It's Been Quite a While!

I just realized that I first got into this site (GTTP) when PowerTower was being built - wow!

Jeff, am I remembering correctly?? You had construction coverage for PT, didn't you? If so, it's been about 9 years that I've been on the forums... that's half of my life!!

Anybody else (besides Jeff) been here that long? Was Jeffrey Spartan here from the beginning? What's the furthest back you can remember?

That's a long time man.
And only 86 posts?

I've only been here since 2002/2003 on another name. Around TTD construction.

Yep... I didn't even post for like 2 years. I think in the last month or two I've posted 50 or so times.

I used to just communicate via email with the GTTP / PB community. TTD construction was a cool time to come in :)

Oh! What about Dan Haverlock? He was here WAY back in the day. What ever happened to dan?

Dan is still around.

MrScott

Dan's around...lurking in the shadows...shows up at random times...But what happened to all the rest of the regulars that used to frequent these boards - and made them as good as they once were? Thats my question. You don't see Raptor Jo, Tony, Hooper, Sparty, RGR, Shivering Tim, Rideman only jumps in if its something technical, heck even Jeff (I know he's really busy with life outside of the web) doesn't seem to chime in anymore with his own takes of anything unless its a TR or to close a thread.

Seems like a new bunch of people have taken over this place...and some of them not for the better (ie. This is how I roll...). This site never seemed to have that type of arrogance from its members in the past. The group of people before didn't bicker, take offense when someone disagrees, or moderate like todays crowd does. Perhaps that is why most of the old crew doesn't post as much or at all anymore. Just my $.02.

Rob got an important job at GL so he's limited to what he can talk about. He's still here.

Anywho, I've been around since 1998. www.rollercoaster.nu was the bomb diggity!

Yea, the amount of new people coming in lately is crazy. Right now during the peak of P2007 I've began to lose my interest in the park. I'm taking all of my posters and such down in my room. I guess I've discovered the better things in life. I may linger and check out all of the great updates. Thanks to everyone for a good couple of years. See you all around the park.

I try to avoid a lot of the mess in the Project 2007 thread. The constant new topics about someone having a new theory is to much.

We'll see how much things cool down once the new ride is announced.

I liked reading post from that Jim Hancock guy,and Gomez who was the guy that had the post millennium island.I like to see post from the historian's.That interest me more than the project updates.

All in all though it's a good sight,but here lately there seems to be a whole lot more picking and nagging.

Wave Swinger is the historian.

I think what we're seeing lately that some of us don't like is that the new members are outweighing the regulars in number.

As for the past regulars, some are still around, but are busy with other things. The others have moved on in interest. Nothing against them. It's really to bad that the rich knowledge of the park seems to be going away. You just don't learn new things about the park like you used to.

New rides (ie: Project 2007) that aren't announced yet tend to create lots of useless talk around the forum. The reason it has been so bad this year is because it started back in October 2005 with WWL being torn down. We'll just have to wait and see if anything gets better after the infamous late August date.

BirdOfPrey00 said:
Seems like a new bunch of people have taken over this place...and some of them not for the better (ie. This is how I roll...)

I just hope I'm not part of the "some" you're talking about.

*** Edited 8/1/2006 6:26:40 AM UTC by Gomez***

How I miss the days of RideMan giving us all the technical data he could. :( Maybe after all of the noobs settle down after Project 2007 some sense will come back.

I just hope i'm not considard one of the nOObs. I know those midways like the back of my hand.

Seems like a new bunch of people have taken over this place...and some of them not for the better

Hey now! Actually, I still consider myself "new"...It was actually neat to see your post and think how short of a time Ive actually been around. But someday, it will be "nostalgic" to say..."Hey i started way back just before SkyHawk rumors were circulating!"

Its not a "noob vs. vet" thing. I was a noob once. I looked back at my first post on this board last night and I just laughed at myself. That was October 2000, and I was 19 then. Its about the lack of "discussion" anymore.

Lately, its been a new topic every day about someone else's theory (yes, exaggerating about every day, but you get my point). Someone says "oh thats stupid", then it becomes "you're so rude" and escalates from there. I mean, over the past month or so I've saw people drop 'F' bombs or other words(disguising it with the *), that weren't allowed at all on this site before because, well, this is a quality site, with mature people who didn't need to use such language.

Yes, there have been some noobs, or even just people who want to stir up trouble, who come to an enthusiast site and suggest very VERY obvious facts that most know aren't even remotely possible (ie. claiming B&M when there was Intamin track on site, or even recently, someone asked if P2007 could be an Aquatrax - obviously they hadn't read ANYTHING over the past 2 months). Some people find this site, sign-up and start posting same day saying something like "hey, did you know there is a ride like Dragster in New Jersey thats taller????!!!111!". That could be one issue to why things have gotten to the way they are.

I don't recall if I read it here some where, or if I was discussing this off site with someone, but it got to the point this year that it was said this site requried babysitters instead of moderators. I'm sure things will turn around. At least, I hope they do.

Walt's said that a couple times (about the babysitters). Can't say I don't agree.

Can't disagree with the language either, and that comes down to two factors - A) Walt (or Jeff) can't read every post, and B) a lack of respect on the part of posters.

I've given up on the P2007 forum. I take a look to see if there are any new pictures up, but that's mostly because I skip right past the front page. I've given up on the discussion there being anything remotely close to intelligent. Of course, when someone starts a stupid thread (that we've got 3 copies of already) I don't see how its rude to come out and point them to the right place, but somehow it is.

I don't bother with the P2007 forum either. Other than photo updates, what's the point? If I did post over there it would all be rude replies so I just said no. The Area 51 forum was a good time, isn't it weird how different the two forums are from eachother in tone and content?

If Cedar Point would have just announced the stinkin' ride at the beginning of the season........ ;)

The new members need a little beating for them to learn how it goes around here. I remember at least 5 members who slapped me around when I first came to this site.

But when I look back at my first posts I can see why. Just give some of the new members a chance, some will come around and I have seen a few that have already.

Those same "Noobs" will bash the new members that come in for the next new coaster.

Yes, some of us do need a little beating up, and do come around. I am pretty embarassed by some of my posts and have deleted a few. I was put in my place by both Walt and Jeff, and have learned my lesson. I have done a lot of reading on here since and have a better understanding of the etiquit and purpose of this forum. (Something I should have done BEFORE I posted!)

But, disagreeing with someone doesn't give a person license to be rude to them, even if that person is a "Vet". The first response I got on here was quite nasty, just because I said I did not like a certain ride. "Vets" can be just as obnoxious as "Noobs".

It's all part of a natural cycle of any community. New people come in, they figure out the community (some harder than others). Some stay for years, some move on to other interests, and still others figure out their style doesn't work well with the community's style. Even this very thread comes and goes in a cycle. How many times have we seen the old guys complain about the new guys? Or the "this place used to be good" threads? It's been happening for years.

I really don't see how the overall quality of discussion has changed. With a larger community, you're going to see a larger number of dumb posts. But we've also seen a larger number of great posts. The percentages of dumb vs. great are the same, there's just more of each.

There are also a number of quality posters that have been here two years or less. I really don't view the growth as a bad thing.

Walt I agree with you, it is a natural cycle. The P2007 forum is just that cycle sped up, so to speak. ;)

I'm happy for you and Jeff concerning the growth part.