Enthusiasts on notice

This is an editorial I wrote over on CoasterBuzz, and I think everyone needs to read it.

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/enthusiastsonnotice.htm

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

After reading the letter I found myself second guessing my actions on coasters that provide me with a bigger thrill. Now that I actually think about the fact that I try to hold my lapbar up on a lot of rides I have realized how ridiculous it is. I'm assuming there are a lot of others out there who also, in a way, "teach/show" this behavior to our friends and families and it is ridiculous. I am suprised at how affected I am by this letter but when you think about some of the things we do it's not suprising, considering our lives and the lives of our loved ones are in danger. NO THRILL is worth endangering your life or the lives of others.

The letter is very appropriate and I wouldn't understand if anyone says it isn't. It seems ridiculous to say this, but I think my years of finding a way for an extra thrill are over. I had a lot of fun, as did everyone else, but I respect what Mr. Fussner is saying and I hope the entire enthusiast community shares the same respect.

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America's Rockin' Roller Coast
*** This post was edited by CP FANatic 9/2/2003 10:40:32 PM ***

I guess this article was needed. I know I used to try to get a few inches of extra airtime on Magnum. But there, I learned my lesson when my thighs got beat up from slamming into the lap bar. Now I always make sure my belt is tighter than the lap bar, and even when I try to get an extra inch or two on the lap-bar, I make sure the seatbelt holds me in securely. (But I think I may have violated even that before :() Lately, I have been accidentally stapled a lot though, and regardless, have tried to keep the belt fairly tight.

Anyway, I now feel bad for my minor violations on certain rides. I do think though, that it is important to follow the safety rules, as lives are at stake. I do think though, that the fact the Cedar Point has seatbelts helps add that extra level of safety, as much as we all know we don't like them.

Anyway, thanks for the article Jeff. I think that even though I have not been a major offender (except sometimes on Magnum), my days of trying to get that extra little thrill by not being 100% secure are pretty much over.

-Sam (who doesn't mind get stapled on rides other than Magnum, since it just feels safer!)
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

I wouldn't be surprised if the letter also addresses the idiots claiming they can hold a camcorder during the launch of Dragster. I'm sure those same people will disagree with both Jeffs translation as well as CP's original letter.

I really have to agree. After the HW incident, I found myself really second guessing myself, and making sure I wore every safety system correctly on every ride I have ridden.

Jeff, I hope that your letter effects everyone who reads it.

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2003 Stats - Days in the Park: 8
TTD:8 MF:11 Mag:13 WT:7 MS:9 Raptor:7 Mantis:5 Gemini:8 DT:2 CCMR:4 CS:4 ID:6 WC:2 BS:2

The accident was because she woman in question stood up, not left her bar up for air time or belt loose, well i am glad i know i am not a valued customer at any park. I am really starting to question who CP cares about, not us if they say they can Survive without us. Yes agreeing to the rules is fine, but whats next no raising your hands on the hills? Please if you can't understand simple physics don't ride a coaster, If lapbar and belt don't touch me, will i fly out of magnum? hmmm i don't know. Maybe i won't be back to the point or anyother park since they can survive without us.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Still warm less bugs, lines getting smaller, hey its August!

"Let the flames begin!!!"

::sigh::

::waving flag::

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Let's play "Find the one-legged seagull"

Real mature Coasterluver, flaming people who have different opinions solves everything.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Still warm less bugs, lines getting smaller, hey its August!
*** This post was edited by TheOne001 9/3/2003 2:14:11 AM ***

No.. actually.. it was proven that she undid a safety restraint.

Another prime example.. Look at PP at Knott's. Not an enthusiaists but.. someone who felt they were more comfortable with all thier safety restraints.

Honestly TheOne001..

It's the people with the attitude that you seem to have that I think they are talking about.

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
*** This post was edited by Red Garter Rob 9/3/2003 2:14:38 AM ***

actually i follow the rules i don't release my belt during a ride cause i know i will not return to the station.

Wasn't PP accident due to the rider was a heavier guest and should not have riden the ride? correct my if i am wrong but that was what i read from reports.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Still warm less bugs, lines getting smaller, hey its August!
*** This post was edited by TheOne001 9/3/2003 2:16:51 AM ***

TheOne001: to get a sense for what Jeff means when he says that parks don't need enthusiasts, take a look at this ARN&R shirt. Then maybe you'll get the point.

Enthusiasts are a literal drop in the revenue bucket.

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It's not war, famine, or pestilence; it's only downtime.

See thread on CoasterBuzz where the subject goes into enthusiast arrogance.

