it and/or pulling a card...

*** Edited 12/4/2006 5:52:09 PM UTC by ApolloAndy***

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Raven-Phile said:

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dannerman said:
I got up and left the area because I did *NOT* want to find out who it belonged to. (Granted, I don't know if it was being use as a phone or as a camera at the point it flew off.. but both are equally stupid on a coaster, not to mention against park rules)

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Hmmm... I think I recall sometime this summer at Cedar Point, an incident involving an argument with the MF supervisor because someone wasn't allowed to hold onto his cell phone, and he was afraid it would fly out of his pocket.

I seem to recall the argument that said phone had flown out of said pocket once before, and it being hand-held was safer and more secure.

I'm having a little bit of trouble spotting the difference between the "idiot" on Talon, and the "enthusiast" on Millennium Force.

-Josh

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There is a difference between USING said electronic device and having a death grip on it so it doesn't get lost/fly off.

And I fail to see how a baggy pocket with velcro is more secure than making a conscious effort to exert maximum pressure so the article STAYS secure (not to mention reacting to dynamic conditions of the ride)

And for the record, said phone had not flown out of said pocket on a ride, but merely fallen out while sitting stationary on various chairs, couches, etc. So experience was clear that it was more secure in a hand (NOT being used) than in a loose pocket.

So in summary, the difference is that I was merely trying to make sure that said cell phone was in the most secure, safe condition possible so that it WOULDN'T fly off the ride. The idiot on Talon was using it (and before you say how do I know he was using it - the flip was open. Most people don't have the flip open if they're just holding on to it)

^ So what you're saying is that it's OK to hold onto an electronic device with a "deathgrip" if you aren't using it, but not if you're using it? WTF? What's the diffrence?

Oh, and yeah, screens open. Sometimes when falling, sometimes on impact. You really don't know if the rider was actually using it or not.

EDIT: Andy, for the most part I agree you... Common sense and courtesy should be a given - But you know as well as I do that this is the enthusiast community we're talking about. There are way too many cocky-ass enthusiasts that think they're actually important - That they actually matter to the parks. I've seen these same "people" (I use that term lightly) scream at little kids over an empty seat on a ride! They just don't know the diffrence. I think it's from the lack of social skills, but who knows. *** Edited 12/4/2006 8:43:46 PM UTC by rOLLocOASt***

What's the difference?

Your hand (or 2!) is closed completely around the device, and you're holding on to it with the best grip possible. Period. End of sentence.

You're not pointing it somewhere trying to get a "good shot" (which limits exactly how you can hold onto it so your finger doesn't get in the way), or pressing buttons to take the picture. You're not trying to hold it to your ear so you can hear the person which also limits exactly how good of a grip you get have on it. Further, your focus is on using the camera/phone, not on keeping it secure.

Also, I'll go on record that if the pocket were a zipper pocket, I wouldn't have argued (as evidenced during BooBuzz when I had a jacket with zipper pocket which was the permanent location of my phone except when off a coaster using it to call people), because that definitely would have been more secure than my hand. But not a velcro pocket where my phone has fallen out just when I'm sitting in a chair or couch (and my couch doesn't go over 90mph, or drop 300 feet, or have overbanks)

I know for certain when I have been permitted to take my camera aboard a ride and use it, I had more of a death grip on it than I would have, had I been holding it down by my lap.

If you put a cell in one of your main pockets on an Intamin, the seatbelt sits at just the right spot where it straps your pockets closed. Your cell phone won't go anywhere. If you're worried about it, still, put your hand over it and hold on to it from the outside of your pocket. This way it makes everyone happy. You get a death grip on your phone, and its secured in a pocket.

Now, blowing a whistle on a ride and having it fly out of your mouth, only to find it laying in the middle of the road away from the coaster later... That's a story in which the device that leaves the ride is being "used".

Sure, it may seem like a small, insignificant piece of plastic or metal, but it can still hurt someone just as much as a cell phone or camera can, given the right circumstances.

What the hell did people do in the "dark ages of amusement parks" before cell/camera phones were invented? Who did they talk to? I mean having to talk and pay attention to the people you actually arrived with--- how sick is that? :)

Dannerman - Have you ever held or used a MiniDV video camera? You can have the same deathgrip with two hands and still shoot video.

What about using speakerphone? The thing can be in-hand with the same deathgrip that you use, yet it's still in use.

If my focus is on using the camera/phone while on the ride, don't you think that using it also involves keeping it secure so I can continue to use it?

Back when I filmed on coasters, my priority was on my camera - Just like when you're holding your phone on a ride. There is absolutely no diffrence. How can you possibly say one is "better" than the other?
*** Edited 12/4/2006 9:06:55 PM UTC by rOLLocOASt***

I'll concede that in those instances, there may not be much difference. But the average Joe isn't going to go through those lengths to be safe.

Even with a MiniDV, there still is that need to make sure that the lense is free and pointing the shot, which does affect your ability to react under the dynamic conditions of the ride. True, you don't want to lose your camera, but you also don't want to lose your shot.

I mean, if I see someone get off a coaster looking at a POV he just shot while on the ride, I'm obviously not going to say anything -- the deed was already comitted, and the camera didn't go anywhere. However, if I almost get hit with it sitting on a bench, yes I'm going to go off on the guest for being an idiot.

No, because after getting into coasters as much as I am, I don't use the devices on the coaster. I want them to be as secure as possible. Sometimes that is in a pocket, other times the pocket is not the most secure position -- most times the most secure option is in a loose article bin on the coaster's platform, and *IF* that is available I will *ALWAYS* leave it there. However, it is not always an option (a la separate loading/unloading station)

How hard is that to understand? Most devices when you are USING them by nature of the devices compromise how secure they are because the *user* wants to get their shot.

And your post makes no sense, blue side. Ever since I really started getting into coasters in the fall of 2004, I do not use cell phones or cameras on rides. It's not "okay" for me or anyone else to USE them. The REASON for that is because they are generally not secure while IN USE. And that post you responded to trying to stuff words in my mouth is saying that if SOMEONE ELSE were to be looking at a POV and I happen to notice, I'm not going to yell at them. That's up to the park employees if they so choose. However if I almost get hit from a cell phone or camera that they were using, then I will, because it directly affected me. How you drew your conclusion from the words that are actually written there is beyond me.

edit:
My apologies. I accidentally deleted my previous post where I said:

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So, if you do it it's okay, but if somebody else does it they're an idiot?"

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Regardless, policies are there and, as a guest at a park, you are required to follow them. Many states even make it a crime (Ohio, PA, Jersey, etc) if you don't follow posted or spoken instructions.

Policy at Cedar Point is no loose articles. If a ride op tells you "put that away" you have to comply or you don't ride. If you ride and disobey the instructions you are guilty of a misdemeanor.

Arguing with a ride op over holding on to your cell phone while riding when you get ticked off that somebody dropped a cell phone is a bit hypocritical, don't you think?

I don't care if in your mind there's a difference between "using" it and "holding" it. Either way it's against park policy at both parks. End of story. If what exit english says happened at CP is true then I think you just made yourself look like a fool. Nobody else did it for you, you did it yourself.

*** Edited 12/6/2006 11:50:27 PM UTC by Blue Side***