Cedar Fair isn't going to go bankrupt if you stop visiting the park, and frankly with your attitude 99.9% of the enthusiast community wouldn't want you there anyway. Stay home. You're part of the problem.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I have 3 Daughters 5, 8, 11. a few years back when th 11 was 8. I was so excited because she wanted to ride with daddy on all the coasters she could. Well some she just missed being tall enough. My wife and I figured we could fix that! Thick shoes stuffed with paper! worked for a couple of rides. but she was still to short to ride the BIG rides. I thought wait a minute for the sake of fun with my daughter, I broke rules for 2:26 seconds of thrill. Not only did i break rules, I endangerd my child. Ever since than we play by all the rules. This artical you wrote is what it is all abut, playing by the rules! I will be sure to live by them!!!

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Next Year you can ride all the rides with daddy

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Millie:20
TTD: 1
CP&LE RR: 150

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Brian Noble said:
Enthusiasts are a literal drop in the revenue bucket.

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I'd have to say that's an overstatement. I don't think, percentage wise, we even consist of a full drop.

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- John
I Snap Flyers

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TheOne001 said:
Yes agreeing to the rules is fine, but whats next no raising your hands on the hills?

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Still warm less bugs, lines getting smaller, hey its August!

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Please keep all hands, arms, and legs inside the train at all times! I think that rasing your hands on the hills is breaking the rules.

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MF Circuts=451(03=135)
TTD Launches=27
TTD Rollbacks=5

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Jeff said:
See thread on CoasterBuzz where the subject goes into enthusiast arrogance.

Cedar Fair isn't going to go bankrupt if you stop visiting the park, and frankly with your attitude 99.9% of the enthusiast community wouldn't want you there anyway. Stay home. You're part of the problem.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

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I am part of the problem? i use my belts, i use my lapbar, i don't cheat for airtimes sake, it is just a slap in the face that they would say to their customers, that actually love the park would say you don't matter. i know enthusiasts aren't going to bring in alot of money for the park, but how many friends go thru out the season with you? how many people do you encourage to go to the parks?If media day had no enthusiasts how good would it actually be? I agree people should be safe. My motto is always better safe then sorry. i just think that saying we don't matter is quite frankly just rude, that is all. Safety first, last and always! ;) I just don't agree with how they said that, that is all. Its like saying yes your a valued customer, until one of our guests gets hurt, then it is your fault cause it has to be enthusiasts fault cause they are a horrible influence on the GP.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 What? CP closed on a monday...Oh yeah its September!

The fact is you AREN'T special. You're no more special than any other visitor to the park on any given day. Deal with it.

ERT or special deals doesn't make you special either. Frankly, the 'GP' is underwriting the costs of any event (don't believe it? Then tell me: Where's Millennium Mania?) and the parks do this for the same reasons rock stars support fan clubs: It's just fun to watch the biggest geeks get all googly-eyed and giggly.

It might be a good idea to be a little more grateful than expectant or demanding. Nobody owes you jack-squat.

-CO

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.
*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya 9/3/2003 12:35:13 PM ***

DId i ever say they owed us anything? No. But a sure thing is hard to come by in the economy and well Enthusiasts at parks are a sure thing. I could care less about perks and ERT, I just don't think that we are the problem. I have never gotten into a train and purposely made my belt loose or my lapbar.then told John Q Public to do the same. I just think blaming us is a morronic way of handling things.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 What? CP closed on a monday...Oh yeah its September!

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TheOne001 said:
DId i ever say they owed us anything? No. But a sure thing is hard to come by in the economy and well Enthusiasts at parks are a sure thing.

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I **really** don't think the economy has done any damage to CP's attendance this year. The park is definitely not "desperate" to get more people to come (unlike another nearby park I can think of...) What percentage of park guests on a Saturday in July are enthusiasts?

Enthusiasts are great because they get really excited about the park, have positive attitudes and make our jobs fun. They are the ones you get to know as an employee and can remember by name, year after year. However, many (read: not all) enthusiasts are also the ones who call up complaining because they "know" how everything works and if you just gave them a wrench and a crowbar they would have Dragster running in 30 seconds, MacGuyver-style. Personally, I would think that any person that considered themselves knowledgable about rides would also be the most extremely cautious about safety standards -- then again, many enthusiasts are also thrillseekers in general and the riskier the action is, the better. In my opinion, anyone who takes stupid risks at an amusement park (enthusiast or not) shouldn't be there -- it's not a personal attack, it's an attack on dangerous behavior.
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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Zone 5 Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

I was only saying that calling us the problem is a cop-out, and i went a bunch of times this yeah on a saturday in July. And alot of parks attendence was down due to high gas prices, i know my family didn't go anywhere due to the almost $2 a gallon gas prices.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 What? CP closed on a monday...Oh yeah its September!